(above) Don't forget to vote for former DU player Kevin Dineen in the Denver Post Online Poll today. You could technically vote for Dineen more than once if you "cleared" the "cookies" in your web browser & then "refreshed" the Denver Post page, but you didn't hear that from us. :-)From: Denver Post
by Adrian Dater
Curtis Leschyshyn might be a little biased. After all, Todd McLellan — the Detroit Red Wings assistant who could become the Avalanche's next coach — was in his wedding party.
The former Avalanche defenseman, though, can't say enough good things about McLellan and what it would mean to the Avs if they get him.
"That would be a very wise decision by the Avalanche," said Leschyshyn, who now is involved with the Littleton Youth Hockey Association. "He's ready to coach in the National Hockey League. He's a guy that didn't ever jump into something he wasn't prepared for. He's made sure that, along the way, he learned and experienced what it was going to take to be successful. That's why I think he'd be a tremendous guy for a team needing a coach."
Leschyshyn was a junior hockey teammate of McLellan's from 1985 to 1987 with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League. A center, McLellan played five games for the New York Islanders in 1987-88 before shoulder problems derailed his career. He has since gone on to coach at five different levels of hockey, including the last two years with the Red Wings.
McLellan is not expected to be granted permission by the Red Wings to talk with any other NHL team until after the Stanley Cup Finals, which is perhaps why six other teams besides the Avs have yet to fill current vacancies. The Avs could have some fierce competition to sign him.
If the Avs don't land McLellan, another candidate could be Portland (Maine) Pirates coach & former University of Denver superstar Kevin Dineen, whose team is in the AHL semifinals. Leschyshyn knows a little something about him, too, having played with him in Hartford
"He's hockey-bred from Day 1, that guy. From player to coach was probably a pretty easy transition for him," Leschyshyn said. "He's one of the only guys I ever played with who, after practice, would write down the exact drills that we did, so that he could have it for future reference. He was preparing, as a player, to take the next step to coaching. If the Avs got either one of those guys, they'd be well-served."
The former Avalanche defenseman, though, can't say enough good things about McLellan and what it would mean to the Avs if they get him.
"That would be a very wise decision by the Avalanche," said Leschyshyn, who now is involved with the Littleton Youth Hockey Association. "He's ready to coach in the National Hockey League. He's a guy that didn't ever jump into something he wasn't prepared for. He's made sure that, along the way, he learned and experienced what it was going to take to be successful. That's why I think he'd be a tremendous guy for a team needing a coach."
Leschyshyn was a junior hockey teammate of McLellan's from 1985 to 1987 with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League. A center, McLellan played five games for the New York Islanders in 1987-88 before shoulder problems derailed his career. He has since gone on to coach at five different levels of hockey, including the last two years with the Red Wings.
McLellan is not expected to be granted permission by the Red Wings to talk with any other NHL team until after the Stanley Cup Finals, which is perhaps why six other teams besides the Avs have yet to fill current vacancies. The Avs could have some fierce competition to sign him.
If the Avs don't land McLellan, another candidate could be Portland (Maine) Pirates coach & former University of Denver superstar Kevin Dineen, whose team is in the AHL semifinals. Leschyshyn knows a little something about him, too, having played with him in Hartford
"He's hockey-bred from Day 1, that guy. From player to coach was probably a pretty easy transition for him," Leschyshyn said. "He's one of the only guys I ever played with who, after practice, would write down the exact drills that we did, so that he could have it for future reference. He was preparing, as a player, to take the next step to coaching. If the Avs got either one of those guys, they'd be well-served."
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