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Wednesday, June 11, 2008
It’s not McLellan
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“He’s not going there,” Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock told me this evening when he returned a message I’d left asking to speak with him about his assistant, Todd McLellan, a candidate for the Thrashers coaching job.
McLellan is going to San Jose.
(So much for my conversation with Kris Draper, whom I talked to on Tuesday so that I would be prepared to write about McLellan. For the record, Draper said good things about McLellan, especially his ability to spot weaknesses in opponents’ penalty killing units on video AND translate those observations into strategies the Red Wings could put into practice. Also, if you’re wondering about a coach who can work well with young players, Draper pointed out that some of the Red Wings’ young players were on the power play much more than five-on-five.)
Back to the Thrashers, whose remaining candidates include associate coach Brad McCrimmon, Chicago Wolves coach John Anderson, plus one or two others, possibly a former NHL head coach or two.
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One man’s draft analysis
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Don Waddell gets a little advice, whether he wants it or not, from Edmonton hockey writer Jim Matheson. Don’t make a trade. Draft a defenseman with that third pick, instead.
“The Thrashers can get a defenceman in [Drew] Doughty (Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League), who can run the power play. There’s [Zach] Bogosian (Peterborough Petes, OHL) who’s tough, mobile and could easily be ready to play in the NHL next year at No. 3. Then there’s Luke Schenn (Kelowna Rockets, Western Hockey League) the best shutdown defenceman in the draft, a young version of Adam Foote. Doughty can really move the puck. Bogosian, an American, is more physical than Doughty. Schenn can step into the NHL right now, according to most scouts. Atlanta will not trade their pick.”
Here’s the full text.
