Monday, June 15, 2009

Wild Coach: It's Richards

Todd Richards will coach the Wild starting next season, according to the Star Tribune's Michael Russo.

The former Gopher played at Osseo High School and the U of M. He coached the Pittsburgh Penguins' top affiliate in Wilkes Barre-Scranton for two season, and spent last season as an assistant in San Jose.

Richards is a great hire. Although I preferred Peter Laviolette and probably still prefer his experience, it's refreshing to see the Wild go for a young up-tempo coach.

Russo is also reporting that the Wild has fired assistant GM Tom Lynn, this coming after initially retaining both Lynn and Tom Thompson as holdover Assistant GMs from the Doug Risebrough regime. Lynn seemed an odd fit for a new manager, and it's apparent that Chuck Fletcher wants to start fresh after the draft.

It's too bad that this didn't happen a year earlier when they could have hired San Jose coach Todd McLellan, who was the coach of the Wild affiliate Houston Aeros for a few seasons before leaving to serve as an assistant in Detroit.

2 comments:

  1. Osseo High School? I believe it was Armstrong, my friend. Check sources...

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  2. You're right. His brother, Travis, was an Osseo grad, and wrongly assumed the same for Todd. I know you Armstrong guys stick close together!

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