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Home » Sports » Ice Hockey
Coach Richards returns to the Wild
Source: Agencies |
June 18, 2009, Thursday
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Print Edition
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TODD Richards returned home to coach the Minnesota Wild, with the promise that the team will play a more exciting, up-tempo style.
The Wild introduced Richards in St Paul, Minnesota, on Tuesday as the second head coach in team history, completing a new power structure that began with Craig Leipold's purchase of the team 1 1/2 years ago. General Manager Chuck Fletcher was hired last month.
Richards earned Fletcher's trust while the two worked together with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League. The 42-year-old Richards was the coach there for two seasons, before becoming an assistant with the San Jose Sharks last season.
Fletcher wasn't deterred by a resume that includes only one season on a National Hockey League bench.
"I truly believe that talent is the most important thing. I think your skill set and overall talent takes precedence over experience," he said.
The Wild will play a style similar to the Stanley Cup champions Pittsburgh Penguins, where Fletcher was the assistant general manager. It emphasizes puck possession, a strong forecheck and a fast pace - certainly a more aggressive system than the trapping, disciplined style used by former coach Jacques Lemaire.
But Richards said he believes it's easier to move from a defense-driven system to an offense-oriented style.
"You have to give Jacques Lemaire and his staff a tremendous amount of credit. As a coach it's tough to implement the defensive style. The players have a great foundation to play defensive hockey, and that's something that we can't lose."
(Agencies)
The Wild introduced Richards in St Paul, Minnesota, on Tuesday as the second head coach in team history, completing a new power structure that began with Craig Leipold's purchase of the team 1 1/2 years ago. General Manager Chuck Fletcher was hired last month.
Richards earned Fletcher's trust while the two worked together with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League. The 42-year-old Richards was the coach there for two seasons, before becoming an assistant with the San Jose Sharks last season.
Fletcher wasn't deterred by a resume that includes only one season on a National Hockey League bench.
"I truly believe that talent is the most important thing. I think your skill set and overall talent takes precedence over experience," he said.
The Wild will play a style similar to the Stanley Cup champions Pittsburgh Penguins, where Fletcher was the assistant general manager. It emphasizes puck possession, a strong forecheck and a fast pace - certainly a more aggressive system than the trapping, disciplined style used by former coach Jacques Lemaire.
But Richards said he believes it's easier to move from a defense-driven system to an offense-oriented style.
"You have to give Jacques Lemaire and his staff a tremendous amount of credit. As a coach it's tough to implement the defensive style. The players have a great foundation to play defensive hockey, and that's something that we can't lose."
(Agencies)
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