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Report: Panthers to interview Reirden for head coaching gig

Washington Capitals v Pittsburgh Penguins - Game Six

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 10: Assistant coach Todd Reirden of the Washington Capitals talks to the power play unit during a time-out against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Consol Energy Center on May 10, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

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Yet another candidate has emerged in Florida’s wide ranging search for a new bench boss.

Todd Reirden, one of Barry Trotz’s assistants in Washington, will reportedly interview for the Panthers’ vacant head coaching gig, per TSN.

TSN also notes that Reirden could be a candidate for the still-unfilled Buffalo job. That move would reunite him with new GM Jason Botterill, as the two spent a few years together in the Pittsburgh organization (Reirden was an assistant with the Pens and Baby Pens, Botterill the club’s AGM).

It makes sense that Reirden is on Florida’s radar.

As we’ve written earlier, GM Dale Tallon has cast a pretty wide net to find his new head coach. He expected to interview at least a dozen candidates and, while we don’t know them all, the likes of Denver University’s Jim Montgomery, ex-Habs boss Michel Therrien and Sharks assistant Bob Boughner have been reported as interviewees.

More: Therrien reportedly gets second interview with Panthers

Reirden, 45, played nearly 200 games in the NHL before quickly transitioning to coaching post-retirement. He coached at his alma mater, Bowling Green, before spending time in the Pittsburgh organization both at the NHL and AHL levels.

In 2014, he was dumped by the Pens and quickly joined Trotz’s staff in Washington. He’s since steadily risen the head-coach-in-waiting ranks. Last summer, Reirden was reportedly a finalist for the Calgary job that went to Glen Gulutzan.