In life, they say, timing is everything. Sometimes that’s a good thing…sometimes it’s un-good. In the case of John Anderson, the latter could be true when it comes to the possibility of landing his first NHL coaching job with the Atlanta Thrashers.

Obviously, the Wolves coach is atop the short list of candidates and the team has been planning to discuss the opening with him just as soon as he is done with the post-season in Chicago.

However, it may be too long to wait for him.

Seeing that Anderson’s Wolves have recently defeated the Rockford IceHogs in seven games to win the AHL’s Western Conference title and are now poised to face the Toronto Marlies for the championship of that league…he may not be through with his current responsibilities for a couple of more weeks.

If that series were to play out to a game seven, (which would be played on May 27th), it would mean that the Thrashers would be without a coach until about 3-1/2 weeks prior to the NHL entry draft. Given the fact that some quality names have been tossed on the market recently, it may just be too enticing for the Thrashers organ-I-zation to decide to make a move now, rather than wait for Anderson to become available.

I mean, when coaches like Ron Wilson and Joel Quenneville are dusting off their resumes and teams like Toronto, Ottawa, Florida and Colorado are seeking applicants to fill the same opening we are…well, let’s just say we don’t want to be slapping ourselves on the forehead down the road because one of these guys just lifted the cup over his head with another team. Watching this happen with a coach that we knew we could have had … but instead ownership fiddled around …would cause a great deal of wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Also, I think that the ASG is starting to understand that their fan base is just a tad disgruntled. They are feeling it primarily from the less-than-robust season ticket renewals. Thus, ownership may be inclined to move forward with getting a “name recognition” type bench boss in town sooner rather than later.

Now, I’m going to go on the record and say that of all the coaching options the Thrashers have available to them, the two best scenarios is to bring in either Anderson or Wilson. My personal choice would be Ron Wilson. I just think that the best route for the Thrashers to take right now is the one that is navigated by the experienced coach that is already wise to the ways of the NHL. However, having said that, the one exception I would make to that train of thought is John Anderson…who is very familiar with this team and it’s young players.

Either way…both would be excellent choices and the team would be better for it. Also, (and this is just as important), either would move many yet-to-renew season ticket holders to pick up the phone and become just-renewed STH.

Actually, what would move almost every yet-to-renew-ers to become just-renewed-ers would be if either Wilson or Anderson were to be announced as the new Thrashers head coach by a general manager not named Waddell…but I digress.

The Thrashers have been without an official coach since dismissing Bob Hartley seven months ago. Five weeks from now the NHL will hold it’s entry draft…five weeks after that the free agency signing season begins. The league isn’t going to postpone either for the ASG to get their act together.

If…IF…Don, Bruce and Michael get a clue to this fact of life, they might just feel the need to get their rears in gear and get a coach in place soon.

Unfortunately for John Anderson, that might mean that he coached his way right out of a job here.

Like I said…timing is everything.

Post-post edit: The Wolves are indeed playin the the Western Conference Finals of the AHL…thus Anderson sould be tied up in Chicago into June should the Wolve be successful vs. Toronto

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