From the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:
Well, we know New York Rangers assistant Perry Pearn wasn’t the unnamed third candidate that GM Jacques Martin interviewed for the Panthers’ coaching job. In fact, Pearn, who worked with Martin in Ottawa, was upset he learned of Peter DeBoer’s hiring by watching TV.
Pearn figured he’d get an interview with Martin after Martin received permission from the Rangers to speak with Pearn. But Pearn told the Edmonton Journal he never got one. Here are some of his comments to the newspaper:
“Jacques knew I had this knee replacement surgery … when we first talked I was still in hospital, and he said he’d call me again a week ago Thursday.
“It’s not the end of the world (that) I didn’t get the job. People have to make the decisions they make, but what I can’t accept is I didn’t get a call.
“I spent eight years with the guy and was pretty good to him. Maybe Pete
DeBoer is the best guy, I certainly won’t take anything away from him. He has done a good job, but it was a bit shocking to read it on TV. I mean, if Jacques had called and said, ‘I’m going in a different direction,’ that would have been fine.
“I certainly didn’t think I was a shoo-in by any stretch, or a front-runner, but I thought for sure I’d get an interview. I’ve been working really hard on my knee so I could travel (for a face-to-face meeting with Martin).”
Read the entire entry here.
If what Pearn is saying is true, then he has every right to be mad. I’m sure Martin would admit he could have handled the situation a whole lot better than he did.
