Oilers name Quinn head coach
by James Mirtle on May 26, 2009 12:05 PM CDT
26 comments
The Oilers have called a major news conference today for about an hour from now when they will name Pat Quinn as the team's next head coach. Former Rangers coach Tom Renney will be one of his assistants.
Quinn and Oilers GM Steve Tambellini both spent many years in the Canucks organization and are quite familiar with one another, so this isn't a huge surprise. Quinn's now 66 years old and this is likely his last kick at coaching an NHL team, while Renney's likely on board to step in whenever Quinn calls it quits down the line.
The Globe and Mail's Al Maki reported earlier today that in addition to Quinn and Renney, Tambellini also interviewed another former Canucks coach in Marc Crawford.
Quinn's what I would call a safe choice for the Oilers. He's one of the winningest coaches of all time (fifth overall) and has won two Jack Adams but has never guided a team to a Stanley Cup. He's also been out of the game for quite a while now, having not coached in the NHL since helming the Leafs in 2005-06.
Quinn's also fairly popular in hockey circles, and I doubt this decision is highly criticized. That said, there has been a trend toward bumping up top AHL-level coaches that has proven highly successful with the likes of Dan Bylsma and Bruce Boudreau, and I'm surprised the Oilers didn't apparently interview any candidates that haven't already been fired multiple times from NHL jobs.
Peter Laviolette, who led the 'Canes to the Stanley Cup in 2006, is also available and could have been a good choice given the Oilers personnel. (Although it appears he is the front-runner for the Wild job.)
I'm stepping out for a bit, but you can catch Quinn's introductory news conference at the Oilers website at 2 p.m. ET.
UPDATE Eric Duhatschek has much more on this as does Yahoo! Sports' Greg Wyshysnki. If nothing else, Quinn will make the Oilers season that much more interesting.
UPDATE Duhatschek notes that AHL coaches Todd Richards, Kevin Dineen and Scott Arniel were considered for the position, so ignore what I said earlier about not taking a look at less experienced candidates.
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Apparently the Oilers think that Quinn’s recent experience at the U18 and U20 have given him a fresh perspective on handling the kids. Either that, or they’re dealing two of the four small, speedy, defence-second forwards for some vets who can win a draw.
Of course, the biggest question of all: Did Quinn’s Leafs have a good PP?
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)
by Doogie2K on May 26, 2009 12:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
It’s a bit of a myth that Quinn hates breaking in young players. With the Leafs, he broke in several early and it’s not like the Leafs had an abundance of quality youth by the time his reign was reaching it’s end. He generally made some poor managerial moves, his problem wasn’t coaching the youth.
Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.
by saskhab on May 26, 2009 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s true, and I guess I should remember that just from the linked PPP interview with Quinn. Still, if we’re talking about the perception of Quinn as a coach who hates the kids, I would think his success at recent junior tourneys would flip that around.
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)
by Doogie2K on May 26, 2009 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
In case anyone is interested here is the interview that Doogie2k is referencing.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on May 26, 2009 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Powerplay
2005-2006: 21.4% – 2nd
2003-2004: 20.1% – 4th
2002-2003: 17.5% – 11th
2001-2002: 15.4% – 15th
2000-2001: 16.0% – 18th
The good news for the Oilers is that the last two years came when he harnessed Bryan McCabe’s booming shot with Kyle Wellwood and Sundin’s passing down low. I am guessing that Souray and Hemsky can fill those roles pretty well.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on May 26, 2009 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That sounds just fine to me. :)
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)
by Doogie2K on May 26, 2009 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Would’ve gone with Renney over Quinn.
The Oil’s trying to sell seats, not win games with this hiring.
by Donny Rivette on May 26, 2009 12:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Would’ve gone with Renney over Quinn.
Me too.
"Hey! Farmboy! Maybe you can't count, but there are four of us and one of you."
"So get some more guys and then it'll be an even fight."
by Afino on May 26, 2009 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Quinn has a much higher career win % than Renney, so I don’t get that logic. And I don’t think the Oilers need a coach to sell seats.
Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.
by saskhab on May 26, 2009 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Career winning %s – in the NHL – are fine, but if that’s the tentpole, how come the Pete DeBoers, John Andersons, and Bruce Boudreaus are finding employment when skeletons like Quinn are available?
And sooner or later, if the Oil loses consistently, they’re going to need a marketing department. Forget the history and hunger the area has for pucks…the economy will catch up.
by Donny Rivette on May 26, 2009 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And sooner or later, if the Oil loses consistently, they’re going to need a marketing department. Forget the history and hunger the area has for pucks…the economy will catch up.
Edmonton’s actually a pretty young city, with lots of young professionals. It’s not all oil wealth there, there is a significant white collar population (but the town’s personality is still very blue collar). It’s weathering the Alberta downturn better than other areas in the province, that’s for sure. The team also has no competition in their market unless you count the CFL.
Pat Quinn was out of the NHL for 3 years. That’s hardly a man that would’ve lost his sharpness, particularily since he’s been a head coach of 4 elite international tournaments in that time span (I’m reaching to include the ‘06 Olympics, when he still had a NHL job). I just don’t understand how one can say they’d win with Renney but not with Quinn.
Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.
by saskhab on May 26, 2009 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I didn’t say they’d win with Renney, only that I’d have picked him, given the two as my only choices. Call it a hunch. Quinn had little success after the lockout/rule changes, and my decision was based upon that. That he worked among the pension plan ghosts is another matter.
International hockey can’t honestly be used as a benchmark, given larger ice surfaces, different styles of play used by national squads, etc. which do not reflect accurately on the NHL’s current “fads”.
None of my statement was a jab at Edmonton by any definition. Only that the recessive world economy may at some point challenge a potential or past season ticket holder to wonder whether a 41-game ticket is worth the return on investment. Especially if gasoline is $3+ (US) per gallon.
by Donny Rivette on May 26, 2009 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Quinn had little success after the lockout/rule changes
In one season, after being tossed on his ass out of the GM’s chair and replaced by a haircut. I’d cut him some slack.
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)
by Doogie2K on May 26, 2009 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thats a high winning %
for a guy who spent most of his career coaching in LA, Vancouver and Toronto.
I saw him take a horrible Leafs team straight to the semi-finals, and it wasn’t a fluke; they were a very good team for the next five seasons. He turned around the careers of some struggling players (Berezin, Berard, Hoaglund). He has his flaws (and didn’t have much success as GM in Toronto) but he’s a far cry from retreads like Crawford or Keenan.
I've been looking at the sky
by Back In Black on May 26, 2009 11:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Does Edmonton need help selling seats?
Seems like a good combination to me, in that the players will listen to Quinn while using Renney’s X’s and O’s. Anectdotally (or just taking stop at the B.S. Dump), doesn’t Quinn have the reputation as a motivator while Renney’s supposed to be good tactically?
by LarsPGH on May 26, 2009 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, Edmonton doesn’t need help selling seats today, but one would be a complete fool to suggest that that may never be the case in the future. Especially when one considers the history. That being said, I have no idea how the topic got onto this side track. Personally, I don’t think Quinn is nearly as good as his reputation (something akin to Messier’s mythical leadership abilities), but he is a fine coach none the less, and easily the best coach the Oilers have had in over a decade. Definitely a good move.
by Resolute on May 26, 2009 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tom Renny is a good tactician that can’t coach; hence his diminished role.
by Fred Poulin on May 26, 2009 1:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
If there was one thing Quinn needed as a coach in Toronto, it was a good tactician.
I've been looking at the sky
by Back In Black on May 26, 2009 11:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Peter Laviolette, who led the ’Canes to the Stanley Cup in 2006, is also available and could have been a good choice given the Oilers personnel. (Although it appears he is the front-runner for the Wild job.)
Interesting to hear you say that, James. While Laviolette ought to make a strong candidate for any job, I’ll be bowled over if new Minnesota GM Chuck Fletcher doesn’t bring in his boy Todd Richards. Richards coached Wilkes-Barre before Dan Bylsma did and is currently an SJ assistant, so he’s got some experience on an NHL bench now too.
by Hooks Orpik on May 26, 2009 2:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
You’re right, Richards is right up there, too. I should have called Laviolette “a” front-runner.
Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com
by James Mirtle on May 26, 2009 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Richards is also a local, having played for the Golden Gophers in the late 1980s, back when they only signed Minnesota kids.
by J. Michael Neal on May 26, 2009 3:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have to figure that bringing Renney on does nothing to dispel the Jagr-to-Edmonton talk.
by HockeyJoe on May 26, 2009 2:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Is it just me or does Quinn look like Norm MacDonald’s uncle in that picture?
More fun than a stick to the face!
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by Dirk Hoag on May 26, 2009 3:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Oilers don’t need a gimmick to sell tickets. They’re sold out every night and there is a huge waiting list for season tickets. This is not about seats. This is an interesting call….the more I hear more, the more I like this.
by Scarlet on May 26, 2009 3:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Oilers don’t need a gimmick to sell tickets
For now.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on May 26, 2009 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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