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Pascal Vincent speaks as someone who has already talked to NHL teams
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Pascal Vincent speaks as someone who has already talked to NHL teams
Credit: In Pascal Vincent, the Laval Rocket have one of the best hockey heads in the AHL. After all, he was named AHL Head Coach of the Year after leading his club to first place overall in the AHL… and he did it with a fairly young team. We suspected that the Habs had struck a […]
In Pascal Vincent, the Laval Rocket have one of the best hockey heads in the AHL. After all, he was named AHL Head Coach of the Year after leading his club to first place overall in the AHL… and he did it with a fairly young team.

We suspected that the Habs had struck a blow when they hired him to succeed Jean-François Houle, and almost a year later, there’s no doubt about it.

However, Vincent’s success also means that the Habs must expect the coach’s phone to ring for a possible return to the NHL. It all ended badly for Vincent in Columbus last year, but he has regained his credentials in recent months.

And with so many vacancies in the NHL, that opens doors for Vincent.

And when you read his comments, as reported by Dave Lévesque(TVA Sports), you realize that Vincent has probably already talked to some NHL clubs:

I’m not saying I haven’t had conversations. – Pascal Vincent

That said, the coach is clear on one thing: his priority remains the Rocket. What he’s explaining is that while he’s open to talking to some teams right now, he’s not ready to do big interviews for which he’d have to put a lot of preparation.

Basically, he’s ready to chat more informally with certain teams who’d like to chat with him between games, but not to submit to a big interview that would take a lot of preparation time.

Right now, he’d rather invest that time in his team, with whom he’s in the midst of a major playoff run. Because even if a return to the NHL seems to interest him, his heart and head are still in Laval at the moment:

I’m going to be here until I’m not. – Pascal Vincent

Vincent seems to be handling it all in the right way: he’s making sure his name is considered among the teams that have positions to fill, and he’s starting to forge ties with these organizations, but he’s doing it in a professional manner by focusing first and foremost on what he’s doing in Laval right now.

Could the Rocket’s long playoff run close a few doors if a team doesn’t want to risk missing the boat? It’s possible, but Vincent wants to remain loyal to the team that gave him a chance this year. And that, too, could win him points with some teams who see what a dedicated coach he is.


Overtime

– Good listening!

– This ties in with what our colleague Maxime Truman was saying last week.

– ÉCJ 2018: the trial continues today.

– He must be ready.

– Obviously.

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