2013: The NHL season that almost wasn't

Another season, another coach fired in Edmonton.

MacTavish calls a press conference at 4 p.m. on a Saturday to announce that he has fired Ralph Krueger, bit surprising due to MacT's introductory press conference where he basically absolved him of any blame in the Oilers collapse.

But also not surprised as GMs like to bring in their own guys.

Word is MacT was looking for an experienced assistant to pair with Krueger and decided it would be best to just bring in a new HC, big philosophical divide.

Dregger is reporting that Eakins will be the new HC, just have to put ink on a contract, verbal agreement apparently reached.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=425009

Sam Gagner, 23, has played in the NHL for six years and will be playing for his fifth head coach now.

 

Another season, another coach fired in Edmonton.

MacTavish calls a press conference at 4 p.m. on a Saturday to announce that he has fired Ralph Krueger, bit surprising due to MacT's introductory press conference where he basically absolved him of any blame in the Oilers collapse.

But also not surprised as GMs like to bring in their own guys.

Word is MacT was looking for an experienced assistant to pair with Krueger and decided it would be best to just bring in a new HC, big philosophical divide.

Dregger is reporting that Eakins will be the new HC, just have to put ink on a contract, verbal agreement apparently reached.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=425009

Sam Gagner, 23, has played in the NHL for six years and will be playing for his fifth head coach now.

 

Thanks for the update in quintiplicate, Beef.

 

Anything worth doing once, you might as well do it five times.

My connection kept glitching out.

 

Wonder who MLSE is going to choose as the Marlies next coach

 

Krueger?

 

There's a certain irony in MacTavish firing anyone after one (or two, or three or 12) seasons. That guy had the longest leash in NHL history when he was behind the bench.

John Tortorella to the Oilers?!?!?

 

No, it's going to be Eakins.

 

Maybe the Oilers will grab Messier before the Rangers can lock him up.

 

Oh god. That has disaster written all over that. however, it would be a typical Oilers move. I'm surprised they haven't tried to hire Bill Ranford away from the Kings yet.

 

Pittsburgh gives Dan Bylsma a two-year contract extension.

Good move, IMO. He took some heat for the Penguins getting swept by the Bruins, but in the bigger scheme of things, he's a pretty good coach. I expect Pittsburgh to be one of the favorites next season, although I will be very interested to see what they do about their goaltending situation. If Marc Andre Fleury isn't your top guy, you pretty much have to deal him, because he makes too much money to be a backup. Sort of like Roberto Luongo in Vancouver.

 

Seconds before the stroke of midnight, the Hawks win it.