There are a few new coaches in the league this season, some first time and some former coaches in new places, so here is my breakdown of all new coaches in the league.
Claude Noel (Winnipeg):
He finished the 2009-2010 campaign as the interim coach in Columbus and coached the Canucks minor league affiliate in Manitoba last season. Now he is the coach of the Winnipeg Jets and due to his familiarity with the city and Arena, he can make the former Thrashers organization get accustomed to new surroundings easier. But for him it will be a struggle all year long, but there will a time when the Jets will be on fire this year. I think this is an experiment year for him and the organization.
Kevin Dineen (Florida):
Many thought he should have been a coach two years ago, but was passed over by many teams even being in the final two for a few positions like in Columbus last summer before Scott Arniel got the job and Tampa Bay before Guy Boucher got it. He also was a candidate in Colorado before Joe Sacco got the nod. Now he gets the shot he longed for in Florida. He is a first time Head Coach, but is known to have played the game very tough. The Panthers have the most new pieces to work with and he will have a challenge to build multiple chemistry's together. He might get off to a slow start, but come mid-season the Panthers could gel and be a force to reckoned with. He does have to find consistent goaltending, which will be his Achilles heel.
Glen Gulutzan (Dallas):
Don't know much about Glen, but the Stars went for a first year coach rather than an experienced veteran. They almost hired Kirk Muller, but went for one that can work with young players. Dallas will be tough to play against and you cannot take them lightly, but the question is can he mesh rookies and vets together. It will be tough.
Paul MacLean (Ottawa):
Ottawa has had lots of respect for the Detroit Organization and Paul MacLean was Mike Babcock's right hand man there. Many also thought he would be a coach already and Devils fans though that Lou hired the wrong MacLean last summer. Ottawa might be in a rebuilding year, but if he follows the Detroit philosophy and creates his own identity with the Sens, lookout for Ottawa in a year or two.
Mike Yeo (Minnesota):
Won the Cup as an assistant in Pittsburgh in 2009, but coached the Minnesota Wild AHL affiliate in Houston last season. He is in the same boat as John MacLean was with NJ, can one year in the AHL payoff? I think it will simply because he can learn from past first year coaches with 1 year of AHL coaching experience.
Peter DeBoer (New Jersey):
He enters an organization with the most dangerous coaching job in the NHL considering he is their 7th coach since the lockout ended in Summer 2005. Brent Sutter and Jacques Lemaire have been the most consistent and he is known as a continuation of the Sutter philosophy or an extension. I think he will have success and learn from his mistakes in Florida. Devils fans will grow to love DeBoer as a coach, Yes he is no Lemaire simply because you cannot compare any coach to Jacques Lemaire. I think the players will respect him and not quit on him like they did with John MacLean.
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