Who will step behind Geese bench as Anaheim continues teaching search?

Certainly not was the Geese’ teaching gig going to be handed to him on a silver platter, however there have been these, current firm included, who had been of the thoughts that Dallas Eakins’ path again to an NHL bench was clear. With Anaheim looking for a bench boss within the wake of a disappointing season through which Randy Carlyle was canned and GM Bob Murray assumed the title of interim coach, Eakins appeared an apparent match for just a few causes.
First, Eakins had strung collectively 4 profitable seasons with the Geese’ AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls. Not as soon as did Anaheim’s farm membership end under .500 below Eakins’ watch, and after consecutive playoff journeys ended within the second spherical and final season’s post-season miss, the Gulls had their most profitable marketing campaign but after they earned a berth within the convention closing in 2018-19, falling two wins in need of an opportunity to play for the Calder Cup. Second, Eakins had expertise behind an NHL bench and appeared ripe for a second probability after his transient one-and-a-half season stint with the Edmonton Oilers. And at last, he appeared like he could possibly be the fitting rent on the proper time, a recent face with new concepts who, regardless of his aforementioned NHL expertise, isn’t precisely a retread who was not too long ago let go by one other group and thrown into the big-league teaching recycling bin.
However not so quick.
Regardless of the Chicago Wolves ousting the Gulls from the Calder Cup playoffs early final week, no announcement adopted that Eakins had the Geese’ job, and as an alternative of it showing as if Eakins is a shoo-in for the gig, the sector has seemingly grown extra crowded.
So, who will Anaheim insert behind the bench subsequent season? Eakins stays an possibility, however listed below are 4 others who could possibly be within the combine:
Lane LambertCurrent: Affiliate coach, New York IslandersNHL Expertise: N/A
Lambert is a longtime assistant who appears primed to take the following step in his profession after standing in coach Barry Trotz’s shadow for the previous a number of seasons. First part of Trotz’s group with the Nashville Predators in 2011-12, he has since joined the Islanders bench boss in Washington and New York, profitable a Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2017-18. It was after Washington’s championship victory that some believed Lambert was in line for one of many high jobs within the NHL, however he as an alternative took the baby-step that’s an affiliate teaching gig with Trotz. So, what comes subsequent?
The pure development would see him change into a coach subsequent, and he’d seemingly convey some defensive construction to a staff that was sorely missing in that space final season. Solely six groups allowed extra photographs in opposition to per sport and the Geese’ penalty kill was middling, at greatest.
Todd NelsonCurrent: Asst. Coach, Dallas StarsNHL Expertise: Coach, Edmonton Oilers
Nelson joins Eakins as Geese candidates with expertise as an NHL head coach, and it so occurs that the 2 had been behind the very same bench: it was Nelson who changed Eakins when he was let go by the Oilers in the course of the 2014-15 marketing campaign. Nelson’s whole tenure behind that bench consisted of 51 video games, nevertheless, throughout which period he went 17-25-9, so it’s not as if he or Eakins had a lot success in Edmonton.
Nelson’s candidacy comes as little shock, although, as he’s been talked about as a contender for a number of jobs at this level and plainly he, like Lambert, is destined to get a shot on the high job once more someday quickly. Nelson did some good work with the Stars’ energy play final season, although Dallas’ general offense tied for third-worst within the NHL.
Rick BownessCurrent: Asst. Coach, Dallas StarsNHL Expertise: Coach, Phoenix Coyotes; New York Islanders; Ottawa Senators; Boston Bruins; Winnipeg Jets
Over the previous dozen years, Bowness has had tenures with the Vancouver Canucks and Tampa Bay Lightning, and he joined Montgomery’s employees in Dallas forward of the present marketing campaign, however not for the reason that pre-lockout NHL has Bowness been an NHL bench boss. Certain, he was an affiliate coach with the Lightning, however that’s as shut as he’s come to the highest job since he changed Bob Francis because the Coyotes coach in 2003-04. May this be when he makes his return?
What he has going for him is his work with younger defenders. He helped mildew Victor Hedman with the Lightning and he did an amazing job with rookie Miro Heiskanen this season. As famous above, too, the Geese are in want of higher defensive construction. Bowness could possibly be the particular person for the job.
Scott SandelinCurrent: Coach, College of Minnesota-Duluth BulldogsNHL Expertise: N/A
The door was cracked open for faculty coaches when Dave Hakstol made the transfer to the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers. He’s since been let go, however his hiring noticed big-league groups scour the NCAA extra totally, which has since led to David Quinn and Jim Montgomery incomes bench boss jobs with the New York Rangers and Dallas Stars, respectively. And it’d solely be a matter of time earlier than we see the following NCAA-to-NHL convert, as Scott Sandelin has drawn curiosity across the league. The Geese are the newest to test in on Sandelin, too.
In keeping with The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, the College of Minnesota-Duluth coach is on Anaheim’s radar and will likely be interviewed by the membership concerning the vacant place. He makes for an intriguing teaching contender given his success within the NCAA, which incorporates back-to-back nationwide crowns. That’s no small feat.
Need extra in-depth options, evaluation and an All-Entry cross to the newest content material? Subscribe to The Hockey Information journal.
Tags: anaheim geese, coachingConnect: In regards to the AuthorJared ClintonJared Clinton is a author and net editor with The Hockey Information. He is been with the staff since 2014. He was born, raised and resides in Winnipeg, the place he will be discovered lacking the web on out of doors rinks throughout city.