{"id":29031,"date":"2025-07-01T05:22:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T05:22:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/29031\/"},"modified":"2025-07-01T05:22:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T05:22:10","slug":"report-avalanches-assistant-coach-hunt-may-lead-to-dallas-ahl-bench","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/29031\/","title":{"rendered":"Report: Avalanche’s Assistant Coach Hunt May Lead to Dallas\u2019 AHL Bench"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Avalanche haven\u2019t hired an assistant coach to replace Ray Bennett. But one NHL Insider believes they could be looking to target an AHL coach who might become available in the near future.<\/p>\n

The Dallas Stars\u2019 AHL coach, Neil Graham, might be looking for an opportunity if he\u2019s not elevated to the Stars\u2019 NHL bench. Here\u2019s the full transcript of Friedman\u2019s thoughts on the matter.<\/p>\n

He also touches on two other candidates Colorado had on their list before they landed gigs elsewhere.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs for Neil Graham, (The Stars) have decisions to make. What do they want to do, What does he want to do,\u201d Friedman said on Sportsnet 590\u2019s The Fan Hockey Show. \u201cI\u2019ll tell you one thing, Colorado has an open job on the bench to run the power play. I heard Gulutzan was on their radar. I heard Steve Spott was on the radar but took the opportunity in Boston. I can see a team like Colorado asking for permission (for Graham).\u201d<\/p>\n

Bennet was let go following Colorado\u2019s Game 7 loss to Dallas almost two months ago after running a poor power play in the postseason. Since then, we\u2019ve seen several head coaches and assistant coach hires around the league, but nothing yet for the Avs.<\/p>\n

Read More:\u00a0<\/strong>Avalanche UFA Board: Finding the Right Fits on July 1 \u2014 Defense Options Available<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

In fact, the organization also lost two other coaches \u2014 both in the AHL \u2014 as Dan Hinote and Aaron Schneekloth landed assistant coach jobs in the NHL with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Seattle Kraken, respectively.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have got a lot of great candidates, and that process is ongoing,\u201d MacFarland said of the AHL openings. \u201cSimilar here with our assistant coach position. I don\u2019t know exactly the timeline, but I would like it to be sooner, rather than later, that we get those three positions filled.\u201d<\/p>\n

Friedman\u2019s blip about the Avs\u2019 coaching search is the first time we\u2019ve heard any sort of rumors or reports about the job.<\/p>\n

Read More:\u00a0Chris MacFarland Ahead of Free Agency: \u2018We\u2019ll Look At Every Avenue\u2019 to Improve Roster<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Gulutzan has spent the last seven years as an assistant coach in Edmonton and ran the Oilers\u2019 lethal power play. He\u2019s expected to land the head coaching job in Dallas in the coming days.<\/p>\n

And Spott, who recently was hired by Marco Sturm in Boston, was the Stars\u2019 former power play coach as an assistant to Pete DeBoer.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no saying how this will end up. When the Gulutzan hire becomes official, the Stars could easily elevate Graham to his staff and have him run the Dallas power play. But I\u2019m sure Gulutzan would have to also be on board for that.<\/p>\n

If not, Colorado could be an ideal landing spot for the 40-year-old Graham, who has had a good run in the AHL as a bench boss.<\/p>\n


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