With Gronborg gone, which coaches ought to the Oilers, Senators, Geese and Sabres chase?

For some groups, the low season has been underway for a month now and the method of discovering a brand new coach has been a prime precedence.
Three of the highest selections – Todd McLellan (Los Angeles Kings), Alain Vigneault (Philadelphia Flyers) and Joel Quenneville (Florida Panthers) – have discovered new properties in current weeks, drying the market up a bit. However their new gigs led to some contemplating long-time Swedish nationwide staff coach Rikard Gronborg because the next-best selection for the groups nonetheless within the hunt. Gronborg has three World Championships to his credit score, two as a head coach, and has earned medals at each main worldwide event Sweden had competed in on the lads’s aspect. NHL groups have reportedly had curiosity in him for years, however Gronborg as an alternative signed a two-year deal to steer Switzerland’s ZSC Lions subsequent season, which might be his first teaching job with a home membership staff.
So, who else is obtainable? A number of others have been linked to NHL groups over the previous few weeks. Let’s check out a number of the notable names obtainable:
Dave Tippett, Seattle senior adviserSome imagine Buffalo’s teaching gig is Tippett’s to lose, and it’s solely attainable that he’s introduced because the staff’s bench boss early subsequent week. Tippett has been out of the teaching sport for a couple of years since leaving the Arizona Coyotes in 2017, however he was employed to work with the Seattle growth staff as a senior adviser final summer time. Tippett, who has coached 1,114 common season video games, gained the Jack Adams Trophy in 2010 because the and each of his earlier teaching stints with Dallas and Arizona had been prolonged ones.
Jacques Martin, Pittsburgh Penguins assistantMartin, a Jack Adams winner in 1999, has 17 years of teaching expertise and is one the extra veteran presences in the marketplace. Martin was extremely criticized throughout his time with the Montreal Canadiens, the place he final held the highest job in 2011-12, however has helped the Penguins win two Stanley Cup titles since becoming a member of the staff as an assistant. Martin is a finalist to teach the Sabres and was interviewed by the Ottawa Senators, a staff he beforehand coached. He may very nicely lead a staff subsequent season.
Todd Nelson, Dallas Stars assistantNelson coached simply over half the season with Edmonton in 2014-15, again earlier than the Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl period. Nelson went again right down to the AHL afterwards, main the Grand Rapids Griffins to a few consecutive 90-plus level seasons and successful the Calder Cup in 2017. Nelson joined the Stars final summer time and helped the staff to one in all its most spectacular playoff runs in current historical past. They fell to the St. Louis Blues in Recreation 7 of the second spherical. Nelson might be a head coach once more.
Marco Sturm, Los Angeles Kings assistantThe Oilers, particularly, appear to love former NHLers in prime jobs inside the franchise, and Sturm suits the mould. His monitor file with Germany was spectacular: he gained the Deutschland Cup in his first occasion as bench boss and led a ragtag staff with none star energy to the gold medal sport on the 2018 Olympics, the place they fell to Russia in extra time. Sturm took over as an assistant coach with the Kings final fall and has expressed curiosity in changing into an NHL coach prior to now. It may not be lengthy till he’s given a glance.
Brad Shaw, Columbus Blue Jackets assistantShaw is commonly credited with serving to Columbus and St. Louis flip round their penalty-kills, and given John Tortorella has achieved a implausible job with the Blue Jackets, it is perhaps time for Shaw to maneuver on if he desires the prospect to steer a staff himself. Shaw has coached at one degree or one other since retiring from the NHL in 1999, serving as a bench boss within the IHL and AHL earlier than a brief stint because the New York Islanders’ essential man in 2006. He’s been an assistant ever since and is thought to be one of the revered within the league.
Chris Taylor, Rochester People coachMany believed Taylor, who spent a big portion of his profession with the Sabres group, was going to be one of many main males for the Buffalo gig. That doesn’t appear to be the case anymore, regardless of the robust season the People had earlier than getting swept by the Toronto Marlies. At 47, he’s nonetheless younger and can get one other likelihood down the highway.
Dallas Eakins, San Diego Gulls coachEakins’ stint in Edmonton didn’t go nicely, however to be honest, the roster wasn’t a lot to write down dwelling about. Possibly, simply perhaps, it wasn’t his fault. Eakins was extremely wanted when he was with the Toronto Marlies a number of years in the past. He was fired after a season and a half with the staff earlier than Nelson took over. Eakins joined the San Diego Gulls in 2015 and has achieved nicely with the membership. It is perhaps time for him to get a second likelihood within the NHL, and he would possibly must look no additional than the NHL gig at the moment (and quickly) occupied by Geese GM Bob Murray.
Sheldon Keefe, Toronto Marlies coachThe Toronto Maple Leafs intend on retaining Mike Babcock round. Thus, after a pair implausible seasons with the Marlies, with whom he gained the AHL’s Calder Cup in 2018, it’s time for Keefe to get a severe take a look at an NHL job. Keefe, the winner of the 2015 CHL prime coach award, has achieved wonders for the Marlies in his quick time within the AHL and any staff searching for a contemporary face with a strong resume ought to have Keefe excessive on their listing.
Patrick Fischer, Switzerland coachFischer must be an choice in some unspecified time in the future over the subsequent few years. He led Switzerland to an inconceivable silver medal efficiency on the World Championship final yr and was an assistant on the staff’s equally unimaginable 2013 run. Fischer is among the finest coaches on the World Championship degree and is very regarded in Europe. He nonetheless has one yr left with the nationwide staff, nevertheless.
Scott Sandelin, Minnesota-Duluth and USA junior staff coachAt some level, Sandelin might be an NHL coach. He has coached Minnesota-Duluth to consecutive NCAA championships (he additionally gained in 2011) and the Bulldogs had been finalists in 2017. Sandelin is about to teach the US on the World Junior Championship this winter, a roster that should not have any downside contending for gold. Sandelin’s physique of labor is spectacular, and if one more NHL staff desires to faucet into the faculty teaching pipeline, Sandelin’s cellphone must be ringing.
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Tags: buffalo sabres, teaching, edmonton oilers, lists, nhl, ottawa senatorsConnect: Concerning the AuthorSteven EllisSteven Ellis is a Digital Content material Producer for The Hockey Information. He spends his free time listening to music you would not like and watches obnoxiously-long motor races.