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Oilers fed up with coach questions
'No one has heard anything' about MacTavish replacement, says Kyle Brodziak
The Edmonton Journal/Joanne Ireland, May 22, 2009 (with notes by Jim Matheson)
The question comes up constantly when Kyle Brodziak is out and about.
"Who's the new coach?"
"What are you hearing?"
"What do you know?"
Brodziak offers up the same answer time and again. "I couldn't even guess," he said. "No one has heard anything."
The Edmonton Oilers winger was among the players at Telus Field Thursday evening for an autograph session prior to the Edmonton Capitals' home opener.
Naturally, the conversation shifted to the vacant head coaching post. Craig MacTavish's tenure ended on April 15.
"Change is a good thing sometimes ... whatever it is and however it shakes out," said veteran defenceman Steve Staios, who was at the park along with Steve MacIntyre and Zack Stortini. "We've had losing seasons before, but I don't think we've had one like last year. There wasn't a lot of heart and passion and not as much energy as we've normally played with.
"Being away from it for a couple of weeks now, there's a sense of excitement because we haven't been successful and there's going to be a change. Hopefully that will bring back that passion and some good positive results."
With the change at the helm, there will be a change in several areas, which is why Brodziak figures a lot of players will have to evaluate how they approach the off-season. "We just have to make sure we come in a lot more prepared," he said.
As for the talk about the new bench boss, Brodziak is keeping half an ear tuned to the speculation.
"It's an important key to our team, but it's out of our control," Brodziak said. "When they decide to name the head coach, that's when I'll start paying a little more attention to it.
"He was the only coach I've had in the NHL ... so it's going to be different and guys are looking forward to finding out who it's going to be."
jireland@thejournal.canwest.com
RICHARDS OFF LIST?
Todd Richards may be off the Edmonton Oilers' short list in their search for a new head coach.
With Chuck Fletcher, the Pittsburgh Penguins assistant general manager, reportedly getting the job as Minnesota Wild GM, Richards could be joining him.
Richards, an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks, has been interviewed for the vacant Oilers' bench boss post. He is closely associated with Fletcher.
Fletcher, son of longtime NHL executive Cliff Fletcher, hired Richards to coach the Penguins Wilkes-Barre American Hockey League farm team where he was hugely successful for a couple of seasons.
Richards just finished his first year with the Sharks as Todd McLellan's assistant.
-- Jim Matheson
'No one has heard anything' about MacTavish replacement, says Kyle Brodziak
The Edmonton Journal/Joanne Ireland, May 22, 2009 (with notes by Jim Matheson)
The question comes up constantly when Kyle Brodziak is out and about.
"Who's the new coach?"
"What are you hearing?"
"What do you know?"
Brodziak offers up the same answer time and again. "I couldn't even guess," he said. "No one has heard anything."
The Edmonton Oilers winger was among the players at Telus Field Thursday evening for an autograph session prior to the Edmonton Capitals' home opener.
Naturally, the conversation shifted to the vacant head coaching post. Craig MacTavish's tenure ended on April 15.
"Change is a good thing sometimes ... whatever it is and however it shakes out," said veteran defenceman Steve Staios, who was at the park along with Steve MacIntyre and Zack Stortini. "We've had losing seasons before, but I don't think we've had one like last year. There wasn't a lot of heart and passion and not as much energy as we've normally played with.
"Being away from it for a couple of weeks now, there's a sense of excitement because we haven't been successful and there's going to be a change. Hopefully that will bring back that passion and some good positive results."
With the change at the helm, there will be a change in several areas, which is why Brodziak figures a lot of players will have to evaluate how they approach the off-season. "We just have to make sure we come in a lot more prepared," he said.
As for the talk about the new bench boss, Brodziak is keeping half an ear tuned to the speculation.
"It's an important key to our team, but it's out of our control," Brodziak said. "When they decide to name the head coach, that's when I'll start paying a little more attention to it.
"He was the only coach I've had in the NHL ... so it's going to be different and guys are looking forward to finding out who it's going to be."
jireland@thejournal.canwest.com
RICHARDS OFF LIST?
Todd Richards may be off the Edmonton Oilers' short list in their search for a new head coach.
With Chuck Fletcher, the Pittsburgh Penguins assistant general manager, reportedly getting the job as Minnesota Wild GM, Richards could be joining him.
Richards, an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks, has been interviewed for the vacant Oilers' bench boss post. He is closely associated with Fletcher.
Fletcher, son of longtime NHL executive Cliff Fletcher, hired Richards to coach the Penguins Wilkes-Barre American Hockey League farm team where he was hugely successful for a couple of seasons.
Richards just finished his first year with the Sharks as Todd McLellan's assistant.
-- Jim Matheson
