Penguins/NHL
COACHING SEARCH LATEST
Among the 5-6 candidates on the Penguins shortlist for a new coach, Pittsburgh will look at one internal candidate and have interest in two coaches in the Carolina Hurricanes organization.
The Penguins are interested in talking to Carolina’s AHL coach Jeff Daniels and Hurricanes assistant coach Rod Brind’Amour next week about the head coaching position, a source tells Inside Pittsburgh Sports.
The Penguins are likely to request permission to interview both but it remains unclear if permission will be granted.
Daniels, a former Penguins draft pick, has spent 17 seasons as a player and coach in the Hurricanes organization. He won a Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006 as an assistant coach. Daniels has compiled a record of 237-187-44 in six seasons as an AHL coach.
Brind’Amour has spent the past three seasons as the Hurricanes assistant coach. Lacks NHL head coaching experience but was a proven winner and leader at the NHL level where there wouldn’t be a problem with him commanding respect in the room. He means a lot to the Hurricanes organization, casting some doubts that permission would be allowed to interview him.
Unconfirmed for now, but many around the league believe Kevin Dineen is also on Rutherford’s shortlist of candidates and is a candidate he was pushing for in Carolina.
Some believe Rutherford will be leaning towards a candidate he is familiar with.
The Penguins will start conducting interviews next week for a head coach. Rutherford will be in New York this week for the GM meetings.
Team sources are adamant that Rutherford has full authority and will make his own hire, though, it’s likely a candidate or two of ownership’s liking will get a strong look. That’s where Guy Boucher could surface.
Two prominent coaches still coaching in the Stanley Cup Final include Ulf Samuelsson and John Stevens.
With the Los Angeles Kings one win away from winning the Cup, both could be available to talk to teams as early as Thursday.
With Dan Bylsma owed almost $5 million the next two years, some talk in team circles that the Penguins are looking to hire their next coach to a two year contract with a club option for a third year. That could become problematic with some candidates.
Until Mike Babcock actually becomes available, it’s fantasy talk for now when it comes to coaching the team for the 2014-2015 season.
The Penguins will interview AHL coach John Hynes, Jim Rutherford told the Tribune-Review on Monday. Right now there isn’t a lot of buzz about Jacques Martin being a serious contender.
Hynes has been highly regarded for his ability to make in-game adjustments at the AHL level but he’s never coached NHL players and some have concerns about his ability to handle the Penguins room.
However, he’s thought of very highly by some in the front office who pretty much have just as much power as Rutherford does. It’s a wait and see situation whether he becomes a legitimate contender.
