There was a rumor floating around about the blogsphere of the possibility of Badger Head Coach Mike Eaves going to New Jersey to coach. Rumors well are rumors, they are what they are. Be that it may, however, rumors are fun to discuss and think about.
From the Hockey in Wisconsin Blog Wisconsin Hockey Blog
Today I heard from reliable sources that University of Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves is slated to take over the head coaching duties for the New Jersey Devils next season.
I wish I had more information on it but at this time I don't. Eaves has always ran an NHL type system at Wisconsin and the characteristics between styles of Wisconsin and New Jersey aren't that far off. He seems like the perfect fit with General Manager Lou Lamoriello.
Keep in mind that the sources were quoted as being extremely reliable but at this point it needs to be treated as a rumor and not fact yet.
Edit: If Eaves were to leave there are a few names I would hope are being throw out there...:
Dean Blais (Recently left his job at Columbus I believe)
Mark Johnson (Best player in Wisconsin Hockey history, has won back to back titles with the Wisconsin women)
Mark Osiecki (Current Badger top assistant coach)
Anyone else want to throw any new names out there?
I personally don't think it would be that much of a stretch to see Mike Eaves could be coaching in the NHL. Why not New Jersey? New Jersey would be a perfect fit for his defensive system that the Badgers play. Mike Eaves could take a less talented team and turn them into a Stanley Cup Champion. Seriously, It would be god awful hockey to watch but it would be successful.
For all of those that think Dean Blais is going to coach again; especially for WCHA rivals of his hold team are dreaming. I don't think it is going to happen. Just a hunch. Blais was asked recently on a radio show in Fargo, ND if he would ever coach college hockey again and he said no. Blais said, "he doesn't like the travel associated with recruting."
Men's hockey: Eaves rumors appear unfounded
ANDY BAGGOT
abaggot@madison.com
A hot, but unfounded, rumor making the rounds at the American Hockey Coaches Association Convention in Marco Island, Fla., late this week involves University of Wisconsin men's coach Mike Eaves.
New Jersey is in the market for a new coach and the buzz had general manager Lou Lamoriello -- currently the interm coach after he fired Claude Julien earlier this month -- looking to bring Eaves to the NHL.
It makes some sense. Eaves has a NHL background as a player and assistant coach. The Devils are an organization that features a slew of college players. Even Lamoriello has strong ties to the college game, having coached at Providence.
And while Eaves has a five-year contract and a compensation package in excess of $300,000 at UW -- rewards for leading the Badgers to the 2006 NCAA title -- he has never completely closed the door to returning to the NHL.
Eaves didn't return a message left on his cell phone Sunday night, but multiple sources indicated the rumor is just that.
One source said he didn't know if Eaves had been contacted by Lamoriello, but the source said Eaves was aware of the rumor and dismissed it.
The UW coach who could be on the move is assistant Kevin Patrick, who is among the finalists for the opening at Alaska Fairbanks.
I wouldn't look to far into this rumor either way, but it wouldn't surprise me if it turned out to be true. I am sure an offer came from the New Jersey Devils, Mike Eaves would probably listen to it and weigh his options. I am sure most college coaches would, its an opportunity to go to the next level. Just because a person denies something as being false doesn't always make it ture. All of us that are fans of hockey know that things can change and fast.
Last year there was a rumor going around that NMU's Walt Kyle was set to take over at New Jersey. It seems that this conversation loves to bring up any college coach with NHL ties.
ReplyDeleteIf I were Eaves, I wouldn't even think about the Devils job, which offers no job security.