Next Michigan Hockey coach has been selected?

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

Per an NHL agent, verified account.

This B1G Tournament is Red's last stand. 

 

Hearing University of Michigan Hockey program has their new head coach. Great choice UofM. Great choice...

— Dan Milstein-Hockey (@DMilsteinHockey) March 15, 2017

stephenrjking

March 14th, 2017 at 11:35 PM ^

So some permutations:

1. It's possible this guy is flat wrong. Already some skepticism on this thread.

2. OTOH he has some connections, and this isn't football--why would he make something up about a college hockey program? You don't make waves like that. "Ace Williams" didn't spread hockey rumors, even though he had the same number of hockey sources as football and basketball sources, because you don't make waves with college hockey rumors.

3. A guy with NHL connections suggests a coach with NHL connections.

EDIT--3.5: No college coaches that would normally be on the radar have finished their seasons yet. Mel Pearson still has a chance to earn an autobid by winning the WCHA. Nate Leaman and Jim Montgomery, guys Brian and I have both mentioned as theoretical "national search" targets, will be playing in the NCAA tournament. Not likely to have things wrapped up there. And, again, no NHL connections.

4. Mike Babcock has been heavily rumored before, but he is in his second year in Toronto (currently out of the playoffs, but the team seems to have some promise). Leaving now would be strange; agreeing before the end of the season even stranger. He isn't getting fired this year and there are plenty of teams that would want to hire him, so the only way he would leave is if he decided he was done with NHL coaching and wanted to coach for a fraction of the money in college instead. 

Which is crazy. He's not Jim Harbaugh.

5. On the other hand, there is a local coach, one whom Pavel Datsyuk's agent would have some contact with, who has struggled with his team, who might not be asked back, who might still be a good coach saddled with a bad roster. And, the kicker, the guy got a job in the pros because he did a great job in college.

6. That's right: If this guy is accurate, we are probably looking at Jeff Blashill.

WCHBlog

March 15th, 2017 at 12:05 AM ^

It's a small community and people talk. FWIW, I think this guy is extrapolating and exaggerating what most people would call 'strong rumors' at this point.

maize-blue

March 15th, 2017 at 11:41 AM ^

I think it's that coach from that one team. They had some good seasons and some average. A lot of people like this guy but some are pretty "meh" on him.