How the New Coaches are Preparing

Darren Eliot of Sports Illustrated takes a look at the new coaches in the NHL and how they are getting ready for the upcoming season.

With the Labor Day holiday passed and the kids off to school, the only ones left waiting are the nine new NHL coaches who are raring to go. As Tom Petty sang years ago, the waiting (as in the way-ay-ting) is the hardest part. That certainly is the case for three: Scott Gordon on Long Island, John Anderson in Atlanta and Barry Melrose in Tampa.

Gordon’s case is one in which last season’s assistants Gerard Gallant and John Chabot remain in place and, as such, according to Gordon, “should make the transition easier.” Last season’s AHL Coach of the Year (with Providence) knows what he wants to implement on Long Island and those two guys will provide valuable insight into the returning players. Still, Gordon — like everyone in the business — is always on the lookout for tidbits on players he’ll begin coaching in a mere two weeks as a first-time NHL bench boss. General conversation that includes “what’s this guy like?” or “what did you think of that guy?” will augment more formal internal discussions on personnel and direction.