It has not been a good off season to be an NHL coach in Alberta.
First it was Craig MacTavish, who was relieved of his duties four days after the end of the season.
On Friday it was Mike Keenan, who got Donald Trump’ed by the Calgary Flames.
Both were let go for the same reason as neither won enough.
For MacTavish there weren't enough victories in the regular season to get into the post season. For Keenan it was a shortage of wins in the playoffs that made it another first round failure without advancement.
So now the Oilers and Flames are both looking for a coach. Could that coach be just down the highway from each team?
Would there be any possibility that they could just do a job switch?
Let's explore further.
If you are the Oilers and are looking for someone to bust a few you-know-whats, who doesn't have any ties to the club's past and who has won a Stanley Cup, doesn't Mike Keenan fit that criteria?
If you need someone to push the veterans, he would be the guy to do it.
Steve Tambellini is doing the hiring and he would know Keenan from the days both were in Vancouver, not to mention, like MacTavish, Kevin Lowe was a player on Keenan's ‘94 New York Rangers Stanley Cup team.
So let's look at the possibility of MacTavish moving to Calgary.
That might be difficult for a guy who in his season ending sendoff said he loved the Oilers.
But look at what he would inherit.
The Flames are a team with three stars in a forward, defenceman and goalie. He would be a kinder, gentler version of Keenan, and MacTavish has always been considered a "players coach."
He hasn't won a Cup, but he came about as close as possible in 2006.
Also, you can bet Darryl Sutter wouldn't mind a guy who has put down some "Western roots" to be his next coach.
I'm not suggesting that this will happen but I wonder if anyone would even consider it. Too far fetched? More than likely, but it sure makes for some good conversation whether Iron and Oil mix or if the Flames "Craiglist" of coaches would have MacTavish on it.
