Kukla's Korner Hockey
Coach’s challenge depends on video coaches
by George Malik on 10/15/15 at 11:47 AM ET
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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
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