It was in late May of last year, and Marc Crawford was zipping down the highway with his cellphone pressed to his ear.



A police office had just stopped him near the U.S. border, but the long-time NHL coach got off with a warning, when he was recognized by the big Detroit Red Wings fan who wanted his thoughts on his team. Crawford then quickly returned to the road and redialed the number to a reporter back in Toronto, so eager to finish telling a story about one of his favourite players that he risked a ticket to do it.



Back then, Crawford was hustling around North America to various job interviews with NHL teams, searching for his chance to get back into the league. But what kept his phone ringing, in the leadup to last June’s draft, was his connection to Auston Matthews.



Now an associate coach with the playoff-bound Ottawa Senators, Crawford spent last season as Matthews’ coach with the Zurich Lions in the Swiss league. He took the big...