The Anaheim Ducks and New York Rangers, two NHL teams with head coach openings, are in very different situations as they enter the off-season.
Anaheim, currently rebuilding, needs a coach who can lead a team with promising young players out of a seven-year playoff drought. On the other hand, the New York Rangers are seeking a coach to get them back on track after a disappointing season where they missed the playoffs for only the fourth time since 2010.
Elliotte Friedman from Sportsnet discussed these coaching vacancies, considering the appeal of each job and what each team`s general manager might be looking for in a new coach.
Friedman noted that Ducks General Manager Pat Verbeek, after dismissing Greg Cronin, aims for the team to make the playoffs next season.
Friedman suggested that Verbeek`s decision to move on from Cronin was influenced by the urgency to make the playoffs next year. He believes Verbeek assessed whether Cronin was the coach to achieve this goal.
Cronin coached Anaheim for two seasons, achieving a 62-87-15 record. Despite this, he oversaw a significant 21-point improvement in the team`s performance year over year.
This improvement, achieved with the NHL`s sixth-youngest roster, might make the Ducks job surprisingly attractive to coaching candidates.
Friedman believes many coaches will see the Ducks as a team on the rise, appreciating their young talent and promising roster.
The Ducks boasted five 20-goal scorers this past season, including young players like Mason McTavish, Leo Carlsson, and Cutter Gauthier. Young defensemen such as Jackson LaCombe, Olen Zellweger, and Pavel Mintyukov also made significant contributions.
There`s also optimism regarding their goaltending with 24-year-old Lukáš Dostál showing promise.
Furthermore, the Ducks have considerable salary cap space, providing flexibility for potential free agency signings or trades to further strengthen the team.
In contrast, the New York Rangers` coaching position might be less desirable.
Friedman mentioned that some coaches might be hesitant about the Rangers job due to recent events and potential roster changes.
He emphasized that the Rangers need to establish a positive atmosphere where players are happy to be part of the team.
Friedman suggested the Rangers should ensure that any player unhappy in New York should be moved, allowing the new coach to start with a positive team environment.
Despite potential concerns about the Rangers, Friedman dismissed the idea that they will struggle to find a coach, calling it `crazy`.
The next Rangers coach will be the fourth in six seasons, following David Quinn, Gerard Gallant, and Peter Laviolette, who was fired after just one season despite a successful previous season.
Rangers General Manager Chris Drury stated he is open to hiring a first-time NHL head coach.
Friedman speculated that Drury`s openness to a first-time coach suggests interest in David Carle, the successful University of Denver coach who has won multiple NCAA championships.
Carle has been the head coach at the University of Denver since 2018, leading them to NCAA championships in 2022 and 2024.
