He's a Good Man ... and Thorough: Vancouver Canucks Interviewing All the Coaches, Including the Deceased Ones

Published on 8-Jun-2013 by Xavier McSpaniel

NHL    NHL Daily Update

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He's a Good Man ... and Thorough: Vancouver Canucks Interviewing All the Coaches, Including the Deceased Ones

Vancouver Canucks' General Manager, Mike Gillis, is not noted for his spontaneity. It's no surprise, then, his process to find a new bench boss for Season 2014 is more painstaking than a playoff power play.

The most recent candidates on the Canucks' casting couch have been current AHL 'It'-coach, Dallas Eakins; Stars discard, Glen Gulutzan; and former mail-room employee, Scott Arniel.

"I think this is a great opportunity for us to change direction," Gillis opined, scouring the Yellow Pages, "And I want to speak to everybody and hear their views about what they feel we need and how they could contribute to the Vancouver Canucks. It's an interesting process, and it's an opportunity to learn a lot about people that are good quality coaches.

"We are going to take our time and make sure that we speak to everybody we believe is a legitimate candidate, and learn as much as we can about them."

When asked to clarify his understanding of "everybody", Gillis declined to comment, muttering something about a teleconference with Toe Blake. A Canucks spokesman subsequently confirmed the GM, in addition to a dozen cell phones, is employing a ouija board in his search:

"Mike didn't want to rule out great coaches who have passed on, like Fred Shero, Roger Neilson and Pat Burns," confided the insider. "Strange thing was Lindy Ruff came through the board as well."

Whether wet behind the ears or 'Weekend at Bernie's', Gillis expects to have his new man by Draft Day.