In the three weeks since the completion of the regular season, four coaches; Barry Trotz, Adam Oates, Peter Horachek and John Tortorella have been served with their walking papers, increasing the number of coaching changes since the end of the 2011 season to 32.
New Jersey’s Peter DeBoer and the Islanders Jack Capuano evaded the hangman’s noose, Minnesota’s Mike Yeo and Pittsburgh’s Dan Bylsma have received a stay of execution with first round playoff victories, but the Butcher’s Bill may continue to rise before the numerous vacancies starting getting filled.
Carolina may be ready to move on from Kirk Muller with Ron Francis replacing longtime GM Jim Rutherford and San Jose’s Todd McLellan is likely being fitted for a set of goat horns after being at the helm for the great San Jose Sharks collapse of 2014, but there are indications that Leafs coach Randy Carlyle may get another kick at the can under new President Brendan Shanahan and GM Dave Nonis.
Sportsnet’s Damien Cox indicated on FAN 590’s Brady and Walker Show Friday morning that the Leafs were probably leaning towards keeping the veteran coach.
The evaluation process of the club, including Carlyle’s 25 month tenure as coach began with player exit interviews following the end of the season and has been slowed by a number of factors, including not wanting to take the spotlight away from the Toronto Raptors playoff run, but Cox believes the delay may have more to do with Nonis scouting trip to Finland for the IIHF under-18 tournament and that Shanahan had undergone knee surgery last week.
If Carlyle is retained, he would be entering the final year of the four-year deal signed after replacing Ron Wilson in March 2012, which could potentially put the Leafs organization in the same position they were three years ago, having to determine during or immediately following the season to extend the Stanley Cup winning coach.
Radio host Greg Brady had an interesting twist on the potential return of Carlyle, stating that he may be a lame duck who occupies the coaching spot until the end of the 2014-15 season, when Detroit coach Mike Babcock’s contract expires.
Babcock may be ready to move on to a new challenge following his nine-year tenure with the Red Wings, according to
Helene St. James. The 51-year -old coach has a Stanley Cup and two Olympic victories under his belt and is not looking to sign another deal with the Wings, in spite of good relations with owner Mike Ilitch and GM Ken Holland.
Babcock has a history of moving on after the expiration of his contract, as he chose to leave Anaheim after the 2004-05 lockout for Detroit (ironically his replacement was Carlyle). No doubt Babcock’s cache would be most applicable with a Canadian team, as the coach that led Team Canada to two consecutive Gold medal victories and his association with Shanahan as a player in Detroit.
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