That's how former Rangers coach Tom Renney described his decision to join new Edmonton coach - and longtime friend - Pat Quinn as the associate head coach of the Oilers. The TSN story is here.
Personally, I'm happy for Renney, who winds up close to his Western Canadian home in B.C. and with an organization that has a chance to be much improved next season (particularly if there's any way Jaromir Jagr rejoins Renney in Edmonton). Renney could have waited to see if he'd get another NHL head coaching opening next season but I'm sure he weighed the pluses and minuses of the Oilers job (one he'd been rumored to be in line for and one which I'm sure he interviewed for) and decided this was the best fit.
If you look at Renney's time in New York, I'm sure the consensus is he did a heck of a job in revitalizing this franchise. Coaches just have shelf lives in the NHL and Renney's had come to an end with this group. That's not a negative. I'm sure as a fresh voice in Edmonton, he'll once again be viewed as an enthusiastic, solid Xs and Os tactician. Not sure how Quinn will be delegating duties but I suspect Renney will be running a few practices, just as he did when he was Glen Sather's assistant with the Rangers.
i forgot about the jagr angle. i can't see edm ever not playing run and gun hockey which is not renney's forte. still despite how it failed in the end under renney i wish him well in edm. i guess prucha will not be traded there.
Posted by: LI Joe | May 26, 2009 at 04:24 PM
Good for Tom, things got ugly at the end, but he was the guy that led the Rangers back to respectability. It won't be long before he is a head coach again. He was in another class then the coaches before him.
Good luck Tom
Posted by: Mark | May 26, 2009 at 06:16 PM