Who's the next coach to be hired

by Brandt Corbin   

 

    Two teams are still searching for their new head coach. Those two teams are the Washington Capitals and the youthful Edmonton Oilers. But who remains on the radar as head coaching candidates?

Veterans who have struggled in past assignments

    Lets get one think straight right off the bat. There is no chance in hell that Craig MacTavish could return to Edmonton as that teams next head coach. Is there any chance the Capitals would even consider him? I’d say no, he just doesn’t come across as the right fit for the team at this point. Therefore he will be again passed up for this years vacancies.

    The other veteran coach that remain unemployed is Marc Crawford, who was rumoured to be the runner up for the Montreal Canadiens head coach, who named Michel Thierren as there head man. I see “Crow” as a better fit for the Oilers; a very youthful team close to progressing to the next level. Can the former Nordique & Avalanche coach make the Oilers a contender sooner than expected? I said maybe; only reason I’d have doubts more because of the teams depth on the blueline and average goaltending.

    Brent Sutter’s name has been floated out as a possibility for the Oilers, only because of his ties to Alberta and being locally from Red Deer. Will his lack of success in New Jersey and Calgary hold him back from getting hired right away? I’d say likely, Sutter doesn’t come across as being a “players coach” and the Oilers come across as being fun loving kids having a good time.

Where is Washington looking at?

    Two names have popped up recently in regards to the Washington head coaching post. Of course last month, Captial great Dale Hunter stepped down as the teams coach. His assistant Dean Evason has been one of the names mentioned frequently as being a candidate. He’s been there for quite awhile, knows the players better than anyone, can the former Calgary Hitmen coach take it to the next level? The other named being mentioned is former Washington Capital and current New Jersey Devil assistant coach Adam Oates. He went deep into the playoffs as an assistant last year with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Could two deep runs in back to back years give him the leg up in Washington.

Other names not to forget about

    Could Davis Payne, Paul Maurice, Scott Arniel, Ron Wilson & Tom Renney all former head coaches recently also be considered? They likely would receive interviews, but could fall short in the interim. I see the first three named as being more mid-season replacements, than the off-season. Wilson is the most unlikely to be rehired. One hopes that Arniel & Payne, good minor league coaches would one day be reconsidered to get another job as the headman.

Two names I’d strongly consider, get ready to be shocked

    Two former NHL coaches that I think should be considered strongly are as follows.

1> Andy Murray, is known as coming more prepared than most other coaches in history. Stories have been told of him putting the next games strategy & game plan underneath the door of the players hotel rooms. His shell life as a coach in one location is 2-3 years, before his preparation gets to be too much. The Oilers and Caps have their strengths and weaknesses; having someone like Murray would be a benefit to both teams both short term and long term.

2> Randy Cunneyworth, got the shaft in Montreal for not being French Canadian. He was a hardworking role player in his days with the Whalers & Senators, more than paid his dues as a head coach in Rochester & Hamilton (in the AHL). I think he deserves another kick at the can. I can see getting the job in Edmonton before in Washington. Only because if the Caps will hire a rookie coach it will be Evason or Oates before Cunneyworth.

    It’s unsure when the two teams will name their head man, but one’s likely to hear plenty of rumblings.