I don’t think it’s overstating the case to say that ex-players like Kevin Lowe, Craig MacTavish, Trevor Linden, Marc Bergevin, Bruce Boudreau, Doug Risebrough, Patrick Roy and Joe Nieuwendyk, to name just a few, advanced into the hockey coaching/management sphere in part because they were quotable and interesting and, consequently, viewed as bright and insightful. Not all proved to be, but many did.

Ditto the ex-players who now populate the TV panels and colour analyst positions — Ray Ferraro, Craig Simpson, Nick Kypreos, Mike Milbury, Aaron Ward, Mike Johnson, Kelly Hrudey, et al.

Same with coaches like Mike Babcock, Paul Maurice, Ken Hitchcock, Todd McLellan and Bob Hartley, and with GMs like Bryan Murray and Dale Tallon and Brian Burke and, before he became a recluse, Glen Sather.

When all was said and done, their willingness to play the game with the media earned them a line of credit to be used during lean times, so that calls for their heads didn’t come quite so quickly, or at all.

-Cam Cole of the Vancouver Sun where you can read more hockey notes...