Vancouver’s search for Willie Desjardins’ new assistant coach is underway.
Per TSN 1040, former Ottawa head coach Dave Cameron and veteran hockey man Keith Acton -- who last served as an associate in Edmonton -- have interviewed for the position, vacated when Glen Gulutzan departed to take the head coaching job in Calgary.
Cameron had previously interviewed for an assistant’s gig in Detroit, and the aforementioned Flames position that went to Gulutzan. He’s quite close with Desjardins, having served as his assistant on Canada’s silver medal-winning team at the 2010 World Juniors.
Acton, who appeared in over 1,000 NHL contests as a player, has a wealth of experience behind the bench. He’s served as a right-hand man for the Flyers, Maple Leafs, Rangers and Blue Jackets, before his most recent two-year stint in Edmonton.
It’s fair to suggest Cameron and Acton aren’t the only candidates in the running. There has been some thought the Canucks could promote AHL Utica bench boss Travis Green, who’s thought to be a NHL-coach-in-waiting. Green was reportedly in the mix for the Anaheim job, before it went to Randy Carlyle.
Related: Travis Green says ‘I think I’m ready’ to coach in the NHL