[News Roundup] Flames head coach search. Friedman: Huska is the leading contender

[metroneck]

Originally Posted by Spurs

If you are concerned about Love's lack of experience I think you hire him as coach and get a good, experienced vet to be an assistant. There are many of those guys around and that would be a much better way to mentor him if he is the guy you ultimately want as HC.
.

I like this approach. Not just for Love, but any of the new to NHL HC candidates.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Ideally for me now it's Tanguay as HC with Love as Associate. I would also be fine with the reverse. Adding Savard as an assistant would be great too but it sounds like he doesn't want to be an assistant.

What has Tanguay done to deserve a head coaching appointment with an NHL team? Nothing. So, yeah, ideal.

[Burning Beard]

Gallant has taken a rag-tag group with no superstar far in the post season before and that's exactly what this team will be after losing Gaudreau, Tkachuk and now possibly Lindholm and Backlund to a much lesser degree.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

What has Tanguay done to deserve a head coaching appointment with an NHL team? Nothing. So, yeah, ideal.

You could make that argument for every guy looking at being a first time NHL head coach. I think how a person thinks the game, how he communicates, and how his systems work are much more important than experience. Are you saying you would take Dallas Eakins as HC over Mitch Love or Alex Tanguay? Who cares if they have been an NHL head coach before.

[Paulie Walnuts]

I don't think it's thing to be Gallant.

I'm going to say it's 50/50 toss up with love or savard.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

You could make that argument for every guy looking at being a first time NHL head coach. I think how a person thinks the game, how he communicates, and how his systems work are much more important than experience. Are you saying you would take Dallas Eakins as HC over Mitch Love or Alex Tanguay? Who cares if they have been an NHL head coach before.

Sorry, no. At least, Love had seven+two coaching seasons with the affiliate teams demonstrating some successful coaching and is very familiar with the incoming prospects in the system. That would be the logic that goes into hiring Love. Tanguay has none of that other than being a buddy of Iginla and Conroy. We laugh at the Oilers turning into the old boys club; let's not become them.

When a talented team struggles to find identity, tough and honest coaching is needed; Sutter was ideal to turn it around. He just needed 2-3 more years to complete the turnaround, I believe. I am still appalled that they had canned him for a few players disliking his coaching style and looking to blame someone for not making the playoffs. By all accounts, Sutter's style is never personal, never disrespectful or diminishing to players; it is based on their merit, effort and implementation of coach's program. I get it, times are changing and players get more and more powerful say in selecting who they want to coach them; it is what it is. Still, there are only 32 head coaching positions in the NHL. Giving it to someone undeserving would be a huge mistake.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Gully also wasn’t a first time coach. He was just a bad hire, and hurt this teams momentum badly.

He was hot when Dallas hired him

Yeah by the time the Flames hired him again, he was somewhat a known commodity

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by Spurs

If the team wants Love to be the coach just hire him. There seems to be way too many red flags bringing in Gallant only to mentor Love for a short term.

First off why would Gallant want to do that? And if you say not to tell him that is the plan, but it is obvious to everyone it is that seems like a good way to burn bridges with future coaches.

Second, if players know Gallant is just here short term to mentor Love how much do they feel they need to listen to him especially when he is tough on them? Doesn't seem to be a great way to build a team.

If you are concerned about Love's lack of experience I think you hire him as coach and get a good, experienced vet to be an assistant. There are many of those guys around and that would be a much better way to mentor him if he is the guy you ultimately want as HC.

Gallant for 2 years to see if he can squeeze anything out of this roster and then Love sliding in after seems like the kind of short term, band aid moves that has kept this club in mediocrity for so long.

I would be a lot more concerned about Huska's lack of success than Love's lack of NHL experience. Winning (results) should be the primary factor.
To be fair to Huska, he won in the WHL, but has had mediocre results in the AHL and NHL. Development, in the AHL, was quite a bit better under Love than Huska.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Sorry, no. At least, Love had seven+two coaching seasons with the affiliate teams demonstrating some successful coaching and is very familiar with the incoming prospects in the system. That would be the logic that goes into hiring Love. Tanguay has none of that other than being a buddy of Iginla and Conroy. We laugh at the Oilers turning into the old boys club; let's not become them.

When a talented team struggles to find identity, tough and honest coaching is needed; Sutter was ideal to turn it around. He just needed 2-3 more years to complete the turnaround, I believe. I am still appalled that they had canned him for a few players disliking his coaching style and looking to blame someone for not making the playoffs. By all accounts, Sutter's style is never personal, never disrespectful or diminishing to players; it is based on their merit, effort and implementation of coach's program. I get it, times are changing and players get more and more powerful say in selecting who they want to coach them; it is what it is. Still, there are only 32 head coaching positions in the NHL. Giving it to someone undeserving would be a huge mistake.

Sutter wasn't fired because a few players didn’t like him it was almost everyone in the organization that lashed out against him. Sutter isn't a turn it around coach who needs 2-3 years he's a right now coach to cross you over the finish line.

He's a great coach but something happened and I doubt we will ever know that made him be the way he was this last season.

Also Tanguay has coaching experience much more than a Martin St. Louis it's not handing a buddy a job it's finding the best person for the job and sometimes that person has no experience as the head guy.

[Royle9]

From what I’ve heard through a solid contact it sounds like a mix of Love, Huska and 1 other that’s yet to be determined, sounds like Muller is the man out.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Royle9

From what I’ve heard through a solid contact it sounds like a mix of Love, Huska and 1 other that’s yet to be determined, sounds like Muller is the man out.

Has to be Savard based on that article.

Thankfully Muller is out the fact he was being considered was concerning. Special teams are a big part now and he sucks at it.

[ben voyonsdonc]

I really like Tanguay as the guy to take over Muller’s responsibilities.

Love can be the leader and face of the coaching staff as HC, Tanguay can be associate coach responsible for forwards and the PP, and then if they could keep Huska on that would be great for continuity but I’d be ok with him seeking greener pastures is he was looking to do so.

[mile]

what about this guy

https://twitter.com/user/status/1665109720556875776

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by mile

what about this guy

https://twitter.com/user/status/1665109720556875776

Hard pass.

[getbak]

Let's stay away from anyone associated with the Gulutzan era (error)... except for Gelinas, he's still cool.

[browna]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

Hard pass.

Of course, but the point I think of that post is that seemingly failing NHL assistants and head coaches, were and are still good hockey coaches before and after their appearance in the NHL.

Also, that winning awards in lower leagues don't translate automatically to NHL coaches. Hell, Sutter won the Jack Adams 11.5 months ago.

NHL head coaches have to be more physiological coaches and flat out baby sitters than any other league because, among other reasons, 2/3 or more of the roster makes more than the coach in the NHL.

Teaching coaches like Cameron or GG can't juggle both the roles effectively.

[activeStick]

Sec_214 strongly hinted in the other thread that it will be Love at first sight.

[DoubleK]

The more I think about it from a rookie GMs perspective, I don't think I'd go with a rookie head coach if I'm Conny.

That makes me feel he will pick Gallant.

[Toonage]

Didn't Seravalli already confirm Gallant wasn't a consideration due to asking price?

[DoubleK]

I missed that if he said that in the past couple days.