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Alex Tanguay

Latest On Calgary GM & Coaching Search

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Although it is widely expected throughout the league that Craig Conroy will become the next General Manager of the Calgary Flames, Elliotte Friedman thinks there may be two other individuals that will join the Flames’ front office. Speaking during the second intermission of the Dallas Stars vs. Vegas Golden Knights game on Sportsnet, Friedman shares that there is an expectation that both Dave Nonis and Jarome Iginla will be holding executive positions in Calgary by early next week.

Nonis was notably one of the external candidates that the Flames interviewed in their search for a General Manager, and it appears that the team may have found a different position for him. Throughout his work in the front office at the NHL level, Nonis has spent time with the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and most recently, the Anaheim Ducks.

In Vancouver, in a span from 1998-2008, Nonis held positions such as General Manager, Director of Hockey Operations, and the Vice President of Hockey Operations. After a very short stay in Anaheim working as an Advisor to the team during the 2008-09 season, Nonis would make the move to Toronto, working as the team’s Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations as well as General Manager, being replaced after the 2014-15 season by Lou Lamoriello and, later, Kyle Dubas.

Ever since his ouster by the Maple Leafs, Nonis immediately began working as a Scout and as a Consultant for the Ducks, before making the transition to become the team’s Assistant General Manager before the 2019-20 season, working in the same capacity since.

In Iginla, there is no introduction that would fully encompass what he meant to the city of Calgary. Beginning his career for the Flames during the 1996-97 NHL season, Iginla would go on to play 1219 games wearing the flaming “C”, and score over 1000 points for the Flames alone. Being the longest-serving captain in team history, Iginla would lead the team to the Stanley Cup Final during the 2004 NHL playoffs, as well as earn two Maurice Richard Trophies during his tenure in Calgary.

Since his retirement from the NHL after the 2016-17 season, Iginla has been coaching his son, Tij Iginla, for the Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna U18 program. Adamant on coaching his son full-time before his return to the NHL, Tij was recently selected ninth overall by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL Prospects Draft.

As far as coaching updates, Friedman reports that Travis Green and Alex Tanguay are available options for Calgary moving forward. Travis Green was most recently the head coach of the Vancouver Canucks, having been fired midway through the 2021-22 season. Other than Vancouver, Green had spent time as head coach of the Utica Comets (Vancouver) in the AHL, and the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL.

Tanguay, who has never held a head coaching position in his career, would be a homecoming of sorts for the NHL veteran. Currently serving as the Assistant Coach of the Detroit Red Wings, Tanguay spent five years in Calgary during his NHL career (being on the same line as Iginla), scoring 284 points in 342 games. Whatever choice the team ultimately makes behind the bench for the upcoming season, Calgary will certainly have some interesting names to choose from.

Red Wings Place Three Players And Two Coaches In COVID Protocol

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With the recent increase in COVID cases around the league, the last few days have had plenty of news about players and staff members entering COVID protocol and it appears today will continue that trend.  The Red Wings announced (Twitter link) that goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, winger Carter Rowney and Givani Smith, head coach Jeff Blashill, and assistant coach Alex Tanguay have all been placed in protocol and will be unavailable for tonight’s game against New Jersey.

Detroit has been hit relatively hard by COVID-related absences this season as Tyler Bertuzzi, Marc Staal, and Danny DeKeyser have all missed time recently while Robby Fabbri and Michael Rasmussen are currently in protocol as well.  The Red Wings have recalled winger Riley Barber and goaltender Calvin Pickard from Grand Rapids of the AHL in corresponding moves to be able to dress a full lineup against the Devils.

As for their coaching situation, the team announced in a follow-up tweet that assistant coach Doug Houda will be joined by a pair of coaches from AHL Grand Rapids – head coach Ben Simon and assistant coach Todd Krygier.  As is the case with all other COVID protocol placements, each individual will need to miss at least ten days if follow-up testing confirms that they have indeed tested positive.

Detroit Red Wings Hire Alex Tanguay

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The Detroit Red Wings have a new assistant coach, as GM Steve Yzerman announced the hiring of Alex Tanguay today. The Stanley Cup champion has spent the last two seasons as an assistant with the Iowa Wild of the AHL and will now get his first chance behind an NHL bench.

Tanguay, 41, retired from a long playing career in 2016 after more than 1,000 games at the NHL level. Most of that time was spent with the Colorado Avalanche, though there were also stops with the Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning and Arizona Coyotes. A gifted playmaker, he recorded a career-high 81 points in the 2006-07 season and finished with 580 career assists. In 2001, he scored the Cup-clinching goal with the Avalanche but would lose to the Yzerman-led Red Wings in the Western Conference Final the following year.

Now behind the bench instead of on it, Tanguay is an up-and-coming coaching prospect that will quickly make the leap to the NHL. He’ll join head coach Jeff Blashill’s staff for the 2021-22 season, replacing the outgoing Dan Bylsma, who left the club earlier this year. Blashill was clear that in the search for a replacement the team would be looking for someone that can help the powerplay, which Tanguay is obviously qualified to do. In his career, he registered 244 points with the man-advantage, picking apart defenses with quick puck movement and precision passing.

He certainly can’t make it much worse, as the Red Wings had the league’s second-worst powerplay in 2020-21. At just 11.4% effectiveness, it sagged well behind everyone except the Anaheim Ducks. Even raising it to the league average of 19.8% would have resulted in 12 more goals in the shortened season.

Alex Tanguay Takes Coaching Role With Iowa Wild

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The NHL Network won’t have Alex Tanguay back for their coverage during the 2019-20 season, as the former star forward has been hired by the Iowa Wild as an assistant coach. Tanguay joins Tim Army’s coaching staff just three years after his playing career ended.

A veteran of 1,186 NHL games, Tanguay retired following the 2015-16 season. He finished with 922 career points including 59 in 98 playoff games and won the Stanley Cup in 2001 as a member of the Colorado Avalanche. A strong offensive force, he suited up for the Avalanche, Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning, Calgary Flames and Arizona Coyotes over his 16-year playing career. Army happened to be an assistant coach during Tanguay’s final stint with the Avalanche, giving the two some obvious familiarity.

Iowa made it to the Calder Cup playoffs for the first time last season under Army and will try to orchestrate a return in 2020. The release did not specify what responsibilities he’ll have for the Wild, but his more than 250 career powerplay points would suggest he can be an asset on that side of the puck.

Alex Tanguay Set To Retire?

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Free agent left winger Alex Tanguay was reportedly still seeking an NHL gig earlier this season, but a recent report by NHL.com (via Eliteprospects.com) implies that the veteran has decided to hang up his skates. According to NHL Public Relations, the 37-year-old has been hired be the NHL Network as an on-air analyst. The long-time player appeared on the network earlier this season, and he’s set to make his full-time debut this evening on NHL Tonight.

In a statement, Tanguay seemingly confirmed his retirement:

“I’ve been lucky enough to realize a childhood dream to play in the NHL for 16 years and, in looking to stay involved in hockey, I thought there was no better way than to be part of the expert panel at NHL Network. I’m looking forward to sharing my passion for the game with the fans.”

The 1998 12th overall pick had a successful 16-year career, compiling 283 goals and 580 assists. During his first tenure with the Avalanche, the forward won the 2001 Stanley Cup and was named an All-Star in 2004. Tanguay also spent time with the Flames, Canadiens, Lightning, and Coyotes. The veteran played for both Colorado and Arizona during the 2015-2016 campaign, compiling eight goals and 27 assists in 70 games.

Tanguay was named one of PHR’s top-five remaining free agents back in August, and a September report indicated that the veteran wasn’t yet ready to retire.

2016-17 Season Preview: Arizona Coyotes

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With training camps opening around the league and the new season less than three weeks away, we continue our series of team previews with a look at the Arizona Coyotes.

Last Season: 35 – 39 – 8 (78 points), fourth place in the Pacific Division. Missed the playoffs.

Salary Cap Space Remaining: $2.347MM (per Cap Friendly). The Coyotes will be able to free up to an additional $10.5MM by placing Dave Bolland and Chris Pronger on LTIR.

Key Newcomers: Alex Goligoski (D) – trade with Dallas; Jamie McGinn (LW) – free agent from Anaheim; Luke Schenn (D) – free agent from L.A. Kings; Radim Vrbata (RW) – free agent from Vancouver; Lawson Crouse (LW) – trade with Florida.

Key Departures: Antoine Vermette (C) – contract buyout – signed with Anaheim as free agent; Alex Tanguay (LW) – free agent; Boyd Gordon (C) – signed with Philadelphia as a free agent.

Players to Watch: Mike Smith and Goligoski. The Coyotes allowed the third most goals in the entire league which was a function of substandard goaltending and a mediocre defense corps. GM John Chayka addressed the defense, dealing a fifth-round pick to Dallas in exchange for the negotiating rights to Goligoski and subsequently signed the veteran puck-mover to a five-year contract.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson is the Coyotes #1 blue liner but Goligoski adds a reliable veteran to the mix who can play in all situations and will strengthen the team’s top-four. Last season he tallied 37 points for the Stars and has averaged 40 points for every 82 games he has played during his career. Goligoski was a horse on the back end in 2015-16, averaging nearly 24 minutes a game for the Central Division champs.

Meanwhile, the team is hopeful Smith will be healthy and provide steady play between the pipes for the Coyotes. The team finished 23rd overall in goalie save percentage with Smith appearing in just 32 games. On a promising note, Smith led all NHL goalies with 15 or more games played in 2015-16 in High Danger Save % (HDsV%) with a mark of 87.4% and has stopped at least 84% of those high quality chances in three of the last four seasons.

Smith was superlative in 2011-12 – the last season the Coyotes qualified for the playoffs – winning 38 games and finishing with a Sv% of 93.0%. He has the ability to single-handedly keep the Coyotes in games and if Goligoski can help clean up the defensive end, the Coyotes will be a contender.

Storylines: The John Chayka experiment and the development of the kids. Chayka is not only the league’s youngest GM but he’s also the first to come from a more analytically-oriented background. Fair or not, how the Coyotes perform with the roster he has assembled will have a major impact on how analytics and advanced stats are perceived in the league. If he can build a winner in Arizona with a limited payroll, it might encourage more clubs to actively embrace the role of analytics in the game.

By all accounts Chayka is a bright guy and most of his offseason moves were met with positive reactions from hockey pundits. His actual reliance on analytics in roster construction may be overstated but there is no question old school managers and coaches will be watching with interest.

Although improved goaltending and more contributions from the club’s blue liners will be important, perhaps the key to this upcoming season is the continued development of its young talent. Max Domi and Anthony Duclair are already well on their way to becoming stars in this league but the team does lack an established #1 center. Fortunately, they do have Dylan Strome, the third overall pick in the 2015 entry draft and one of the game’s top prospects. Strome has been among the most explosive scorers in junior hockey, totaling 240 points in 124 games with Erie of the OHL, averaging nearly two points per contest. No one expects the young pivot to immediately fill the void at #1 but if he can establish himself as a legitimate NHL regular it will take some of the pressure of the team’s returning centers. Assuming Duclair, Domi and the team’s other young players take the next step in their development and Strome proves to be ready for the NHL, Arizona has a realistic shot at playoff contention.

Atlantic Notes: Florida Goalies, Wisniewski, Tanguay

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The Florida Panthers will be heading into training camp next week with somewhat of a logjam between the pipes.  Joining incumbent Roberto Luongo are June trade acquisition Reto Berra and free agent signing James Reimer.  At the time Berra was acquired, it was expected that he would replace Al Montoya (who later signed with Montreal) as their backup goalie.

Their decision to pursue Reimer caught many by surprise, including Reimer himself.  Speaking with George Richards of the Miami Herald, Reimer commented on his initial surprise when he was approached by the Panthers shortly after their acquisition of Berra:

“I didn’t know what their intention was. They called, and we got to talking and there was interest there. We pursued it, and it looks like a good fit.”

As it turns out, GM Tom Rowe was viewing Berra (who actually played in two more games in the AHL last year, 16 AHL to 14 NHL games) primarily as an insurance policy for Luongo as it was unknown if he would be ready to start the season following offseason hip surgery.  However, the 37 year old has been skating for a month and appears to be on track to start Florida’s season opener on October 13th.

If that is the case, the Panthers plan to try to send Berra to the minors.  He will have to pass through waivers to get there and if he clears, he will still partly count against Florida’s salary cap to the tune of $500K (his cap hit of $1.45MM minus [$375K plus the minimum salary of $575K]).

More from the Atlantic:

  • After being bought out by Carolina in late June, James Wisniewski was targeting two teams in free agency. One of those teams was Tampa Bay, he told Bryan Burns on the Lightning’s website.  Wisniewski played only a single game last season with Carolina as he tore his ACL on his first and only shift with the team and signed a PTO with the Bolts last month.  However, he’s only two years removed from a 51 point season with Columbus and could be a low risk, high reward pickup if he’s able to make the opening night roster.
  • While he expressed a desire to return to Montreal earlier this offseason, the Canadiens do not have interest in signing free agent left winger Alex Tanguay, Richard Labbe of La Presse reports (link in French). Tanguay played one season for his hometown team back in 2008-09.  He’s the highest remaining point getter among UFA’s after putting up 35 points in 70 games with Colorado and Arizona last season.  It was reported earlier this month that Tanguay has a handful of tryout offers on the table but that he is still seeking a guaranteed deal.

Free Agent Notes: Tanguay, Bernier

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Free agent left winger Alex Tanguay isn’t quite ready to hang up the skates yet, writes Marc-Antoine Godin of La Presse (link is in French).  Tanguay’s agent, David Ettedgui, told Godin that there are two or three teams interested in his services but that he is looking for the right offer financially.  That would suggest that Tanguay is not likely interested in a PTO at this time.

The 36 year old split last season between the Avalanche and Coyotes, scoring eight goals while adding 27 assists in 70 games; his 35 points lead all remaining unrestricted free agents.  Tanguay accomplished that while battling through a lower body issue for most of the year, one that he is reportedly now recovered from.  We took a closer look at his situation back in July.

Tanguay, a Quebec native, reportedly expressed an interest in playing with his hometown Canadiens back in July.  He spent one year with the team back in 2008-09 before leaving to play in Tampa Bay the following summer.  However, at this time, Montreal is not among the teams that have shown an interest in signing him.

For his career, Tanguay has suited up in 1,088 NHL games with Colorado, Calgary, Montreal, Tampa Bay, and Arizona, recording 283 goals and 580 assists.  He currently ranks 14th in all-time points among active NHL players.

Godin also provided an update on UFA winger Steve Bernier.  His agent, Phillipe Lecavalier, reports that no fewer than seven teams have expressed an interest in him so far.  Bernier played a sparing role with the Islanders last season, playing in just 24 games, notching a goal and five assists.  He also suited up in six playoff contests, being held off the scoresheet.  However, he’s only one year removed from a 16 goal, 32 point campaign with the Devils.

The fact that there is no deal done at this time despite the fact that many teams expressing an interest suggests that no team has offered more than a PTO to the 31 year old at this point.  Bernier is no stranger to waiting to secure a tryout deal as that’s how he wound up with the Islanders last year, parlaying a September tryout into a one year contract.

Top Five Remaining Unrestricted Free Agents

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Back in June, we posted our Top 50 Unrestricted Free Agents. Since then, we’ve seen 38 of our top 50 have signed in the NHL, Brad Richards and Dan Boyle retired, and Kris Versteeg signed in Europe. There are nine players from our list still unsigned.

Let’s take a look at the Top Five UFAs still unsigned:

1. Jiri Hudler (18) – PHR originally predicted a four-year, $16MM contract with New Jersey. While 46 points is still solid for a 32-year-old, Hudler is two years removed from a 76-point, Lady Byng-winning campaign, so the perception is that he’s on the decline. Meanwhile, the Devils traded for Taylor Hall and therefore weren’t looking for another scoring winger. Hudler still offers value for teams looking for a possession positive, offensive winger. Teams have to decide if they’re acquiring the 46-point Hudler, or the 76-point one. Look for a one-year contract in the range of $1MM.

2. James Wisniewski (NR) – Back on June 21 when we posted the original Top 50, Wisniewski was still a member of the Carolina Hurricanes. He was bought out by the Hurricanes on June 30 after playing just 0:47 seconds with them after tearing his ACL on his first shift. We profiled Wisniewski further here. He’s an offensively skilled, right-handed defenseman which has value, but teams will be wary of giving him anything more than a tryout at training camp or one year for cheap.

3. Brandon Pirri (NR) – Similar to Wisniewski, Pirri was not on our original list because he was property of the Anaheim Ducks. However, the Ducks chose not to offer Pirri a qualifying offer, despite him being an offensively talented winger; the budget Ducks likely wanted to avoid heading to arbitration. Pirri is an interesting player, and two years removed from a Cy Young caliber season with 22 goals and 2 assists. He could be an option for teams like the Oilers to upgrade on Nail Yakupov. Look for him to get a one or two year deal in the $1-2MM range, depending on the situation.

4 . Radim Vrbata (27) – Vrbata is coming off a terrible season with just 27 points in 63 games. However, like Hudler, he’s two years removed from a tremendous season, putting up 31 goals and 63 points. Some talk was made around the trade deadline about the Canucks not getting a single concrete trade offer for Vrbata. We originally predicted a one-year, $3.7MM contract with the Avalanche. At this point, if Vrbata is going to get any offers, look for similar terms as Wisniewski: PTO or cheap one-year contract in the Sam Gagner range.

5. Alex Tanguay (33) – We predicted Tanguay signing a one-year, $2.5MM contract with Arizona, where he finished last season. Tanguay is getting up there in age (he’ll turn 37 in November), but has shown the ability to perform in a scoring role. He’s not particularly skilled on the defensive or physical sides of the game, but Tanguay would be a decent fit for a team looking for either a short-term upgrade or a bridge player until a prospect is ready. At this point, expect him to attend a training camp on a PTO.

Free Agent Profile: Alex Tanguay

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Alex Tanguay is one of the top remaining point producers left on the open market but more than two weeks into the free agency period, he hasn’t received much interest around the league.  Here is a closer look at his situation.

Tanguay is one of the oldest forwards still available but has a proven track record of producing, even as he gets older.  Last year with Colorado and Arizona, Tanguay recorded eight goals and 27 assists in 70 games including 13 points in 18 games with the Coyotes after being acquired.  Over the past three years, he has averaged 0.61 points per game which is still above average and is even more impressive when you consider that most of those points came at even strength.  In his career, he has 283 goals and 580 assists in 1,088 NHL games between Colorado, Calgary, Montreal, Tampa Bay, and Arizona.

So why is he still unsigned?  For starters, his age (36) works against him, as does the fact he plays smaller than his size and is showing signs of slowing down.  Tanguay also isn’t the best of players in his own end which limits the type of role he can succeed in down to a second or third line with some other two-way players.

Potential Suitors

At this point, Tanguay would fit somewhere on a team that has a short-term vacancy in an offensive role where he could serve as a placeholder for another player or prospect later on in the season or on a team that is lacking in forward depth.  Teams that fit one of those criteria include Ottawa, Montreal, Arizona (where we originally predicted he’d sign), Anaheim, and Minnesota.

Projected Contract

Tanguay ranked 33rd on our Top 50 UFA list and we had originally projected that he wouldn’t have as much difficulty getting a contract as he has and that he’d stay with the Coyotes as a veteran mentor for $2.5MM.  At this stage of free agency, where teams tend to wait out the remaining UFA’s, it’s highly unlikely he will be able to get that much.  A one year pact closer to $1MM even is looking more likely at this point considering who else is still available and that some teams have filled out their rosters.

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