Avs name Sacco head coach

by James Mirtle on Jun 4, 2009 1:19 PM CDT Comment 25 comments

It somehow seems perfect that that's the only photo of Joe Sacco on our photo wire service.

The Avalanche will bump Sacco up from their AHL affiliate to the top coaching job in a presser later this afternoon, continuing a potential trend that the Penguins started this season with a youthful former player/plugger taking over behind the bench. Sacco, 40, retired in 2003 after a 738-game NHL career, and played with the Leafs, Mighty Ducks, Islanders, Capitals and Flyers. His best season was 37 points with the Anaheim franchise in its first season. (No word yet if his assistants will be Guy Hebert, Terry Yake and Bob Corkum.)

Sacco has a decent reputation as an AHL coach despite his win-loss record, but he's really going to have his work cut out for him in Colorado. The team bottomed out this season, finishing third-worst in the league, and there could be financial constraints on the team going forward if attendance continues to be an issue.

Meanwhile, many in the Canadian media are pointing to the fact that Pierre Lacroix continues to pull the puppet strings from the president's chair. I'm not sure that things will get fixed in Denver as long as that's the case.

UPDATE And the fans so far are giving this one a big thumbs down.

UPDATE Former Avs defenceman Sylvain Lefebvre will be one of Sacco's assistant coaches, with the remaining ones to be named in the future.

"These two coaches have been at the frontlines of this organization’s development efforts over the last few seasons," said new Avs GM Greg Sherman. "Joe and Sylvain are familiar with our personnel, especially our young players within the system, and each played a role in implementing the organization’s vision with these players."

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Don’t ask me why, but I just don’t think he could be worse than Roy would be in the NHL.

by Resolute on Jun 4, 2009 1:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The 2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Slumpbusters

by Jibblescribbits on Jun 4, 2009 1:55 PM CDT reply actions 4 recs

Perfect.

"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 Jun 4, 2009 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So – I take it you disapprove of the hire? :)

"A vacuum is a hell of a lot better than some of the stuff that nature replaces it with." -- Tennessee Williams

by Baroque on Jun 4, 2009 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I more disapprove in the way the Avs have gone about the hiring.

The 2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Slumpbusters

by Jibblescribbits on Jun 4, 2009 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL!

I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else

by Fauxrumors on Jun 4, 2009 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

John Stevens, Bruce Boudreau, Cory Clouston, Dan Bylsma, are all recent AHL coaching promotions. For Clouston and Bylsma the test period might be too short, but both teams turned around (if the Pens coup the cup any short tenure issues will disappear).

If the AHL is the final proving ground before hitting the NHL for players it makes sense to me that should apply to coaches as well.

by cubanpuckstopper on Jun 4, 2009 1:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

They all had success in the AHL, Sacco hasn’t (even though he’s not all to blame for that. the Avs had a ton of call-ups)

I would have rather seen Dineen

The 2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Slumpbusters

by Jibblescribbits on Jun 4, 2009 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, leave Dineen alone! He’s the successor to Lindy Ruff when he’s finally had enough of Larry Quinn’s/Tom Golisano’s/Darcy Regier’s ish in Buffalo.

"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 Jun 4, 2009 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know

I want to get to him before Buffalo does.

The 2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Slumpbusters

by Jibblescribbits on Jun 4, 2009 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Relax, after Larry’s “top to bottom” review of the team, I think he determined that we should keep these magnificent managers on for another 5-10 years.

The population of Pominville keeps rising!

by Blackcapricorn on Jun 4, 2009 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can Sacco play goal

1) Can Sacco play goal? If not, then it won’t matter who is behind the bench as in our opinion the Av’s biggest issue(s) were NOT their coach. Not easy winning when both your goalies have save %’s under .900

I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else

by Fauxrumors on Jun 4, 2009 2:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Would you believe me if I told you the goalies were actually one of the strengths of this team last season.

The 2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Slumpbusters

by Jibblescribbits on Jun 4, 2009 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

sorry

“strengths” being a relative term

The 2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Slumpbusters

by Jibblescribbits on Jun 4, 2009 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I watched almost every Avs game this season, and the goaltending was terrible as was everything else. It was in no way a strength.

by chileiceman on Jun 4, 2009 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was better than the defense, coaching, and offense… (not that that’s saying much)

The 2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Slumpbusters

by Jibblescribbits on Jun 4, 2009 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good question, though… who starts in goal for the Avs next year? I’d expect Biron, but they went way off the board to bring in Raycroft last year, so who knows what they’ll do this time.

"Sweet Zarley Zalapski, Batman!"

by ZarleyZalapski on Jun 4, 2009 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs