Topics in this edition of the PHR Mailbag include some possible new options for head coaches and GMs, Anaheim’s disappointing summer, and much more. If your question doesn’t appear here, check back in last weekend’s column.
Gmm8811: GM’s on the hot seat…Blake, Lamoriello, Yzerman. Coaches on the hot seat…Richardson, Lalonde, Huska.
Who’s the up-and-comers to replace them?
Let’s start with the general managers. Mathieu Darche has been a finalist a few times now and has been in Tampa Bay’s front office for the last five years while increasing job duties along the way so he should be on that list. One name that hasn’t gotten a lot of attention that could fit in this range is Paul Krepelka, his age (56) notwithstanding. He has spent the last four years in Florida’s front office and was a long-time player agent before that. We’ve seen a few former agents take on GM jobs so he could be a candidate to be the next one to do so. Another one that isn’t necessarily a younger up-and-comer is Ryan Martin who has been an AGM in the NHL since 2010. At some point, he might get a chance. And as for Lou Lamoriello’s potential replacement when the time comes, that might stay in the family with Chris Lamoriello, a long-time executive with both the Islanders and Devils, seeming like a viable candidate with his father perhaps moving into an advisory role at the time.
On the coaching side, I’d first question the placements of Luke Richardson and Ryan Huska on the hot seat. As long as Chicago fares a little better this season, I think Richardson is safe and with Calgary heading into a rebuild, a coaching change this quickly seems unlikely.
That aside, Jay Leach has been on the radar for a few years now and has interviewed a few times for the top job. I don’t think it’s going to be too much longer before he gets that opportunity. Marco Sturm was a finalist in San Jose and while teams will be hesitant when it comes to hiring an international head coach, the fact that Sturm has coached in North America for the last six years helps. Seth Appert has been working his way up the coaching ladder in various leagues and will get his first NHL action as an assistant this season in Buffalo. That might be the last box to check before he gets a chance to run an NHL bench in the next year or two.
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