Procrastination is about as American a concept as apple pie, democracy and being fat. We all do it from time to time, even on some of the most important decisions in our lives. Usually there’s a reason for the urge to keep pushing things back. Whether it’s feeling unprepared, uncomfortable, or unwilling, procrastination usually tells a story.
Right now the Vegas Golden Knights are in the hunt to find the first coach in team history. Originally the plan was to wait until after the Expansion Draft to begin narrowing down the search, then the idea of doing it after the regular season ended seemed realistic, and now, it could happen as soon as tomorrow.
At this point, I’d say it’s 50-50 we have our head coach in place before the season’s over. –The Creator to LVRJ
Why the urgency all of a sudden you ask? Because maybe the perfect candidate is available right now and might not be in a few months.
The guy that’s caused the urgency is Gerrard Gallant. Jason touched on the importance of Gallant passing on the Islanders job and how it could signal his arrival in Vegas.
That brings me back to the whole procrastination thing. If Gallant does end up being the guy, every day that ticks away shows less and less confidence from George McPhee, The Creator, and the entire staff that he’s the perfect fit. There’s only one reason to procrastinate, and that’s to wait and see if someone better will come available.
Claude Julien? Alain Vigneault? Dave Tippett? Paul Maurice? Dan Bylsma? Or even someone who’s seat doesn’t appear hot at the moment. If McPhee likes Gallant, but waits to play the field, does he really like Gallant?
Every time Miss Abby and I decide to go out to eat we go through this same process. I throw out Applebee’s. She gives the lip raised, scrunched face, “eh” look. I say, “ok, then what are you feeling?” Chilis? No. Outback? Nah. Olive Garden? Meh. And the charade goes on for about 30 minutes and 50 restaurants. In the end, we go to Applebee’s, because that’s what came up first. Did we really want Applebee’s? Not necessarily, but nothing else sounded better. So we settled. That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with Applebee’s, cause there’s not, that place is delicious. But imagine the difference if the conversation went like this.
“Where do you want to go to dinner?”
“Applebee’s!”
“Wow, that’s exactly what I hoped you’d say.”
“F*** Yeah! Let’s go to Applebee’s!”
I want Las Vegas to get the absolute best coaching option possible. Spare no expense to put the right person in place from the jump. I’m not saying Gallant isn’t that guy, in fact, of every name mentioned to this point, he’s my pick, but I’d have a much different view of what McPhee thinks of him if he’s hired by February than if he signs the dotted line in June.
I want the head coach of the Golden Knights to be “APPLEBEE’S!” not “I guess Applebee’s is fine.” And if Gerrard Gallant really is the the one, there’s no reason to wait. Hiring him now is a statement, hiring him in June… that’s settling.
Rick Dames
Would be good choice. Difficult situation in Florida. Smart to stay away from Brooklyn. Let’s go to Applebees!
James
@Ken Boehlke
‘I want Las Vegas to get the absolute best coaching option possible. Spare no expense to put the right person in place from the jump. I’m not saying Gallant isn’t that guy, in fact, of every name mentioned to this point, he’s my pick’
Gallant has the bigger name recognition, but name recognition doesn’t necessarily make it the best pick.
Gallant has been portrayed as Art Howe in Moneyball by the analytics community. The old school hold Gallant in high regard. I’m somewhere in between both parties. Analytics are only part of the puzzle. I think Gallant’s a safe pick
RJ
I don’t necessarily have a problem with Gallant, but he seems like just another NHL head coach retread. There are about a dozen other guys with similar age, experience, success etc. Gallant is Applebees, Dineen is Chilis, Berube is Denny’s, Mueller is TGIF…they are all fine, but not really exciting or awesome. I don’t understand why Gallant is seen as such a better option than these other guys who are essentially the same guy.
I’d be a lot more excited by either a guy with a lot of experience of success like Lindy Ruff or Ken Hitchcock; or even better Dan Bylsma as was mentioned in an earlier article.
I think it is worth waiting to see who else is available before settling on Gallant or similar. If we pull the trigger on Applebees, but later we find out we could have had The Cheesecake Factory or Buffalo Wild Wings we will be pretty sad about Applebees.
Ken Boehlke
Thanks for playing along with the analogy. I like when people pick up what I’m throwing down.
RJ
Haha, in my analogy Cheesecake Factory is Hitchcock and Buffalo Wild Wings is Bylsma. I should have added Texas Road House for Lindy Ruff and Chipotle for Marc Crawford (pretty good, but a questionable reputation).
James
@RJ
‘I think it is worth waiting to see who else is available before settling on Gallant or similar.’
theScore.com ranked Gallant 12th among the 30 NHL head coaches before the season. If you wait, you run the risk of losing out on Gallant. We’re not the prettiest girl at the dance. We are still years away from contention. In all honesty, Gallant could do better if he waits around.
I agree there will be decent options available. Perhaps not as good as Gallant?
RJ
Sure but before the season he was coming off his single best season ever, winning the Atlantic Division. That is following 3 bad seasons with the Blue Jackets and 1 bad season with The Panthers, followed by a season so bad he got fired a few months into it. If peoples job performances are only judges right after their best day I’d like to get in on that.