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Sleeping With The Enemy?

Add another name to the list of candidates for the Colorado Avalanche head coaching position:  Todd McLellan.  Who is Todd McLellan?  Why, he's one of the assistant coaches with the Detroit Red Wings.

If you want to know more about his resume, read Terry Frei's article (linked above).

From what I can tell, this is the current short list for Joel Quenneville's old job (in only somewhat particular order), according to the actions of Francois Giguere and the astute journalistic hounds at the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News:

  • Pat Burns
  • Todd McLellan
  • John Tortorella
  • Patrick Roy
  • Kevin Dineen
  • Ron Wilson (doubtful)
  • Bob Hartley (highly doubtful)

Personally, I don't care where a guy used to coach.  If Mike Babcock was looking for a job I'd trust Francois Giguere would pursue him, too, because Babcock is a good coach and that's what the Avs need.  It's not like Peter Forsberg playing for the Red Wings or Darren McCarty playing for the Avalanche.  Players are different, at least in my mind, empty though it is.

ADDENDUM: Speaking of Detroit coaches:

Q I apologize for opening with a Provincial question, but do you have any reaction to what happened to Joel Quenneville at Colorado?

COACH MIKE BABCOCK: Good for Joel. He’s a hot commodity now, and he’s out in the market. I think he’s a heck of a coach. I think he does a good job. He got his team two of the last three years out of the first round.

They were really hurt this year, and he still managed to do it. So I mean, probably he and his family didn’t want to leave, but in saying that, it will be new opportunity. He’ll get a great deal and probably with a good team.

So all the power to him.

Hat tip to Kukla's Korner for the interview.

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Added

Babcock also added:

I really hope he gets a job with a team like St. Louis. This has nothing to do with the fact that we play them 6 times next season and I have owned him the last few seasons

by Jibblescribbits on May 13, 2008 10:15 AM MDT   0 recs

speaking of the enemy ...

I've been "discussing" various topics with the clowns over at A2Y (a very sensitive bunch of idiots, btw), and a random thought just came to mind.  How dumb is it, that whether their blog name is aimed at chronology or alpha-order, it excludes Zetterberg?  Oh well, stupid is as stupid does.

by Bob in Boulder on May 13, 2008 11:10 AM MDT   0 recs

Re: speaking of the enemy...

Well, I always assumed it was a reference to the alphabetical listing of the Red Wings' various captains through the years.  Abel was captain, Yzerman was captain, but Zetterberg hasn't been captain yet.

I never asked, though, because I really don't care.

by Joe @ MHH on May 13, 2008 11:34 AM MDT to parent up   0 recs

good point

I shouldn't care either.  Nor should I be watching the team I hate cakewalk to another cup.  It is depressing.

by Bob in Boulder on May 13, 2008 11:39 AM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: good point

It really is.

I hope the Penguins can put up more of a fight than the Avs and Stars.

by Joe @ MHH on May 13, 2008 12:28 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

The 'Guins...

...are the only team left that can beat them. And I would expect them to give the Wings a run for their money.

They are basically the same team. Two star players, two secondary scorers, two good defensemen and two mediocre goalies. The Wings have a better coach, the Guins have a better goalie. Crysby and Malkin are both better than Datsyuk and Zetterberg. Should be a good series. I may even watch.

by Neptune on May 13, 2008 4:20 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Mediocre goalie

I've been arguing the mediocre goalie point over on the rw ng today.  I believe you could drop about 25 other goalies in the league today (Hasek not being one of them) on this RW team, with the team defense they are playing, and they would be where they are now.  Ozzy isn't anything special.  And if I hear one more moron suggest he should be a candidate for the Conn Smythe I'll hurl.  

by Bob in Boulder on May 13, 2008 5:43 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: mediocre goalie

...or the Hall of Fame.

by Joe @ MHH on May 13, 2008 8:00 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

The only thing...

The only thing Osgood is doing differently now as opposed to his last run with the Wings is that he's not completely losing focus in the third period of key games.

by Neptune on May 13, 2008 8:37 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Logic

Logic is a concept completely lost on both the Legion of Idiots and their Jim Jones.

by Neptune on May 13, 2008 4:21 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

I think this

could be somewhat of a problem

McLellan has been introduced to Avalanche general manager Francois Giguere in the past, but he said he hasn't yet spoken with Giguere about the opening, and the Red Wings would have to give Colorado permission to contact him.

I'd be somewhat surprised if the Wings give the Avs permisiion to talk to McLellan seeing as how both teams still hate each other a little, plus they'd be giving him to another western conference team which seems unlikely. I don't know what the deal is with Assistant coaches and their contracts and stipulations but if i was the red wings i would rather have him talk to a eastern conference team than a western conference rival.

by Savage33 on May 14, 2008 1:28 AM MDT   0 recs

Not surprising

Not that I know him personally, but FG seems like the type of GM who would never try and cause a distraction for a team still in the playoffs. I can't imagine him talking to McLellan, or even asking to, while the Wings are still playing

by Jibblescribbits on May 14, 2008 8:47 AM MDT to parent up   0 recs

So

Are the Avs allowed to talk to him when the seasons over without the Wings permission or do they still need to go through the Wings first

by Savage33 on May 16, 2008 6:19 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

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