While most media outlets have been talking up the possibilities of Alain Vigneault becoming the next head coach of the Dallas Stars, reports are now surfacing that Glen Gulutzan is apparently on the radar of the Vancouver Canucks. Don’t you just love it when an underachieving “good” team trades coaches with an overachieving “bad” team, and both sides feel like they came out on top? That is assuming that either of these teams actually end up with either coach.
MetroNews takes a look at some of the candidates here.
The Dallas Stars have apparently already interviewed former Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, and plan to have Vigneault in for his interview shortly. Ruff officially joins a laundry list of potential hires for the Stars, and is one of the most in-demand coaching free agents in the sport. If he ends up in the Stars organization, I will personally buy a beer for the first member of the media to ask him point blank “Goal or No Goal, Lindy?” [PHT]
The Halifax Mooseheads have won the 2013 Memorial Cup tournament, just as they were heavily favored to do. They defeated the Portland Winterhawks, behind a hat trick from blue-chip prospect Nathan MacKinnon, who is making a strong case to be taken first overall in this year’s draft. [TheStar.com]
Is MacKinnon’s dominant performance in the Memorial Cup enough to convince the Colorado Avalanche to pass over Plano’s Seth Jones? Mile High Hockey spotlights a few high profile outlets that believe they should do just that. Honestly, there is no wrong decision in this situation. It’s a conundrum that every team in the league wishes they were faced with. [Mile High Hockey]
Hockey Canada has decided to ban body checking throughout the nation at the Pee Wee level, to mostly positive reactions. Of course Don Cherry is opposed, but he’s more entertainment than a serious pundit nowadays, isn’t he? [CBC]
With the Boston Bruins advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals, to face the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Dallas Stars have officially secured a second 1st round pick in this year’s draft. Jaromir Jagr, who has struggled offensively since the trade to Beantown, is beginning to draw the ire of some of the fans and media. The Boston Herald questions if the move was worth it, and suggests the condition of the trade should have focused more around production than advancement. [Boston Herald]
Ron MacLean comes to the defense of former Dallas Star Brad Richards in his latest article at the CBC. Richards, who was a healthy scratch by the New York Rangers in the most important game of their season, is being mentioned as a buy-out candidate this summer. MacLean believes his buddy Brad deserved much better treatment by his long-time coach John Tortorella. Was Brad treated unfairly, or did his play dictate a benching? [CBC]
Speaking of Tortorella, Darryl Sutter is vying for the title of surliest head coach remaining in the post-season. In today’s video, we listen to the driest man in the sport struggle to talk to the media, and watch his already interesting face contort into even more interesting positions as the presser went on.
Did you know they haven’t played in a Game 7 since 2002?