Kukla's Korner Hockey
Coach’s challenge depends on video coaches
by George Malik on 10/15/15 at 12:47 PM ET
Comments (0)
From an Insider-only entry by ESPN's Craig Custance:
As close as they are, St. Louis Blues coach Ken Hitchcock sometimes can’t help but poke fun at his friend Mike Babcock. Take, for instance, Hitchcock’s reaction when asked about Babcock winning the NHL’s first coach’s challenge on opening night.
“Babs looks like a star and he didn’t do a damn thing. He stood on the bench looking bewildered. Typical Babs,” Hitchcock said, laughing.
In Babcock’s defense, he was quick to credit assistant coach Andrew Brewer after the game, the guy Hitchcock pointed out was the true star. Brewer is a Maple Leafs coach with a background as a video coach.
“Andrew saved him. I would imagine Andrew got 29 calls today. How did he do it? What did he do? It came down quick,” Hitchcock said. “It was a sharp call and had a big impact on the game.”
When the Sharks won their goalie interference coach’s challenge against the Capitals, San Jose coach Peter DeBoer was quick to credit goalie coach Johan Hedberg and video coach Dan Darrow.
“I’m just the puppet calling the timeout,” DeBoer said to reporters. “It was a great catch.”
When the NHL’s board of governors approved the addition of a coach’s challenge to give NHL head coaches the ability to challenge goals scored following questionable goalie interference or plays that were potentially offside there were visions of guys like Babcock, DeBoer and Hitchcock throwing flags onto the ice and becoming the center of attention.
The reality has been much different. The new rule has thrust the video coaches, not the head coaches, into the spotlight.
Filed in: | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: ken+hitchcock,
mike+babcock,
pete+deboer,
san+jose+sharks,
st.+louis+blues,
toronto+maple+leafs
Comments
Be the first to comment.
Add a Comment
Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.
Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.
Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.
Most Recent Blog Posts
The Leafs Have Been Here Before
Starting From The Ground Up In Seattle
Jim Montgomery Is Ready For A New Challenge
General Managers Held A Meeting Today
A Partnership Between The National Hockey League And The American Gaming Association
About Kukla's Korner Hockey
Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.
From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.
Email Paul anytime at pk@kuklaskorner.com