Candidates for Arizona Coyotes' coaching job could span minors, NHL

What the Coyotes could look like next season has started to become clear amid a string of additions and subtractions, but one key piece of their identity remains a mystery.

The team is in the midst of a search to appoint the 18th head coach in franchise history and, while it didn’t plan to interview a large pool of candidates, there seems to be plenty of coaches in the hockey world primed to take over an NHL bench.

“It’s probably as big of a decision as a manager can make in terms of your head coach,” General Manager John Chayka said. “Hopefully we get it right and get someone who can pull all these different pieces together that we’ve put on the table and catch lightning in a bottle and do something special here.”

From the minors

Todd Nelson appears as a leading contender to receive an NHL head-coaching gig after guiding Detroit’s American Hockey League affiliate to the Calder Cup last season, and he appears to be on Arizona’s radar.

The Detroit Free Press reported the Coyotes have been granted permission by the Red Wings to interview Nelson; the Coyotes declined to comment.

Nelson has been the coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins for the past two seasons, guiding the team to a 47-23-1 mark before its championship run in 2016-17. He also has NHL experience, working behind the Oilers bench as an interim coach in 2014-15 with Edmonton going 17-25-9.

Considering his history of helping young players – not only in the minors but with the Oilers as they were rebuilding – Nelson could be a solid fit for the Coyotes. He has a reputation of stressing communication – a trait the Coyotes value – and would seem to be able to implement a fast-paced style the Coyotes want.

Dallas Eakins would seem to be another possibility with TSN's Pierre LeBrun reporting that Eakins will interview with the Coyotes.

Eakins spent the past two seasons as head coach of the Ducks' AHL affiliate with last season's team going 43-20-5. The San Diego Gulls have made the playoffs both seasons Eakins, who's a proponent of analytics, has been at the helm.

A former player who actually appeared in four games with the Coyotes during 1996-97, Eakins has also coached in the NHL. He was with the Oilers in 2013-14 and part of 2014-15 before getting fired, but he was on the hot seat during that tenure for how the Oilers struggled.

The Ducks have granted the Coyotes permission to interview Eakins, a source said.

TSN's Bob McKenzie added another name to the mix by mentioning Sheldon Keefe, who's the head coach of the Marlies – Toronto's AHL affiliate.

Like Eakins, Keefe has been at his current post for the past two seasons and has made the playoffs twice; the Marlies were 42-29-5 in 2016-17. Keefe's coaching career has come on the heels of a tumultuous past that included a connection with controversial former coach and agent David Frost.

Another coach who could be intriguing is Benoit Groulx, who’s at the helm of the Lightning’s AHL affiliate. The Syracuse Crunch lost in the Calder Cup Finals to Nelson’s Griffins, an impressive showing in Groulx’s first season. He also has an extensive background working with youngsters in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Hockey Canada.

On NHL staffs

The Coyotes could target a name familiar to the organization and fans, such as Rick Tocchet.

Not only did he play parts of three seasons with the team, but Tocchet was behind the bench as an assistant when Wayne Gretzky was coach.

Currently an assistant with the Penguins, Tocchet has been linked to recent coaching searches in the league and it makes sense. He’s had success, helping the Penguins win the past two Stanley Cups, and has worked alongside some of the NHL’s premier talents such as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Steven Stamkos.

Players have praised his style, and he can relate to them having logged more than 1,100 games as a player and scoring 440 goals.

Tocchet has head-coaching experience, leading the Lightning from 2008-10, but his past also includes a run-in with the law as he was connected to a gambling ring in 2006 and was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to promoting gambling.

A number of other staffs throughout the league appear to have head coaches in waiting.

Blackhawks assistant Kevin Dineen has helped coach Joel Quenneville keep Chicago a perennial threat, and Dineen has an extensive track record as a player and coach – leading the Panthers from 2011-13.

Kirk Muller is an associate coach with the Canadiens who also has head-coaching experience (Hurricanes). He was a second overall draft pick in 1984 and won a Stanley Cup with Montreal.

Scott Arniel is an associate coach with the Rangers who coached the Blue Jackets.

Recently made available

Willie Desjardins was fired by the Canucks in April after three seasons and could be an option for the Coyotes.

Although the Canucks fizzled last season, spiraling to 29th overall, they were a playoff team and amassed 101 points during Desjardins’ debut in 2014-15 when they played an up-tempo style.

And Davis Payne is familiar with the Pacific Division. He was an assistant with the Kings for nearly five years before being dismissed in April.

Ice chip

The Coyotes have moved their prospect game Friday from AZ Ice Peoria to the Ice Den in Scottsdale. Puck drop is 5 p.m., and the game is free and open to the public.

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Reach the reporter at sarah.mclellan@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8276. Follow her at twitter.com/azc_mclellan.