Canucks & Beyond
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How the Wings Control Canada’s Hockey Future
by Alanah McGinley on 09/10/08 at 02:47 PM ET
Comments (4)
Well, maybe not entirely, but Eric Duhatschek in the Globe & Mail today does point to the relationship between the NHL team and Canada’s international hockey dreams.
Hockey Canada has drawn heavily on the Red Wings’ organization these past six years for help assembling its annual world championship team. In that span, Holland, his assistant Jim Nill, and Yzerman have all taken turns at the helm, coinciding with a time when Canada’s world championship results have improved dramatically over the previous two decades.
And then Duhatchek poses some more interesting questions like…
Who plays goal? How young do you go? Is Sidney Crosby ready for the captaincy, or does that job fall to Jarome Iginla? With Pat Quinn and Jacques Martin no longer coaching in the NHL, is the main man behind the bench Ken Hitchcock, or Mike Babcock, or maybe Gretzky, who has embraced the challenge of turning around the Coyotes with a fervour that stunned many?
My answers would be: Luongo plays The Goalie (although that one will really depend on how this upcoming season goes), Iginla plays The Captain and Babcock plays The Coach.
Other suggestions?
Filed in: nhl general | Canucks and Beyond | Permalink
Comments
Definitely go with Babcock as your head coach for Team Canada.
Posted by SYF from a "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" on 09/10/08 at 06:29 PM ET
Iginla over Crosby for captain.
Your own team is one thing, the country is another - and even people who aren’t Flames fans really like Iginla. He deserves it.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 09/11/08 at 06:46 AM ET
I don’t like Iginla. But that is only because he’s not on my team. He does his job well. He deserves if. Aw hell, give it to Pronger!
Just kiddin folks!
Posted by cementslinger from Saginaw on 09/11/08 at 07:58 AM ET
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Alanah McGinley has been blogging hockey since 2003 (with a notable gap in time through 2010, kicking it with new baby Lucy while living knee-deep in chaos while reading “parenting for complete idiots” during every spare minute) sharing opinions, rants and not-so-deep thoughts with anyone who will listen.
In addition to writing Canucks & Beyond and helping manage Kukla’s Korner, Alanah was one of the founders and co-hosts of The Crazy Canucks Podcast. She has contributed pieces to FoxSports.com and the New York Times Slapshot blog, as well as other stray destinations in cyberspace.
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I think Babcock is the best coach in the world, and should get that spot.
The GM position is VERY important. That is an interesting dilemma.
How much is politics involved? In other words, does protocol demand that you offer it to Gretzky first?
Clearly Hockey Canada has been grooming Yzerman for a prominet role. Holland, Lowe, Tambellini, Nill are all contenders. But do Holland and Nill want it?
I pointed out about a month ago that Holland was promoting Yzerman when he said that Stevie was prepared to be a general manager.
So I bet there are a lot of calls being made and winks and nudges and politiking going on for “my guy”.
It is, indeed, a fascinating dilemna.
Posted by w2j2 on 09/10/08 at 03:47 PM ET