CANTLON: WOLF PACK HEAD COACHING POSITION REMAINS OPEN 

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – As the third week of July draws to a close, the Hartford Wolf Pack head coaching position and the staff roles are still vacant.

It’s not that the parent New York Rangers haven’t interviewed people for the positions, but the selection process is heading into double-overtime.

Several hockey sources have stated that two people who applied and were interviewed but turned down the Rangers’ offer. Needless to say, that’s a highly unusual circumstance.

Cantlon’s Corner has confirmation from three different sources, that one of those interviewed was none other than Hartford Whaler great, Kevin Dineen. What is interesting was that he wasn’t offered the job, despite the fact he fits so many of the boxes needed for the position. All three sources were equally surprised that he wasn’t hired or offered the position as they all felt he was a great fit and thought of him first when the job opened up.

The Anaheim Ducks announced on Monday that they had hired Dineen as their new bench boss for their AHL team in San Diego. Dineen coached their affiliate in Portland for six years. Another opportunity missed.

The need to clearly get this issue resolved in time for the Traverse City, Michigan prospects tournament coming up in just seven weeks with the Wolf Pack training camp starting just 3 weeks later. It becomes more and more important with each passing day that the vacancy gets filled.

The rejection of the Rangers offer by the other two interviewees clearly reflects an issue, or issues, in the structure of what the team under John Davidson’s watch, and Pack GM Chris Drury, are seeking in a new coach and staff that might be too onerous in nature.

Have the Rangers already selected the staff and presented it to the candidates without allowing for their input? Are the terms of the deal beyond one year or not? Player roster structure deemed too difficult to handle, such as with the Russian goalie, Igor Shesterkin, who could be in the Connecticut capital for up to two months and then get recalled? Is there a roster salary cap issue going to affect in Hartford a potential problem? Are they projecting young, hot, forward prospects, Vitali Kravtsov, or the just-signed, Kaapo Kakko, to be in Hartford for just the first half of the season? Clearly, they are many variables involved. It’s not like they’re trading the captain again, whoever that might be.

Any or all could be on target, plus some other scenarios that we haven’t mentioned might have been deemed disqualifying to candidates.

It’s the clearest indication that the Wolf Pack mystique as a top-ranked team in the AHL that produces players for the NHL, has sunken as far as their attendance numbers have as they try to prepare for season 23. Remember, both Mark Messier and Martin St. Louis, at different times after Ken Gernander was relieved were offered the job and both turned the job down.

Not since the comically, dreadfully dysfunctional 1992-’93 New Haven Senators in which head coach Don MacAdam was not hired until mid-August, has a coaching decision gone this late.

The Rangers may go in-house and hire from within to keep a tight lid on things in Hartford.