Could a new coach be on the horizon in Abbotsford? At the very least, it’s been a topic of growing speculation recently.
Reports indicate that head coach Jeremy Colliton might be exploring opportunities in the NHL, leaving his future with the Abbotsford Canucks uncertain.
Last week, Donnie and Dhali’s Rick Dhaliwal reported that there were rumblings about potential changes surrounding the Abbotsford Canucks’ bench boss.
Backing up Dhaliwal’s report, Sportsnet’s Dan Murphy mentioned that the Canucks had extended an offer to Colliton, which he reportedly turned down.
This week, Elliotte Friedman added more weight to the speculation. On his “32 Thoughts” podcast, Friedman suggested that Colliton might be interviewing with NHL teams, including the San Jose Sharks.
“I have wondered if Colliton has been interviewed in San Jose, too,” Friedman said. “A couple of people have mentioned that maybe Colliton has a couple of NHL opportunities he’s exploring.”
After firing head coach David Quinn in late April, the Sharks are currently conducting interviews for their vacant head coaching position. Other candidates reportedly include Jeff Blashill and Ryan Warsofsky.
Colliton’s successful tenure with Abbotsford and his ability to develop young talent align well with the Sharks’ current rebuild strategy.
In his two years with the Abbotsford Canucks, Colliton has led the club to back-to-back 92-point seasons and semi-final playoff exits. In the most recent season, he coached the AHL’s youngest team on paper, with an average age of 23.75 years. His ability to guide and develop young players makes him an attractive candidate for NHL teams focusing on rebuilding and development.
At 39, this would be Colliton’s second stint in the NHL. He coached the Chicago Blackhawks for the better part of four years and has an 87-92-26 record across 205 NHL games.
Later, on CHEK TV’s Donnie and Dhali, Friedman offered former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Head Coach J.D. Forrest as a candidate for the new Abby gig, should the Colliton rumours be true.
Wait, someone coming to Vancouver from the Pittsburgh Penguins organization? That checks out…