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MacTavish might leave Oilers
WebPosted Thu Apr 24 18:12:20 2003
CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Head coach Craig MacTavish is considering moving on after his Edmonton Oilers failed to do so in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
According to Oilers general manager Kevin Lowe, MacTavish is reviewing his options.
"I have some concerns as to whether MacTavish will come back," Lowe said Thursday.
"I think that should concern the organization and should concern Oilers hockey fans."
MacTavish's contract is up for renewal, but Edmonton's early exit from the playoffs has him thinking twice about returning.
"I'm sure he will be here," Lowe said, speaking publicly for the first time since the Oilers' six-game, opening-round loss to Dallas.
"But we cannot be naive about the reality that perhaps he might not be here."
Mainly because MacTavish has grown frustrated by Edmonton's current lot in NHL life, namely, building a Stanley Cup contender on a shoe-string budget.
"I understand where he's coming from," Lowe said. "I have had similar feelings at times.
"Believe me, it has nothing to do with money and everything to do with philosophy."
Lowe refused to elaborate on what philosophy works best, yet insisted re-signing MacTavish is what's best for the burgeoning, young hockey club.
"He is a big priority for us," Lowe said of MacTavish, a former Oilers captain and valued on-ice contributor during the dynasty years.
"I am not panicky he won't be around, (But) there's some concern. I hope we can convince MacTavish this is the right place to be for all the right reasons.
"We've developed something good here and we're heading in the right direction and he's the guy to do it. For anyone to even question whether Craig MacTavish is the right guy for the job knows nothing about the game."
Since MacTavish replaced Lowe as head coach on June 22, 2000, the Oilers are 31 games over .500 (113-82-35-16), a far cry from the preceding decade which saw them go 70 games under.
"The main reason for that is Craig MacTavish has the ability to teach the game and coach it with the kind of compassion and understanding and care that only champions can," Lowe explained.
MacTavish, the eighth head coach in Oilers history, is one of three ex-captains hired to the post.
Lowe and Glen Sather were the others.
MacTavish played nine of 17 NHL seasons with the Oilers, with whom he won three Stanley Cups (1987-88, 1990).
MacTavish captured a fourth Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers in 1994.
A gritty centre and the NHL's last unhelmeted player, the London, Ont., native tallied 213 goals and 480 points with 891 penalty minutes in 1,093 games for the Boston Bruins, Oilers, Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues.
After retiring in 1997, he spent two seasons as Rangers assistant coach before joining the Oilers in a similar capacity in 1999-00.
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He will end up on Broadway. Bastards.
I saw we promote Charlie Huddy!
Or bring back Jari Kurri! He's been running gyms in Helsinki long enough...
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MacTavish might leave Oilers
WebPosted Thu Apr 24 18:12:20 2003
CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Head coach Craig MacTavish is considering moving on after his Edmonton Oilers failed to do so in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
According to Oilers general manager Kevin Lowe, MacTavish is reviewing his options.
"I have some concerns as to whether MacTavish will come back," Lowe said Thursday.
"I think that should concern the organization and should concern Oilers hockey fans."
MacTavish's contract is up for renewal, but Edmonton's early exit from the playoffs has him thinking twice about returning.
"I'm sure he will be here," Lowe said, speaking publicly for the first time since the Oilers' six-game, opening-round loss to Dallas.
"But we cannot be naive about the reality that perhaps he might not be here."
Mainly because MacTavish has grown frustrated by Edmonton's current lot in NHL life, namely, building a Stanley Cup contender on a shoe-string budget.
"I understand where he's coming from," Lowe said. "I have had similar feelings at times.
"Believe me, it has nothing to do with money and everything to do with philosophy."
Lowe refused to elaborate on what philosophy works best, yet insisted re-signing MacTavish is what's best for the burgeoning, young hockey club.
"He is a big priority for us," Lowe said of MacTavish, a former Oilers captain and valued on-ice contributor during the dynasty years.
"I am not panicky he won't be around, (But) there's some concern. I hope we can convince MacTavish this is the right place to be for all the right reasons.
"We've developed something good here and we're heading in the right direction and he's the guy to do it. For anyone to even question whether Craig MacTavish is the right guy for the job knows nothing about the game."
Since MacTavish replaced Lowe as head coach on June 22, 2000, the Oilers are 31 games over .500 (113-82-35-16), a far cry from the preceding decade which saw them go 70 games under.
"The main reason for that is Craig MacTavish has the ability to teach the game and coach it with the kind of compassion and understanding and care that only champions can," Lowe explained.
MacTavish, the eighth head coach in Oilers history, is one of three ex-captains hired to the post.
Lowe and Glen Sather were the others.
MacTavish played nine of 17 NHL seasons with the Oilers, with whom he won three Stanley Cups (1987-88, 1990).
MacTavish captured a fourth Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers in 1994.
A gritty centre and the NHL's last unhelmeted player, the London, Ont., native tallied 213 goals and 480 points with 891 penalty minutes in 1,093 games for the Boston Bruins, Oilers, Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues.
After retiring in 1997, he spent two seasons as Rangers assistant coach before joining the Oilers in a similar capacity in 1999-00.
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He will end up on Broadway. Bastards.
I saw we promote Charlie Huddy!
Or bring back Jari Kurri! He's been running gyms in Helsinki long enough...
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