Kevin Woodley

But do we mean like NHL head coaching experience?

Like elder statesman, yeah, kind of that.

Because honestly, quite often when you hire a former NHL head coach to be an assistant coach,

immediately it's like groomed to be a replacement or they've got their replacement in waiting like all those conversations start and i don't think they would start here just because of the nature of everything we've talked about about where this team is at where the organization is at and how everybody's on the same page about next steps but i don't know that it's as big a prerequisite as maybe it gets made out to be in part because this isn't many may be coming in

to the NHL as a first-time head coach, but he spent four years as an assistant on the staff in Toronto and seeing how everybody operated within that market, within that media spotlight and that glare.

I don't know that... I think you have to flush out the staff with people who are really good at certain things.

And again, I loved what Ryan had to say about the way Manny empowers people.

I think that that was one of the strengths of Rick Talkett when he was here as a coach.

I think that that was one of the shortfallings, frankly, of the people above Rick Talkett when he was here as a coach in terms of listening to the people around you, empowering them, and then trusting their decision-making.

I don't think that happened up to the highest levels under Jim Rutherford.

And so to hear him speak that way, to me, it would be more important to have a forward-thinking...

coach who understands modern power play tactics and how to engage with, you know, players of all ages and teach and,

than it would be to say, oh, this guy was a former coach five years ago.

He's got an angel head coaching experience.

Like it's about finding the right fits for the right roles.

And I think because there's a process in place, there's an understanding of what roles, Ryan even said today, like specific roles.

He didn't outline them, but clearly they have ideas in terms of who is going to do what.

And I think if you have experience within that and proven track record, it's probably not a bad thing.

But again, I don't think it's a prerequisite.

It's about finding the right people with forward-thinking skill sets, you would hope.