FIRE AND BRIMSTONE
Sens’ new coaches exude passion
We’ve seen enough sparks from both Guy Boucher and Marc Crawford over the years to wonder about the potential for an explosive combination now that the two are together behind the Ottawa Senators bench.
So, with two self-declared “passionate” coaches now on board, who will be the level, even-tempered voice in times of turmoil?
“I know that I’m going to have to obviously dial it down a bit and that’s always what the assistant coach has to do,” Crawford said Wednesday at the Canadian Tire Centre.
“He has to read off the head coach. The main thing he has got to do is he’s got to give strong information, the kind of information that’s going to help (the head coach) be the best coach that he can possibly be. I know I can do that for him.”
From a distance, it’s a bit surprising to see how a guy with Crawford’s head coaching background — a 549-421-100-77 record with Quebec/Colorado, Vancouver, Los Angeles and Dallas — could so readily step into a supporting role.
Other than serving as an assistant to Glen Sather on a World Cup team, his last non-head coaching gig was with Fredericton of the American Hockey League in 1987.
But while Crawford interviewed for the Senators head coaching job, along with the vacant head coaching openings in Anaheim and Calgary, he insists he can adapt to the new responsibilities.
Boucher and Crawford, both returning to the NHL after taking a sideways step to Switzerland, first talked about the possibilities of a partnership two years ago. For clarity purposes, Crawford now carries an “associate coach” job title, a nod to his impressive resume.
There’s little doubt that Crawford, who last coached in the NHL in 2011 with Dallas, gained a new perspective on how special any job is in the big leagues after spending four seasons in Switzerland.
He was an open book Wednesday, talking about everything from the cultural differences involved with European hockey, to his excitement at working with Senators captain Erik Karlsson to his wide web of family connections in Ottawa. Crawford has five nieces and nephews here and expects a long lineup for tickets. He also joked about trying to avoid tickets of his own, given that Ottawa police Chief Charles Bordeleau is his second cousin.
The Senators’ new associate coach also says there are plenty of examples of similar coaching arrangements serving teams well in the NHL.
Rick Bowness, the Senators’ first head coach, took a step back to work under both Alain Vigneault in Vancouver and now Jon Cooper in Tampa. Jacques Martin, the longest serving head coach in Senators history, now acts as an extra set of eyes and ears for Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan.
“You need top people to work with you,” said Crawford. “When nobody cares who gets the credit, then that’s usually when you have a good team.”
He credits Martin and Joel Quenneville for being a major part of his success in his early coaching days with Quebec/Colorado.
“Jacques Martin, he stopped me from making so many mistakes my first year in Quebec and second year in Colorado,” said Crawford. “And we had Joel Quenneville. That’s an all-star cast.”
When Boucher and Crawford held their first formal “hockey meeting ” Tuesday night, Crawford says he re-assured Boucher of his commitment.
“Loyalty is huge in any staff and the head coach has to know you’ve got his back,” Crawford said.
Crawford’s precise responsibilities have yet to be defined. Boucher’s staff — the other positions remain to be filled — will be placed in positions to emphasize their particular strengths.