In case you missed it, John Muckler is back in the NHL, named yesterday as senior advisor to Phoenix Coyotes GM Don Maloney.
Last time we saw Muckler, he was shown the door by Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk following a Stanley Cup finals loss to the Anaheim Ducks in June 2007, Melnyk promoting Bryan Murray from head coach to GM.
I remember talking to Muckler sometime last season and he made it very clear he wasn't done with hockey. After more than 50 years in pro hockey, why stop now?!
At 74, he likely wouldn't land another GM job, but the assignment with the Coyotes makes sense to him on many levels.
"I think this is the right thing for me to do," Muckler told ESPN.com. "I have a lot of people that I've been associated with in Phoenix. Obviously [part owner and coach Wayne Gretzky], but it doesn't end there."
As Muckler points out, he worked with Coyotes COO and president Douglas Moss during their Buffalo days when Moss was Sabres president and Muckler was the GM.
Maloney and Muckler worked together in New York with the Rangers. He also coached Hall of Fame goalie Grant Fuhr, now the Coyotes' goalie coach, as well as Coyotes associate coach Ulf Samuelsson. And, of course, Gretzky, whom Muckler coached during those Edmonton glory years and the two have kept touch ever since.
"I'll be an advisor to Maloney and to Gretz," said Muckler. "It'll be fun working with those two people closely. ...
"I know the character of all the people I'll be working with, and I admire all of them," he added. "I think it's going to be a lot of fun. It's a great opportunity to grow with a young organization that seems to be on the right track."
The Coyotes haven't had a senior advisor since Cliff Fletcher was fired late in the 2006-07 season along with GM Mike Barnett. Now, Fletcher is running things in Toronto (for this season). The hockey world being the small place that it is, Muckler actually met with the Maple Leafs in the summer of 2007 amid rumors he might be hired as some kind of special advisor to then-GM John Ferguson. It never happened. He also spoke to other teams, but, in the end, the Coyotes made the most sense.
"I just felt this was the best fit for me," said Muckler.
In the post-lockout, salary-cap NHL, the whole advisor thing makes a lot of sense to me. GMs have never been busier. The collective-bargaining agreement is more complicated than ever and having trustworthy advice is not a bad thing. Beefing up your front office with experienced hockey people is a good investment.
The Detroit Red Wings kept legendary coach Scotty Bowman under contract as a consultant for years after he stepped down as coach. GM Ken Holland and coach Mike Babcock appreciated his insights. Now, Bowman has brought his wisdom to Chicago, where he'll be a huge help to GM Dale Tallon and his front office. Bob Gainey also has Pierre Gauthier in Montreal, and there are several other examples.
The point is, there's a cap on how much teams are allowed to spend on players. But there isn't on what a team is willing to dish out to have a good front office.
Pierre LeBrun
