Former Canucks Employee Makes Swift Management Decision
Thomas Drance
June 10 2013 09:59AM
Photo source: Wikimedia Commons
The news broke over the weekend that Edmonton Oilers General Manager Craig MacTavish was poised to fire Ralph Krueger and replace him with Marlies bench boss Dallas Eakins - the brighest, shiniest thing on the coaching market this June. Krueger was fired over Skype this past weekend and at some point later today Eakins will officially take over as the twelfth headcoach in the history of the Oilers as an NHL franchise, and the team's fourth coach in the past five years.
This was disappointing news for some Canucks fans, who understandably wanted the Canucks to bring in the highly-touted, high-cheekboned, young Marlies coach. Maybe they got their hopes up a bit too high when Dallas Eakins had a second interview with the Canucks late last week.
Ultimately while Mike Gillis hemmed, hawed and preferred to wait to interview the likes of John Stevens, his former minor league headcoach Craig MacTavish struck quickly, and almost impulsively, in choosing Dallas Eakins as "his guy."
We'll look at the Dallas Eakins hiring through the prism of Vancouver's own search for a new headcoach after the jump.
Report: Dallas Eakins will do "Second Interview" with Canucks Brass
Thomas Drance
June 04 2013 12:28PM
Screencap via NHL.com
The Canucks interviewed highly regarded coaching prospect Dallas Eakins last week, and will reportedly chat with deposed Dallas Stars bench boss Glen Gulutzan at some point this week. But apparently Eakins nailed his interview and will be brought in to chat with Mike Gillis and company for a second time in short order. Per Elliotte Friedman's latest 30 Thoughts column:
Glen Gulutzan's interview with the Vancouver Canucks will be some time this week. I still think there will be more candidates (Kings assistant John Stevens, for example). But there is a growing sense they really like Dallas Eakins, who coaches the AHL Toronto Marlies. Word is Eakins will do a second interview with Vancouver.
Well isn't that interesting. Read past the jump for more.
Streit Talk: Should the Canucks Pursue Mark Streit in Free Agency?
Thomas Drance
June 04 2013 11:45AM
Image via wikimedia commons.
It was reported by Arthur Staple of Newsday on Tuesday afternoon that Swiss born defenceman Mark Streit will not be re-signing with the New York Islanders before July 5th. Rather Streit will hit the open market as an unrestricted free-agent. A puck moving defenceman who can quarterback a power-play, Mark Streit has to be an intriguing piece for the Canucks. He's also a player the team reportedly pursued way back at the 2011-12 trade deadline.
Would Streit make sense for the Canucks to pursue? We'll get into it after the jump.
CANUCKSARMY GEAR: T-SHIRT DESIGN CONTEST
Thomas Drance
June 03 2013 01:04PM
Image via http://tiarasandacus.blogspot.ca/
Our site has been around for a while now. You've read our blog through epic Canucks disappointments and through other epic Canucks disappointments. All the while we've mostly just made silly graphs, churned out the nerdiest Canucks content around, and made a whole load of bad jokes about how Jason Garrison is a hipster.
Somehow, someway, in spite of all of this, lots of you seem to read and like our stuff. Well now we want to give back! And by want to give back, we mean that we want to give you the opportunity you wear Canucks Army gear on a day-to-day basis. You'll be the talk of the town (of course most of that talk will be negative like, "why did that idiot wear a sick t-shirt to a wedding?").
To that end we're holding a t-shirt design contest and we're really excited about it! Read past the jump for more info!
Rick Bowness to join Lightning Staff as Associate Coach
Thomas Drance
June 03 2013 12:32PM
Rick Bowness has a new job in Florida.
Screengrab via Canucks.com
Of the three former Canucks coaches who were relieved of their duties two weeks ago, Rick Bowness has become the first to land a new job. As reported by multiple sources including Ben Kuzma in Vancouver and Renaud Lavoie in Quebec, Rick Bowness is poised to join the Tampa Bay Lightning as an associate coach on wonderkid John Cooper's staff. (Update: those reports have now been confirmed by Sportsnet's Chris Johnston).
There had been ample speculation that Bowness and Vigneault, two coaches who have basically worked together forever, would be something of a package deal this offseason. Obviously with Bowness heading down to Tampa, that won't be the case.
Read past the jump for more.
