The NHL teaching positions really feel like a revolving door. Talent is essential for a hockey coach but it surely’s apparent that in case you are in an internal circle, you’ll have a neater time getting a job. Jukka Jalonen is an instance of a profitable coach that hasn’t acquired a nod from the NHL. For groups that need to change after the top of the season, he could also be what they want.
Who is Jukka Jalonen?
Jalonen is Finland’s most profitable coach internationally. In the previous few months, he had gained Finland’s first gold medal on the Winter Olympics in Beijing and gained in opposition to the Canadians on the IIHF World Championship in Tampere.
Even earlier than that he gained two different Championships in 2011 and 2019 when the tournaments have been each in Slovakia. He has been the coach for 3 out of the 4 medals the nation has gained within the match. He has additionally gained the World Juniors in Finland in 2016. He and Mike Babcock are the one two coaches to have gained gold with a nation’s senior staff and junior staff.
While he doesn’t coach for any staff moreover the nationwide staff in the intervening time, he has a historical past with the KHL and SM-Liiga. Jalonen began his head teaching profession within the SM-Liiga staff, Ilves in 1992. After 4 seasons with the staff, he juggled round groups and leagues which lead him to Great Britain and Italy till he discovered a house with HPK. In 2006, he led HPK to their first championship within the league.
European Coaches within the NHL
Coaches that originate from Europe are very uncommon within the league. There have solely been three coaches who had full seasons as head coach on an NHL staff and none have been within the final ten years. Coaches’ positions within the NHL are an previous man’s membership and barely allowed one thing new to come back in and alter up what’s already recognized.
European coaches often have been positioned in underperforming groups such because the early 2000s Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks and are often put below a harsher mild in comparison with their North American counterparts by media and followers.
There can be a tradition that North American coaches maintain within the NHL and European coaches are a risk to that very tradition. The language barrier can be a thought in terms of teaching however most Europeans, they’ve a fluent understanding of English.
What groups may he coach?
After the 2021-22 season, six coaches have been both let go or stop after the season. Five of these positions are nonetheless up for grabs after the New York Islanders employed Lane Lambert. The Detroit Red Wings, Winnipeg Jets, Philadelphia Flyers, Vegas Golden Knights, and Dallas Stars are all on the lookout for a head coach within the 2022-23 season.
Even so, you have got well-established names akin to Barry Trotz and someway Joel Quenneville and Babcock are being thought of. Four of these groups are in the midst of the pack with the coaches often underperforming with the staff. However, the Flyers are a staff that’s trying to rebuild.
The solely problem is that if one other European coach joins a staff that has a historical past of underperforming would he have an opportunity to have a profession? It’s a troublesome query to reply however in an atmosphere the place he isn’t going to be welcomed except he flips to modify quick goes to be arduous.
Jalonen is a good coach. He yearly goes up in opposition to NHL gamers and coaches and finds a approach to beat them. Just watching the gold medal video games from 2019 and 2022 is a transparent indication that Finland was a well-coached staff. Whatever occurs, there’s one factor for sure, he ought to get his likelihood or else it is going to be a missed alternative.
fundamental picture credit:
Embed from Getty Images