Saturday morning hockey talk

Now that the Subway Super Series is wrapped up and games are being played once again it was time get back in action.  Today we profiled a highly touted goaltender for the 2013 draft, or what Guy is calling, the year of the masked men.  Ok I just made that up, but he does think there could be 3 in the first round, and we spoke with one and about one today. 

Wednesday Re-Set

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Brent Sutter - Owner, President and GM of the Red Deer Rebels as well as coach of the New Jersey Devils. Many have wondered if he'll return to the NHL next season and if so, whether it will be with the Devils or a team closer to his home. A lot of Oilers fans have Sutter atop their 'New Coach Wish List' and many Flames fans would like to see him join Darryl Sutter in Cowtown.

Last night we had an exclusive and extended talk with Brent Sutter about his past with the Rebels and Hockey Canada; many of the players dominating the NHL these days have Sutter's fingerprints on them. We also talked about Sutter's present with the Devils and playing against former players like Cam Ward of the Carolina Hurricanes. Of course we also talked about what the future might bring and although he obviously can't say too much while under contract, Sutter did open up about what his off-season decision making will entail and gave some insight into his situation with Lou Lamoriello as well. (SUTTER HERE)

Also on the program, we caught up with 2009 eligible prospect Mike Cichy of the USHL's Indiana Ice. The forward set a new record for points in the playoffs en route to being named post season MVP as he led the ICE to the Clark Cup. Cichy also picked up the MVP award from the 2008 WJAC in Camrose back in November. Next season he'll be a member of the North Dakota whatever-they-will-be-calleds in the NCAA. (CICHY HERE)

We talked a lot about the ongoing Memorial Cup too. Our planned interview with Peter Loubardias fell through thanks to a wonky cell phone but that didn't stop us from covering as much ground on the tournament as possible. (Memorial Cup discussion HERE)


We ended the show with ISS head scout Mike Oke who broke down the latest rankings, the last monthly release before the ISS Draft Guide hits the street. Magnus Paarjarvi-Svensson, Louis Leblanc (pictured), Mike Cichy and Oliver Ekmund-Larsson were the players under the microscope this week. (ISS Draft Countdown for May HERE)

All that plus more on The Pipeline Show last night. If you haven't heard already, you can now follow us on Twitter and also join our Facebook Group as well. Just two more ways to stay connected to TPS so we can update you on the happenings in the world of hockey prospects.

(Photos Courtsey: NHL.com, USHL, Hockey Canada)

The Hunter Should Become The Oiler:UPDATED

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By now everyone is bringing up names for who should replace Craig MacTavish as the Oilers new head coach. General Manager Steve Tambellini said Wednesday that he won't stand for an unemotional team; he wants a team that doesn't stand on it's heels and is productive. That all starts with the head coach.

Unfortunately John Tortarella is already coaching or he would probably already be hired. He's emotional and coaches an up tempo style on Broadway and has Stanley Cup experience.

There is another guy who has those qualities, although his cup experience is as a player, that might be available but I think if Brent Sutter coaches in Alberta it will be with Calgary and not Edmonton.

But there is someone who has followed the Sutter path and is my candidate for the Oilers coaching position. Dale Hunter has emotion, passion and aggression - just ask the 1993 version of Pierre Turgeon - Hunter racked up more than 1000 NHL points and more than 3000 penalty minutes. He didn't win a cup as a player but led Washington to the finals once and scored 2 series winning overtime goals.

So that's Dale Hunter the player but what about Dale Hunter the coach? He's a co-owner of the London Knights and their bench boss. A team he coached to a Memorial Cup championship, on home ice in 2005, defeating a Rimouski squad led by Sidney Crosby.

Now in his 8th season behind London's bench, Hunter has been to the OHL final twice, lost in the Semi-final once and has his Knights team there again this year. He's won 50 plus games 3 times while coming up a game short of the half century mark twice including this season. In 2005 the Knights broke the record for consecutive wins to start a season, held previously by the Brandon Wheat Kings at 29. London went 31 without a loss.

Hunter has no problem coaching an up-tempo style. His Knights teams have racked up 300 plus goals in 4 of his 8 seasons and this year notched 287. He also doesn't mind his club playing rough with 6 seasons close to or more than 1500 penalty minutes.

Hunter has coached current NHLers who should be stars of the future like Corey Perry in Anaheim, Sam Gagner in Edmonton and Chicago's Patrick Kane (even though he only had both for one season in London), Sergei Kostytsin in Montreal, Steve Mason in and Rick Nash in Columbus, Boston's Dennis Wideman, not to mention Danny Syvret whom the Oilers drafted and traded to Philadelphia where he's had a bounce back season in the AHL and could be banging on the Flyers door next year.

And who knows, maybe Dale Hunter can get out of Rob Schremp what Craig MacTavish couldn't or didn't want to. Hunter has coached junior long enough that he can relate and get through to the younger generation, but he's also the type of personality that won't be intimidated by anyone, or scared to tell a veteran where he stands.

There have been some points raised that Tambellini only wants a coach with NHL head coaching experience, but read below Jason Gregor's question and Tambellin's response.

Gregor question:
Does he necessarily have to have previous head coaching experience in the NHL?

Tambellini answer:
Not necessarily, um, he'd have to be a special person that you're confident in for someone to walk in and command the respect and have the knowledge that you felt that was ready to compete against NHL situations. But um, there's good examples of that this year, of young guys coming in that are having success and showing that they're ready. I think there's always opportunities for some people to be able to do that.

To me Dale Hunter can command a room, and fits the criteria set out in Tambellini's answer. Hunter might have "it" even more than an AHL guy like Scott Arniel or an NHL assistant like Geoff Ward who I think would also make good choices if it came to them.

If I win the "be the G.M. for a day" contest, the first thing I would do is hire Dale Hunter as the new Oilers head coach. No past history with the Oilers = a fresh start.

One final note, my co-worker at Global TV Kevin Karius threw this at me the other day: How many NHL teams have had 3 fired coaches in the organization in one season? Chris Chihocki in Stockton, Jeff Truitt in Springfield and of course Craig MacTavish here in Edmonton. Nice job KK, even a blind squirrel finds a nut, eh... big nut?

Is Sutter Shuffling Back To Red Deer?

An interesting article in the New York Post from Saturday says that Brent Sutter might not be long for New Jersey and could return to B.C, Alberta. Yes it did say B.C, Alberta. I'm sure it was a typo and the writer does know that B.C. and Alberta are provinces in our fine country. You can read the full story here.

Here's the Cole's notes on the story: Sutter gave a no comment type answer to the question about him coaching the Devils next year. He reportedly misses his family. Has one more year on his contract. Could one day take over from 66 year old Lou Lamoriello as G.M. some day.

I spoke to someone close to the Rebels today who told me he wasn't surprised by the story, but doesn't think it will be next year. I was told Brent has a tremendous passion for junior hockey, in particular the Rebels. He really enjoyed his time around the team before the NHL season started this year, and returned to Red Deer during the NHL all star break getting the chance to catch a few games. Sutter apparently watches every Red Deer game online. My source thinks sometime in the near future the 2 time Stanley Cup and 3 time Canada Cup champ as a player and Memorial Cup winner as a coach will return to Red Deer (maybe as soon as the 2010-1011 season) but as the General Manager only, as current head coach Jesse Wallin is doing a fine job rebuilding the Rebels.

What could complicate matters though is if Sutter is offered the G.M. post in Jersey. As for his family, I have no doubt he does miss them, however his oldest son is attending University in Calgary, his middle son Brandon is playing for Carolina, and his daughter is close to finishing High School, so in a few years there won't be any kids on the farm, and his wife Connie would be free to join him wherever he is coaching.