The Left Wing Lock

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With the recent announcement that Assistant Coach Brad McCrimmon’s will not return, the Red Wings will need to hire a replacement. McCrimmon, who had been with Detroit since 2008, had the primary responsibility for coaching  the defense corps and guiding the special teams. With five head coaching positions open across the NHL, the Wings will likely have to wait their turn before being able to fill their vacancy.

Below is a list of potential candidates, though additional candidates could emerge once the final decisions on five NHL head coaching positions are made:

• Bob Boughner: The former NHL defenseman seems to be a perfect fit for the Red Wings. Boughner was originally draft by the Red Wings and had a long NHL career before retiring in 2006 and joining the coaching ranks. “The

  Boughieman” previously led the Windsor Spitfires to Memorial Cups before joining the Columbus Blue Jackets as an assistant coach last year. The two time winner of the OHL coach of the year trophy left Columbus in the off season to be closer to his family’s Ontario home.

• Dave Cameron: With just 168 games in the NHL, Dave Cameron never made an impact as a player, but his coaching ability has never been in question. Cameron has coached at the AHL and OHL levels and is currently the Head Coach of the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors. He also coached Canada t0 a silver medal at the 2011 World Championships. The rumors around Cameron are that he may likely be the next coach of the Ottawa Senators, however.
• Kevin Dineen – Dineen has spent the last six years as coach of the Portland Pirates of the AHL. In that span he’s lead his team to two division titles and made two conference finals appearances. He has also one the AHL coach of the year and is recognized as a coach who can develop players. He’ll likely be considered for each of the five head coaching positions and he may not want to settle for an assistant coaching job.
• Gerald Gallant – Gallant may get a long look from the Red Wings given his past ties to the club (615 NHL games) as a player and his experience both as an assistant coach at the NHL level for the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Islanders as well as his current role as head coach of the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL. Gallant may not be interested in a return to the NHL, but if he is the Wings may take a long look at him.
• Claude Noel – Currently coaching the Manitoba Moose of the AHL, Noel isn’t getting a lot of mentions in the coaching rumor mill. That being said, he may get consideration as a one-time rising star in the coaching world. Noel is a coach who has paid his dues at almost every level of hockey and even served as the interim coach for the Blue Jackets last year after Ken Hitchcock was fired. The permanent position eventually went to Scott Arniel at the end of the season. The Wings may be somewhat familiar with Noel after he coached their ECHL affiliate the Toledo Storm back in 2002-2003 and was eventually named the ECHL coach of the year that same year.
• Bob Rouse – Fans may remember Rouse as a deadline acquisition for the Red Wings during the cup runs in the 1990’s. The former defensemen has been out of coaching for a year, but previously served as the Chilliwack Bruins assistant coach and general manager for three years. If he wants to return to coaching, he would be an outside candidate but the Wings may consider him given his past roles as a coach and player.

Other potential candidates include Kurt Kleinendorst, who’s Binghampton Senators will play in the AHL championships, and Mike Yeo who is hoping to lead the Houston Aeros to a Calder Cup Final Birth. Both coaches are unlikely to accept an assistant coaching role in the NHL after spending years in that role previously. Kleinendorst is believed to be a front runner for the Ottawa Senators job and Yeo is believed to have the inside track on the Minnesota Wild position. Former Red Wings defenseman, Chris Chelios, has also stated that he is not interested in the position.