Adrian Dater of the Denver Post reports that new Colorado Avalanche hockey ops chief Joe Sakic may have had a change of heart about hiring a coach without NHL experience as reported yesterday. That would seem to put former Avs legend and current Quebec junior league bench boss Patrick Roy firmly back in contention for Joe Sacco’s old job. “Indications from the [...]

Adrian Dater of the Denver Post strongly suggests it’s going to be a while before the Colorado Avalanche hires a new bench boss. Likely, as discussed before, because the club wants to have a shot at hiring the current head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes, Dave Tippett. “The Avs would like to see if Dave Tippett will be available. The Phoenix coach’s [...]

According to the Washington Times Norfolk Admirals coach Jon Cooper could be a contender for the vacant position with the Washington Capitals. Cooper said in a phone interview Tuesday that he would listen if the Capitals contacted him. “I’ve put myself in a position that if I could have an opportunity to go to an NHL [...]

With Bob Hartley hired as of the head coach of the Calgary Flames on Thursday, there are three names believed to be in the running for the head job with the Montreal Canadiens. Michel Therrien, Guy Carbonneau and Marc Crawford are rumored to be the top contenders to fill the open position. TSN’s Bob McKenzie agrees that Therrien [...]

Brent Sutter appears to be the frontrunner to become the next coach of the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers didn’t renew Tom Renney’s contract after he went 55-85-22 in two seasons. Sutter was let go by the Calgary Flames in mid-April after a year in which he went 37-29-16, missing the playoffs for the third straight [...]

Along with Troy Ward and Bob Hartley, there may be a strong third contender for the head coaching gig in Calgary. George Johnson of the Calgary Herald proposes New York Rangers assistant Mike Sullivan could be the ideal candidate overall. “At 44, Sullivan would project the youngish, upwardly mobile image an exhausted, stale franchise keeps insisting it’s [...]

Quick Hits from around the NHL: While others may consider Tom Ward the leading coaching candidate to land the Calgary Flames head coaching job, the man himself isn’t necessarily ready to go that far with any sort of predictions. ”I wouldn’t put any mortgages on that. Or any kind of money,” the Calgary Sun quotes the current Abbotsford Heat coach as [...]

According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, Montreal Canadiens General Manager Marc Bergevin is just starting to make initial contact with potential candidates for the vacant head coach position. “The Canadiens are in the process of touching base with potential head coach candidates including Michel Therrien, Guy Carbonneau, Marc Crawford, and Bob Hartley. Interviews have not been set up and the process [...]

Update: Renaud P Lavoie reports via Twitter that Larry Robinson vehemently ripped a report suggesting he in interested in joining the new Montreal Canadiens  regine. He has no interest. May 11th: Larry Robinson is emerging as a legitimate candidate to fill a coaching role for the Montreal Canadiens. The Toronto Star reports Robinson’s agent has indicated his client would be open to [...]

The Calgary Herald reports that Abbotsford Heat coach Troy Ward is one of the contenders to become the next coach of the Calgary Flames. Brent Sutter and the Flames mutually agreed to part ways in mid-April, leaving the coaching job vacant this offseason. The Flames AHL team fell in the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs, [...]