@Nylanderthews: (posted video clip) Elliotte Friedman on the NHL Network, on the Toronto Maple Leafs coaching search. They’ve spoken to over 50 people. Why does it seem so erratic?
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Mike Johnson. “It’s not a question about whether he’s smart or perhaps capable, but the Leafs coaching search in general has been so erratic. It’s tough to pinpoint what kind of coach they’re looking for, and when they’re trying to do it. And you hear (Joe) Pavelski, and you hear (Peter) Laviolette, and you hear (Jay) Woodcroft.
Like who, like, what are they doing? What are they looking for? Why are they interviewing so many people, and taking, taking their time?
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Friedman: “Well, I have no problem with taking their time. Like, look at Nashville, like, people were making fun of Nashville. Matt Marchese, who hosts show on our station, he was calling it, he said that the longest search for Pope in world history was three years, and he was comparing it to the papal search. But, like, they got their guy, right?
And so, like, I don’t have a problem with anybody taking longer if you get the right person. I think, Mike, it looks the one thing I’m really conscious of is I don’t know everything. I know bits and pieces. So I think it looks erratic to us on the outside, but until you get a full picture, I don’t know if it’s erratic as it appears.
Like, I, there was a time yesterday morning, where I thought Saturday morning, where I thought they were going to hire Peter Laviolette. And now I think there’s a decent chance that Peter Laviolette ends up being the next head coach of the Kings.
They told at least one of the people that they didn’t advance to the next round, that they were looking for experience, and then I heard about Pavelski. So I’m going to judge this when this is over, as opposed to what I hear partway through the search.”
Jason Demers: “Well, do you think also, because you know, Johnny mentioned we were talking, do you think it could be also they’re trying to get cast such a wide net to really just pick everybody’s brains, to see what they actually need, and then (inaudible).”
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Friedman: “Yes, I think that’s totally true, and I would do it if I was… So I think Chayka said at the combine they spoke to 50, or they had 55 people, I think they …”
Johnson: “Can you even name 55 coaching candidates out there? That’s a big number.”
Friedman: “As one of my friends said, like I can’t even name 55 people who would want to talk to you. And, and I think they did zooms with like 15 or 16. And now it sounds to me like we’re gonna get a smaller group, three, five, I don’t know what, and we’ll see where we go.
Like, like I do think they talked to Patrick Roy. Like, so they, one of the guys who scouts for them is Eric Lacroix, who knows Patrick Roy really well, so they would have somebody on staff who knows.
But I’m sure there’s.. I, I don’t think they ever interviewed Woodcroft. I think they thought about it, and I don’t think they ever did. They, I don’t know if they …”
Johnson: “They went 55 deep, and they didn’t want to go to Jay Woodcroft?”
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Demers: “56 is too much.”
Friedman: “You know, I think, I think they considered it, but decided not to. And I don’t think they’ve asked on (Bruce) Cassidy. I think they’re kind of just, I think everybody’s here just kind of waiting to see. Like, like Vegas is making noise behind the scenes, like they’re not going to change their minds. I guess everyone’s just waiting to see.”
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