Gulutzan ready to be good soldier
Former Calgary Flames bench boss likes dynamics of new Oilers coaching staff
ROBERT TYCHKOWSKI
Glen Gulutzan didn’t join the Edmonton Oilers to be a parrot or a Yes Man — providing alternative viewpoints and opinions is a big part of his job description — but he won’t be circling Todd McLellan like a vulture waiting to swoop in and take the head man’s job.
“No, and I can also speak for Trent (Yawney),” said Gulutzan, who was named to McLellan’s coaching staff, along with Yawney and former Swift Current Broncos head coach Manny Viveiros on Friday. “There is no agenda coming in here. Our only agenda is getting this team to win. No one is thinking about (taking over for McLellan). We’re all dug in.
“Everything that people might insinuate, or that you’ve asked, has already been talked about between the three of us. That’s one of the beauties of knowing somebody for 25 years.
“We’re all in here for one reason and that’s to try and make this thing go. If we can get what we think is a really good team on a really good trajectory, we’re all going to have success.”
The Oilers go from having three assistants who would never really be considered for head jobs in the NHL to having three who would. The coaches’ room will be full of experienced and strong-minded people, which isn’t always the easiest dynamic, especially for the head guy. But Gulutzan said the relationship between he, McLellan and Yawney is the main reason this thing won’t get awkward or uncomfortable.
“I’ve known both of them since my early 20s and kept in contact with both of them over the years,” said Gulutzan, 46. “Todd and Trent have worked together before. So I think the relationships we’ve all had outside of the game are going to help.”
Friends don’t always agree, but they are always free to speak their mind without worrying about the other person taking it personally.
“Knowing Todd the way I do, he’s open to that, he likes to be challenged a little bit. He’s a guy who wants to be better every day. And I know Trent has firm stances on a lot of things, so I think it’s going to be a good mix. I think it’s healthy.
“On any coaching staff I’ve been around, and I’ve worked with some good ones both as a head coach and an assistant, healthy debate is important. When there’s bickering it’s not good, but when there’s healthy debate it can always move things forward.”
McLellan told his new assistants to study film and come to the table with fresh ideas on how to improve things here. After a 23rd place season, nobody is clinging to the status quo.
“We are instructed by Todd to come in with our opinions, that’s coming from the top,” Gulutzan said. “Ultimately Todd will make those final calls, but he said ‘Look at our game, tell me what you think.’
“We’re going to have a summit this summer. We’re going to come in here and say, ‘This is what I think worked and this is where I think we can make the team better.’
“We’ve already had some conversations. Things are going to be tweaked here and changed a little bit.”
As the former head coach of the Calgary Flames, Gulutzan knows as much about the Oilers as any other coach in the league. He can provide information on how opponents game plan for the Oilers, where they see Edmonton’s strengths and weaknesses.
“You certainly become familiar with the players when you see them that much,” he said. “And you have the perspective of what opposition coaches are preparing for, how they perceive (the Oilers). Any of that information being passed on to Todd is helpful and gives you somewhat of an advantage, or at least mitigate some disadvantages.”
Coming to Edmonton just months after being let go as Calgary ’s head coach means Gulutzan will also be bringing some valuable Flames intel with him. Nobody knows more about the inner workings of Edmonton’s biggest rival than he does.
“Two months ago the possibility to save my job hinged on whether we beat the Oilers or not, now it’s gone the other way,” he said with a laugh, adding he definitely wants to beat Calgary.
“I got a call from Mark Giordano when he heard the news. He had a big chuckle over it. But that’s the game. No matter who you’re playing you want to win, and you seem to want to beat the people you know the most.”
With McLellan, Gulutzan, Yawney and Viveiros, the Oilers have compiled a strong coaching staff, which Gulutzan absolutely believes can have a direct impact on turning Edmonton into a winner.
“When you have people who’ve coached at this level and are confident guys who’ve had success, that all translates to the players. When you are sure that things work, and you add in the healthy debate between coaches, it will really rub off on the players. When players feel confident that what they are being told is the way, it can do wonders.”