The NHL Off-Season Thread Starts With a Bang

[Asher]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/04/15/spector_mactavish/

MacTavish done as Oilers coach

Sportsnet has learned that Craig MacTavish is done after eight years as the Edmonton Oilers head coach.

At a Noon MT press conference, Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini will announce that the coaching search is on in Edmonton, after the Oilers missed the playoffs this spring for the fifth time in MacTavish's eight-year tenure.

It is believed that MacTavish stepped down from his post, and was not fired by the Oilers.

Owner Daryl Katz sent a text message late in the season to a member of the home team radio crew that stated "MacT is not going anywhere." That couldn't stop the head coach from relieving himself of the post however, after stating during his own season-ending press conference that the team was not the kind of team he liked to coach, and that it lacked size and competitiveness.

He sat Dustin Penner, Robert Nilsson and Kyle Brodziak in the press box for a meaningless final game of the season, a statement on what MacTavish thought of their games.

[Asher]

Who will be the new coach?

If it's Lemaire, shoot me now.
If it's Laviolette
I'm betting it'll be an Oiler alum. Croneyism and all that.

[Kontiki]

Maybe it will be Keenan.

[Asher]

Keenan's definitely gone in the likely event of a first-round exit.

[Ben Kenobi]

"Lacked size" is a keyword for Keenan.

[Sparrowhawk]

Disappointing, but not surprising.

Sorry to see him go, but I believe the team is only a player or two away from making the playoffs, and maybe a new coach will give a fresh start to those players that he had given up on.

Oh well. Maybe next year.

[action=Sparrowhawk][/action]

[notyoueither]

I am shocked.

[Asher]

And sarcastic! (?)

[notyoueither]

Yeah.

Sparrowhawk sums it up for those who think MacT is a good hockey man. Even people who like him knew it was time to move on.

Those who think somewhat less of him were growing in number and decibel levels.

[Kontiki]

Risebrough is gone in Minny. Hopefully a philosophical change comes with a new GM and coach.

http://sports.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090416.wsptwild0416/GSStory/GlobeSports/home

The Associated Press

April 16, 2009 at 1:26 PM EDT

MINNEAPOLIS — First the coach, now the general manager.

The Minnesota Wild announced Thursday that Doug Risebrough will not return next season as general manager. The surprise move comes less than a week after coach Jacques Lemaire resigned.

That means the Wild's two architects since its inception are gone.

Owner Craig Leipold said in a statement that the search for a new GM will begin immediately. Assistant general manager Tom Lynn will take over until a replacement is hired.

[Asher]

Thank God.

MacT and Lemaire/Risebrough gone. Maybe there will be interesting teams in the NW next year.

[Asher]

Celine Dion group may buy the Habs

HAHAHAHAHAHAA

[Sparrowhawk]

What are the views of the most recent Phoenix fiasco? It appears that:
1) Phoenix has declared bankruptcy;
2) That Jim Balsillie has made a contingent offer to buy the team (contingent on moving the team to southern ontario)
3) The NHL has removed "Jerry Moyes" (I don't know who that is) from positions of authority with the Coyotes and stepped in to act on their behalf

Looks like more of a circus. The first question to enter my mind is.....would Gretzky be part of a southern ontario team?

[action=Sparrowhawk][/action]

[Asher]

Jerry Moyes is the owner of the Coyotes.

It's no wonder they can't attract new owners. The league handcuffs the owners. Can't move the team if it loses money, can't sell it to someone who offers you way over market value, can't even do **** on his team now that he's pissed Bettman off...

[Guynemer]

This is a ****ing farce.

Hockey failed in ****ing Arizona. What a shock. Move the team!