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‘Yellers and screamers’ need not apply for Canucks coaching job

Brian McGrattan, Tom Sestito

Referees get in the way of Vancouver Canucks head coach John Tortorella as he screams at the Calgary Flames bench during first period NHL hockey action at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia Saturday Jan. 18, 2014. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward)

AP

New Canucks general manager Jim Benning spoke with Team 1040 radio this afternoon in Vancouver (audio). Here are the bullet points:

--- There have already been “a couple of interviews” for the vacant head-coaching job, and there will be a “bunch more” next week.

--- Benning was asked about the picture of him and former Canucks coach Marc Crawford having a coffee that’s floating around the interwebs, but didn’t say anything definitive about Crawford’s chances of getting the job. In all, six to eight candidates will be interviewed before a decision is made.

--- Benning is looking for a “teaching style” coach and doesn’t believe that coaches who are “yellers and screamers” can be successful in the NHL anymore. No, he did not mention John Tortorella specifically.

--- Benning also said that much of the due diligence on a coach has been done “before the guy shows up for the interview.”

My take? If I had to bet, I’d say Willie Desjardins -- currently coaching AHL Texas in the Calder Cup finals -- is the favorite. Desjardins likes to “move the puck and attack,” and Benning has said he wants his team to “play an up-tempo, fast-skating, skilled game.” Desjardins is also a teacher, not a yeller-and-screamer. Seems like a match there.

Kings assistant coach John Stevens and Portland Winterhawks coach Mike Johnston could also be in the mix.

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PS --- On the subject of Ryan Kesler, Benning said that he speaks with Kesler’s agent on “a daily basis.” (It’s expected that Kesler will be traded this offseason.)

PPS --- Here’s a fun clip of Crawford yelling and screaming: