Possession stats-minded Colorado Avalanche fans might rejoice at Patrick Roy’s choice to bolt, but the bottom line remains that the timing is tough.
It’s already a challenge at times for a team to ask permission to interview another franchise’s assistant right after the season concludes, and that’s when such practices are generally tolerated.
But in mid-August? That’s asking a lot, and the Denver Post’s Terry Frei discusses some of the ins and outs of what the Avalanche might be dealing with.
The most important part is that other teams would need to sign off on an assistant interviewing for a gig, as Frei reports.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly Friday confirmed that the Avalanche would have to secure permission from teams to speak with anyone under contract. That would include Hartley because of the Flames’ remaining obligation to him, and also any assistant coaches under contract for 2016-17.
On the bright side, the Avalanche wouldn’t need to provide a draft pick-type compensation if they were to hire someone from another staff ... but it could be a tough sell.
That process makes it tougher to assemble a list of potential coaching candidates for Colorado, actually. Bob Hartley’s name has been mentioned frequently as a possible return to the Avs, yet as you can see from the excerpt above, even that comes with some potential hurdles.
And that’s involving a coach who isn’t really even employed by a given team.
Considering the limited options, it’s actually a bit surprising that GM Joe Sakic and the Avalanche dismissed the option of promoting from within. It’s not outrageous to imagine that being the choice that would lead to the smoothest transition.
It’s all another reminder that Roy didn’t just leave Colorado in a huff. He also left the Avalanche in a tough situation.
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