The Vegas Golden Knights are quickly turning into the hot girl before prom. Everybody seems to want a piece of that action. The latest is former Dallas Stars great Mike Modano tweeted out his willingness to relocate to Vegas earlier this morning.
Hey Hitch take the @GoldenKnights job I’ll come work with you!!
— Mike Modano (@9modano) February 7, 2017
Hitch is Ken Hitchcock, former Blues head coach and coach of the 1999 Stanley Cup champion Stars led by none other than Mike Modano.
Hitchcock is 65 years old, has been a head coach in the NHL since 1995 missing just one season in 2010-11 between gigs in Columbus and St. Louis. He’s has one Stanley Cup, two appearances, five trips to the conference finals, and took his teams to the playoffs in 12 of the 13 seasons he coached all 82 games. Resume wise, he’s right up there with Claude Julien, but the age is obviously a bit of a concern. Nonetheless, the package deal with Mike Modano is intriguing.
After retiring Modano served as an alternate governor and executive advisor for the Stars. Here’s what he said he did while on the clock for the Stars.
I am involved in the business side of the organization. We are trying to get more of the local businesses involved in the franchise, get the people back and excited about the Stars future. We are trying to get the fans back and excited about hockey again. –Mike Modano to NHL.com
So you’re saying we can have Ken Hitchcock behind the bench and Mike Modano in the community selling the greatness of the sport of hockey? Yeah, that sounds pretty good to me.
Wonder if any other former Hitchcock disciples are willing to jump on board as well. What do you say Brett Hull? Want to get the band back together?
***
We are considering putting together a GoFundMe to try and buy Mike Modano a better Twitter handle. @9Modano? Seriously? We can’t get @MikeModano or even @Modano9? C’mon man.
Slack
While we’re at it, let’s get Ray Ferraro as the Golden Knights color commentator. There is a must read on The Hockey News about the woes of sun belt expansion teams done round table by ex players. Good Stuff. Ferraro has great knowledge of the game and delivers it with underlying funny comments.
Ken Boehlke
I’ve actually got an article in the works about that segment from the Hockey News. It was really good, but they kept referencing something and it bothered me. Should be done in the next week or two.
Dwayne Lucyk
If Hitch is in, count me in, too. With my hockey referee background, I’ll volunteer to drop pucks, after practices, for the centermen to practice winning face offs ha ha.
RJ
Man I’m glad McPhee didn’t pull the trigger on Gallant early. Simply by waiting, his potential options keep getting better. I think Julien is the best possible option, but alternatively I’d love to see Hitchcock and Modano working in town, either would be a huge dose of legitimacy.
Ken Boehlke
I’m with ya. Though I’m not sure there’s going to be anyone better than Julien or Hitch from here on in.