As we get closer and close to an NHL franchise in Seattle, the group of investors trying to bring hockey to the Pacific Northwest has brought in an interesting name. Dave Tippett, former head coach of the Arizona/Phoenix Coyotes, Dallas Stars and Los Angeles Kings, has been hired as a senior advisor according to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times.
Tippett will have several responsibilities in the organization including the building of a training facility and acquiring a potential AHL affiliate. Obviously this will draw speculation that Tippett is in line to be the organization’s first head coach, though Baker couldn’t confirm that with anyone at this point. The 56-year old coach was fired by the Coyotes in the summer of 2017 after nearly a decade behind the team’s bench.
As Craig Morgan of AZ Sports adds on Twitter, Tippett already has family ties to the area, making it a good fit for the out of work coach. That and the fact that any expansion team needs experienced voices in the front office and coaching staff right away made him a good candidate, and unsurprisingly hired this early.
Seattle isn’t even guaranteed a team yet, though all signs point to one being awarded before long. The investing group led by Tim and Tod Leiweke have now brought in a key piece of their organization, though there is still a long way to go before we see an NHL game in the city.
Uh,is Seattle getting uh team Gary? That’s a yes.
That means if HFD/QUE want a team,relocation in the east-CAR/MIA