The European head coach has not been seen in the NHL for more than 20 years.
Jukka Jalonen aired the third World Championship gold in his career as head coach in May. Jussi Saarinen
NHL Insider Editor Frank Seravalli said on Monday that the Florida Panthers have taken over their binoculars Jukka Jalosen coach search. Now Seravalli liked In The Daily Faceoff podcast Possible recruitment of Jalon as interesting.
“I’m not saying Jalonen would get a seat, but given how few European coaches there have been in the NHL, this is a really interesting gaming movement from Florida,” Seravalli said in the podcast.
– Florida fascinates me. They think outside the box when the gaze turns to Finland, a former NHL guard Mike McKenna added.
Florida fired assistant coaches Ulf Samuelsson and Derek MacKenzien their duties last week. Tuomo Ruutu was allowed to hold his position as assistant coach. Andrew Brunetten the fate of the head coach is still unclear.
Editor of The Hockey News Steven Ellis wrote On Twitter concise opinion about Jalos.
– Jukka Jalonen should be an NHL coach, Ellis wrote.
With the team’s GM Bill Zitolla there are many connections to Finland. Among other things, Ruutu was one of his customers. Zito previously served as an assistant GM at the Columbus Blue Jackets To Jarmo Kekäläinen.
In Florida, Jarmo’s brother is the director of European player monitoring Jari Kekäläinen.
McKenna considers Jalo a wild card in the podcast, as there are still tough names in the coaching offering.
It will not be easy for Jalos to grab a wash, as Florida has interviewed experienced NHL coaches such as Travis Greenia, Rick Tocchetia and Barry Trotzia. The latest of the names coached the Washington Capitals for the Stanley Cup 2018.
He was last coached by the European head coach in the NHL in the 2001-02 season. Czech Ivan Hlinka rose from the position of assistant coach to the helm of the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, the wash only took two seasons until Hlinka got fired.