FURTHER evidence that this season’s business is anything but usual in anticipation of a lengthy 2004-05 lockout comes from Florida, where the Panthers have yet to speak with Larry Robinson about the head coaching job that became open upon the Nov. 9 dismissal of Mike Keenan despite having sought and received permission to do so from Lou Lamoriello.
Instead, still paying former coaches Keenan and Duane Sutter (as well, it is believed, as Terry Murray), Florida owner Alan Cohen is apparently content to go the rest of the way with GM Rick Dudley behind the bench. Dudley, who a week before Keenan’s firing was himself believed about to go, has the remainder of this year on his contract.
“Lou had told me that Florida asked to speak to me, and I told him that it’s a job that I’d have interest in,” Robinson told Slap Shots on Wednesday. “And I still would like to talk to them, but at this point and with the situation as it is, I’m not sure that it’s realistic to expect a call.
“I can understand that.”
Robinson, who on Tuesday underwent wrist surgery that he’d postponed in order to play in last Saturday’s Edmonton outdoor alumni classic, has long been interested in the Panthers, and not simply because he owns a house in Florida. A teacher at heart who is never more fulfilled than when working with youth, he’s drawn to the young talent Dudley has assembled, players including defensemen Jay Bouwmeister, Branislav Mezei, Mathieu Biron and former Devils first-rounder Mike Van Ryn, and forwards Stephen Weiss (who has benefited immensely by Keenan’s exit) and Nathan Horton.
But though Robinson is perfect for the job, it doesn’t appear he’s going to get a shot at it, at least not until after the labor situation is settled. And so the Panthers, who have done a whole lot of losing lately, lose again. This time by their owner’s initiative . . . or lack thereof.
*
If Scotty Bowman, who became a U.S. citizen in 1991, has interest in coaching the Americans in next summer’s World Cup, Team USA’s management committee would be more than slightly receptive to having him behind the bench, we’ve learned.
Bowman, who had agreed to coach the Canadians in the 1996 tournament before withdrawing from the position via a fax to GM Glen Sather just weeks before training camp commenced – and if anyone truly believed Sather would have hired Bowman to coach the Rangers last summer, he or she must have been ignorant of their history – has rejected several solicitations to return to coaching since he retired following his record ninth Stanley Cup victory in 2002.
Team USA’s management personnel – including GM Larry Pleau and assistant Don Waddell – met in St. Louis in St. Louis on Monday to begin the review of coaching candidates that will continue with another summit in late December. We’re told that they expect Bowman would find an indirect way of letting them know if he is indeed interested in the job.
Ron Wilson, who was behind the bench for the 1996 championship run and remains a candidate for 2004, is also a Canadian-born U.S. citizen. So too is candidate Terry Murray, who coached the Yanks in the 1999 World Championship tournament.
*
Now I’ve got it. The Washington TV announcers who shill for the home team and never sound so good as when the mute control is activated, well, don’t you know that they spoke to Jaromir Jagr, so they’ve got the real story. Right.
While Mike Comrie remains unsigned and untraded, Slap Shots has been told that Wayne Gretzky has spoken to Edmonton GM Kevin Lowe about a deal that would send the center to Phoenix. At this point, there appear to be few other options for the Oilers, who appear quite content to allow Comrie to sit, not to mention the 23-year-old pivot, himself.
Gee, it was a real good idea for Islander management to smear Jason Wiemer while he was on his way out the door, wasn’t it? Went over well with the club, didn’t it?
Yes, I know that Sather was caught up in the euphoria of the moment, and this is a nit to pick, but still, was it really appropriate for the president, general manager and head coach of the Rangers to say last Saturday that Edmonton fans “are the best in the world.” Odd, but when the Oilers missed the playoffs in 1995-96 for the fourth straight time, Edmonton’s average attendance sank to 12,335, 23rd in a 26-team league. Hmm.
*
Finally, Kerry Fraser will celebrate his 1,500th game as an NHL referee tonight at the Garden when the Rangers meet the Maple Leafs. If it weren’t such a momentous achievement, I’d be tempted to say he’s even seen a lot of them.
