Quote:
Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop
Badger was hired on the heels of Herb Brooks' Olympic success and subsequent NY Rangers position. Back then, it was unconventional to tap into the American College system for coaches (players were already finding success). Johnson was pretty much considered the next best US College coach available. Some might have seen it as a crazy hire, but many more at the time viewed it as cutting-edge. "Systems" and motivational techniques were becoming more prevalent then as well.
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When Johnson was hired there were some Neanderthal NHL insiders who thought the Flames were crazy (I think Cherry might have been one). There were lots of NHL management types who still undervalued NCAA hockey, which was why Fletcher was able to pick up players like Macoun and Otto.