When the NHL resumes in a few months, two former players will be making their debut in the head coaching ranks.
Jim Playfair in Calgary, will be taking over from GM Darryl Sutter, who led the Flames to the cup final in 2004 against the Tampa Bay Lighning.
Guy Carbonneau, three time Stanley cup champion, three time Selke trophy winner and last player to captain the Montreal Canadiens to a Stanley Cup, will attempt to lead his former team to glory, behind the bench. It's not going to be a walk in the park for the former hab and future Hall of Famer. The last guys to coach the Habs to a championship, did it in their first season, and Carbonneau was a member of those two teams. So if anyone knows about playing in the pressure cooker that is Montreal, it's Carbonneau. If he coach's with the same determination that he played the game, he should get his fair share of success. What is to Carbonneau's advantage, he is taking over an upcoming team with a promising future. Carbonneau, like Playfair in Calgary, will have a strong presence in the GM chair in Bob Gainey.
Carbonneau as a player, played for some pretty good coaches. Jacques Lemaire, Jean Perron, Pat Burns, Jacques Demers and Ken Hitchcock. All five have Stanley cup rings in their jewelery boxes. I'm sure Carbonneau has learned some things from all five.
Also this season, some old faces will be making their debut in New Cities. Former Habs coach, Claude Julien, will be coaching in New Jersey. After an eight year absence, Ted Nolan, will be returning behind the bench in Long Island. Michel Therrien, an another former habs coach, will be starting his first full season in Pittsburgh, with the best seat in the house to watch his sophmore star, Sidney Crosby.
Over in the western conference, only two major changes to note. Marc Crawford, former Avalanche and Canucks coach, will be running the bench in Los Angeles. Alain Vigneault, yes another former habs coach will be running things in Vancouver.
Including those that sat still during the off season, the question is : Who will be the first casualty this season ?
I know this is early, but don't forget, training camps will be opening in about a month. July blew by in a flash, it should be the same for August.
Jim Playfair in Calgary, will be taking over from GM Darryl Sutter, who led the Flames to the cup final in 2004 against the Tampa Bay Lighning.
Guy Carbonneau, three time Stanley cup champion, three time Selke trophy winner and last player to captain the Montreal Canadiens to a Stanley Cup, will attempt to lead his former team to glory, behind the bench. It's not going to be a walk in the park for the former hab and future Hall of Famer. The last guys to coach the Habs to a championship, did it in their first season, and Carbonneau was a member of those two teams. So if anyone knows about playing in the pressure cooker that is Montreal, it's Carbonneau. If he coach's with the same determination that he played the game, he should get his fair share of success. What is to Carbonneau's advantage, he is taking over an upcoming team with a promising future. Carbonneau, like Playfair in Calgary, will have a strong presence in the GM chair in Bob Gainey.
Carbonneau as a player, played for some pretty good coaches. Jacques Lemaire, Jean Perron, Pat Burns, Jacques Demers and Ken Hitchcock. All five have Stanley cup rings in their jewelery boxes. I'm sure Carbonneau has learned some things from all five.
Also this season, some old faces will be making their debut in New Cities. Former Habs coach, Claude Julien, will be coaching in New Jersey. After an eight year absence, Ted Nolan, will be returning behind the bench in Long Island. Michel Therrien, an another former habs coach, will be starting his first full season in Pittsburgh, with the best seat in the house to watch his sophmore star, Sidney Crosby.
Over in the western conference, only two major changes to note. Marc Crawford, former Avalanche and Canucks coach, will be running the bench in Los Angeles. Alain Vigneault, yes another former habs coach will be running things in Vancouver.
Including those that sat still during the off season, the question is : Who will be the first casualty this season ?
I know this is early, but don't forget, training camps will be opening in about a month. July blew by in a flash, it should be the same for August.
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