Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
A decision on Rowe’s coaching status will wait
Management will handle offseason
SUNRISE — Despite the recent flurry of head-coach firings in the NHL, Panthers president Matt Caldwell and general manager/interim coach Tom Rowe said they are not pursuing any potential candidates for the rest of the season.
Rowe, who was asked by team owners Vinnie Viola and Doug Cifu to take over for fired Panthers coach Gerard Gallant on Nov. 27, added that he “loves to coach,” this team, but any decision on his future will be decided after the season in a group situation with upper
management.
“If I decide to coach [the Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald] will be the first to know,” Rowe said after morning skate Thursday at the BB&T Center. “If I decide not to coach and that conversation has taken place with [Caldwell and the owners], it will be a group discussion.
“I talk to Vinnie and Doug every day. I talk about moves we might want at the deadline, but right now we’re not going to do anything. I’m not saying we won’t if the right thing comes along. Right now, we really like this group.”
With the recent return of defenseman Alex Petrovic, as well as forwards Nick Bjugstad, Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau, the Panthers are at full strength for the first time this season. After the five-day break and before Thursday night’s game against the Los Angeles Kings, the Panthers were only three points out of a wild-card playoff berth with 30 games to play.
“I think it’s time for us to get rolling,” Bjugstad said. “You look around and guys like [Vincent] Trocheck had to play 27 minutes a night. It’s important to get the rest and I think we’ll have some fresh legs with the new guys back.
“This is going to be a fun challenge. After making the playoffs last year, we know there’s no better hockey games to play in.”
Rowe clarified that it wasn’t former General Manager Dale Tallon who brought him into the organization to coach the then AHL affiliate in San Antonio in November 2013, but rather owners Viola and Cifu, while Tallon was aware of the situation.
On Jan. 1, 2016, Rowe was made associate general manager under Tallon, but after the playoff loss to the Islanders, he took Tallon’s place, with Tallon promoted to president of hockey operations.
Tallon is once again performing the daily general manager duties, along with co-assistant GMs Eric Joyce and Steve Werier. Rowe wanted to make it clear that he never had aspirations to coach the Panthers, and that he was 100 percent behind Gallant until the early-season struggles.
“I quit thinking about being an NHL coach two years ago after I came back from Russia and nothing happened,” said Rowe, a former assistant coach for the Carolina Hurricanes, a longtime AHL coach and coach of the KHL’s Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in 2012-13.
“I said forget it. I’ll stick to the minors. I told my wife in two years when I’m 62, I’m going back to scouting. I don’t care if you believe it or not, the offer to come here to work in the front office came out of nowhere.”
Since taking over for Gallant’s 11-9-1 team, Rowe has led the Panthers to a 12-10-9 record.
“There’s a lot of people in hockey who think what we’re doing here is crazy,” Rowe said. “Honestly, I could care less what other people think outside this organization.”
Rowe added he has been in touch with Viola on a daily basis, both during the owner’s nomination from President Trump to be Secretary of the Army and since Viola withdrew consideration.
“You’re not going to find better owners,” Rowe said. “I’ve worked in a lot of places and these guys are unbelievable. They put their money where their mouths [are]. All they want to do is win the Stanley Cup. Our fans, coaches and players are real lucky to have them.”
Rowe said he has reached out to fired Bruins coach Claude Julien as a friend, but that the Panthers haven’t asked Boston’s permission to talk to him.
“He’s going to be coaching an NHL team next year
if he wants to,” Rowe said. “He’s too good a coach. I know him real well, he’s a good guy. We have a fraternity.”
Caldwell later confirmed Rowe’s comments, agreeing that the Panthers won’t conduct any coaching searches or decide on Rowe’s future until after the season …
Panthers forward Jonathan Marchessault, who missed practice Wednesday due to an illness, participated in morning skate and is expected to play. … As expected, James
Reimer will start in net over Roberto Luongo .… Legendary broadcaster
Jiggs McDonald, who was the play-by-play voice for the Kings, Islanders and Panthers, will call Thursday night’s game for the Kings. It’s his 50th year of broadcasting and the Kings’ 50th year of existence . ... Panthers defenseman
Keith Yandle was fined $2,000 by the NHL for his second embellishment penalty, last called on him in the 6-5 win over the Senators on Jan. 31.