The coaches making a return to hockey

0 0 1 160 0

Former NHL coach Mike Keenan has been hired as the coach of Italy’s national men’s hockey team, following the practice of re-appointing veteran coaches that has been popular in the world of hockey.

The 72-year-old Keenan has had a lengthy career which has included coaching Chinese team Kunlun Red Star of the KHL, winning the Gagarin Cup with Russian team Magnitogorsk, as well as coaching eight teams in the NHL over 2 decades.

However, he is not an exception for coming out of retirement to pursue a lifelong career in coaching hockey. 55-year-old Paul Maurice, who ended his stint with the Winnipeg Jets last year, has been hired by the Florida Panthers, with the ongoing NHL season being his 25^thregular season.

60-year-old Barry Trotz has also been waiting for a new position as a head coach, after being a back-up for the New York Islanders, prior to which he was with the Nashville Predators for 15 seasons, and the Washington Capitals for four.

The re-appointment of retired coaches can be traced to teams desiring a coach with experience that players already trust, the ability to deal with adversity, as well as training tactics that are familiar to new and old players alike. In contrast younger coaches may often lack the depth of experience to deal with a team in uncertain times. It remains to be seen how successful Mike Keenan emerges, with Italy hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics.