Spencer Carbery in Washington: a door closes for Patrick Roy and Pascal Vincent

Over the past few days, there has been a lot of talk about the five coaching positions available in the NHL. The Ducks, Flames, Blue Jackets, Rangers and Capitals are the teams without a pilot.

I figure the two pilots in Ontario must be feeling the heat because of the changes over their heads, but they still have a job, last time I checked.

But now, according to Elliotte Friedman, whose antennae across the NHL are numerous, the Capitals are on the verge of hiring their next coach.

We’re talking about Spencer Carbery.

This will not come as a huge surprise to many, but hearing Washington is closing in on Spencer Carbery as its next head coach.

– Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 30, 2023

Carbery, 41, has never coached in the NHL before. The BC native was Sheldon Keefe’s assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the past two years.

But before that, he had never set foot in the NHL.

After a few seasons in the ECHL, he began to climb the coaching ladder. He was an assistant and pilot in the ECHL, a coach in the OHL, an assistant and pilot in the AHL and an assistant in Toronto.

And now, here he is in the NHL.

What I’m wondering is what this means for Quebec coaches looking for work as pilots in the NHL. One name that comes to mind? Pascal Vincent.

The man involved in discussions to move from assistant to head coach in Columbus is at least interviewing with another team. We suspect it isn’t/wasn’t Washington.

One could read Vincent’s availability to speak with other club(s) as an indication he won’t get the #CBJ job, but don’t make that leap.

Sources say his contract w Columbus allows him to interview for head coaching positions without permission from #CBJ.

2/2

– Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) May 30, 2023

We suspect that Columbus still wants Vincent, but let’s not forget that several names are circulating out there. One of them is Patrick Roy, who is currently one win away from the Memorial Cup.

Could a win next Sunday help him get hired?

I don’t know to what extent Washington was a possibility for them, but clearly, a door is closing. So there are officially only four left at the moment.

Do the Quebecers have a foot in the door?

Breaking news

– A new boss in Drummondville.

Yanick Lemay has been named general manager of the @VoltigeursDRU. Until recently, he was a scout for the Winnipeg Jets. #Voltigeurs #Drummondville #QMJHL #NHLJets

– Jonathan Habashi (@JonathanHabashi) May 30, 2023

– Great read.

Johnny Hockey was in a new city last season with a new team – and welcomed a new child to his life as well.

It was a busy time, but now that he’s settled in with the #CBJ, he can see big things ahead for the himself and the Jackets. https://t.co/6gu4J8QsRb

– Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) May 30, 2023

– Nothing less.

In addition to adding two long balls to his record, Judge literally stole a home run from Teoscar Hernandez. https://t.co/pTn3XYGL6u

– Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) May 30, 2023