Monday, July 30, 2007

Habby and the Hawks

I just can't see it!
While the owner of the Portland Winter Hawks says two prominent individuals have expressed interest in the teams head coach position, Marc Habscheid's name just doesn't fit.
In my opinion, Habscheid would only go to one of two teams in the Western Hockey League, if it was simply as the teams head coach.
Those two cities are Kelowna, where he won a Memorial Cup title, and Swift Current, his hometown team. Obviously we can rule both of those centers out, when Ryan Huska was named to the Kelowna Rockets head coaching position last week, while Dean Chynoweth has cemented himself as the GM and coach in Broncoville after signing a contract extension this summer. On top of that, Broncos Chairman of the Board Joe Arling would never let Habscheid take the reins of the team, so seeing Habby behind the bench at the Civic Centre won't happen as long as Arling has his way. I don't know all the particulars between why Arling doesn't like Habschied, but the two don't see eye to eye.

The only way Habscheid would ever end up in Portland (once again in my opinion) is if he got a bigger piece of the pie. Being the head coach just wouldn't do it. Could that be through an offer to be a partial owner of the team, plus the head coaching duties? It would definitely sweeten the pot. I can't see him even being excited if it was a GM/head coach opportunity with the Hawks, because if I know Marc Habscheid, he hates anything to do with the administration side of the game. Habschied's name still comes up when talk revolves around assistant coaching openings with the Phoenix Coyotes. Until those positions are nailed down, Habscheid's name will surface.
Remember Habschied signed a three year deal with the Bruins prior to the start of last season, so has two years left on a contract. Can he make just as much cash unemployed and living on the remaining two years of his pro deal, than being paid to be the bench boss in Portland? Or do the Hawks absorb some of that deal he signed with the Bruins, just to lure him to the hockey club? It just doesn't make financial sense. But if you are a Portland Winter Hawk fan, does much make sense these days? Everything from the team dragging it's feet before failing to sign Mike Williamson to a new deal, to the slow process in finding a successor makes you scratch your head.

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