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The search is on Columbus talks with Low, Trottier about head coach spot
Posted: Wednesday June 21, 2000 02:09 PM
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The Columbus Blue Jackets have spoken with former Edmonton Oilers coach Ron Low and Colorado Avalanche assistant Bryan Trottier about being the franchise's first head coach. President and general manager Doug MacLean said he would have the final three interviews on Wednesday and probably would announce the expansion team's head coach next week. Low went 139-162-40 in 41/2 years with Edmonton, never finishing the regular season above .500. He was an assistant coach with the Oilers for six years before taking over the top job. Trottier spent the past two seasons with the Avalanche and was an assistant with the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1994 to 1997. As a player, he won six Stanley Cup titles, four with the New York Islanders' dynasty of the 1980s and two more with the Penguins in 1991 and 1992. Several publications have reported that the Blue Jackets interviewed Detroit Red Wings associate coach Dave Lewis, Los Angeles Kings assistant Dave Tippett, former Calgary Flames head coach Dave King, Philadelphia Flyers Hall of Famer and minor-league coach Bill Barber and ex-San Jose assistant Paul Baxter. Last week, MacLean said, "Some of those names are in the mix." MacLean is in Calgary for the expansion draft Friday and the amateur draft Saturday and Sunday. He said he regretted not having a coach in place for the draft, but had not had time for interviews because of personnel decisions and pre-draft planning. "I think I have got it narrowed down to probably three guys," he said. "I want to finish the interviews and maybe one of these will knock out somebody." The NHL's other expansion team which begins play this fall, the Minnesota Wild, hired Jacques Lemaire on Monday. Lemaire has experience as a player, assistant and scout and was the head coach of the 1995 Stanley Cup-winning New Jersey Devils. MacLean said was looking at candidates who have NHL head-coaching experience but was also considering others who have worked as an assistant coach or in the minors. "I think my big decision is: Which way do I go? Do I go with a veteran or do I go with the younger guy, the less experienced guy?" he said. "That is a big decision I must make."
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