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Former Canucks goalie Kirk McLean lands job as Avalanche goalie coach

If there’s a random joy in hockey that I like it’s seeing players that I grew up watching get coaching jobs. Sure, it’s got that special side effect of saying, “Dude, you’re getting so old now,” but seeing names and faces from your formidable years as a hockey fan is great. Case in point, the Colorado Avalanche have hired one of the big names of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals to be their new goaltending coach.

The Avalanche today confirmed the hiring of Kirk McLean, who won 245 games in an NHL career that spanned 16 seasons, as the team’s goaltending consultant.

McLean, 44, tended goal for New Jersey, Vancouver, Carolina, Florida, and the New York Rangers, and was best known for his nearly 11 full seasons with the Canucks from 1987-88 until his January 1998 trade to the Hurricanes.

McLean, of course, lost out to Mike Richter and the New York Rangers in seven games in that 1994 Final. Without McLean, however, the Vancouver Canucks don’t even make it that far as he played out of his mind all throughout those playoffs. Considering that McLean is replacing Jocelyn Thibault in Colorado as goalie coach, I think our fill for former 90s goaltenders has been met.