If nothing else, maybe the Sharks front office is learning how the flow of information in the Internet era can undermine their attempts to keep hirings under wraps.
First came the leak out of Detroit that Todd McLellan was getting the top job in San Jose. Oops. That ended the suspense in a hurry. Since then, the Sharks have been holding off on the announcement of any assistant coaches until they had everybodyâ€TMs name on a contract.
But the name of former Chicago Blackhawk coach Trent Yawney has been in circulation for weeks now. A few days ago, a second name surfaced â€" again in a leak that originated with the Red Wings â€" when word got out that Detroitâ€TMs video coach, Jay Woodcroft, was joining McLellan in San Jose.
And now, hours ago, (as a couple of you were quick to point out to me) word comes from the Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Standard-Speaker that Todd Richards, coach of the Penguinsâ€TM AHL affiliate there, is leaving that job to be part of the staff in San Jose.
Richards, 41, had a brief call-up as an NHL defenseman with Hartford in the early 1990s, and has had success in Wilkes-Barre, compiling a 98-49-5-8 record and a trip to the Calder Cup finals.
UPDATED INFORMATION: A Sharks source now confirms that, yes, the team and Richards have been talking and, yes, it looks as if he will be part of McLellanâ€TMs staff. Wednesday was expected to be the day that everything becomes official, but the fact that Richardsâ€TM name is now out there along with the two others could accelerate the process.
******** I had a chance the other day to talk with Curtis Brown and he sounded as if heâ€TMs ready for the next phase of his hockey career to continue in Switzerland.
That may be because Brown talked with Joe Thornton â€" who played there during the 2004-05 lockout â€" before signing a two-year contract with the Kloten Flyers.
â€oeThat was key,” Brown said. â€oeI talked to Joe and he said it was unbelievable.”
Added the veteran center: â€oeFor my family and the situation and everything, I think itâ€TMs going to be a great experience. It wasnâ€TMt going to work out at this juncture with the Sharks. If I waited something could have opened up in the NHL, but I got to a place where I wasnâ€TMt willing to let this opportunity get by me.”
I told him a lot of fans were wondering why he didnâ€TMt see more ice time in that four OT loss to Dallas that eliminated the Sharks last spring.
So, to clarify, was that injury-related or a coachâ€TMs decision?
â€oeThat was a coachâ€TMs decision,” he said, indicating he, too, was somewhat mystified under the circumstances.
Brown said he would miss playing for the Sharks and living in the Bay Area. â€oeI wish I was still a part of it, but this is a good opportunity and weâ€TMre going to enjoy it.”
