Marc Savard is joining the NHL coaching ranks. The formercenterwas announced as a new a sistant coach for the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues on Wednesday, focusing on the power play.
Ive picked up a lot of stuff on a lot of the power [url=https://www.nhledgestore.com/nick-holden-jersey][b]Nick Holden Jersey[/b][/url] plays and what works, and what doesnt,” Savard told reporters via conference call.”I think Ill be able to bring a lot of adjustments and new looks and help the Blues have a fresh look, different options. They have a lot of great pieces and if Im able to work with them, I think we should be right up there in the league in power play next season.
Savard, 42, joins head coach Craig Berube anda sistants Steve Ott, Larry Robinson and Mike Van Ryn behind the Blues’ bencheight years after he played his final NHL game. Health i sues that arosedue to multiple concu sions sustained over the course of his career including an infamousblindsidehit to the head by former Penguin Matt Cooke in 2010 forced Savard to prematurely step away from the game. Theformer New York Rangers, Calgary Flames, Atlanta Thrashers and Boston Bruins forwardofficially announced hisretirement from hockey on Jan. 22, 2018.
Last year, St. Louis boasted the league’s tenth-best power playin the regular season, scoring on 21.1% of chances; however, they struggled in the playoffs connecting on just 16.3% of power-play opportunities despite receiving more man advantages than any other team.Savard, who scored 706 points in 807 games, said he’lluse hisyears of experience when working with the Blues’ current group.
“It gets frustrating. I know at timesstuff doesnt always go well and you start gripping the stick a bit,” said Savard, who netted 80 goals and 212 a sists on thepower play in 13 NHL seasons.”Ive been there in those situations, so if I can help with my experience and help those great players [Vladimir] Tarasenko, [David] Perron, [Brayden] Schenn, [Ryan] OReilly, and the defense core there the list goes on.
“Theres a lot of [url=https://www.nhledgestore.com/zdeno-chara-jersey][b]Zdeno Chara Jersey[/b][/url] great options, but bringing them all together, making them work together . . . I think theres enough players there to have two solid units that kind of go off of each other and I think you have some guys that can be really succe sful [if] put in the right situations.
Savard said heand Berube had “many, many discu sions” about the Blues throughout the seasonafterhis former teammate was named interim head coach in November.The pair played together for the Flames from 2001-03 andhave kept in close communication even after their careerstook them separate ways. He even took a photo of his old friend hoisting the Cup on television, after St. Louis defeatedhis former team in the Stanley Cup Final,and sent it toBerube immediately after so he could have a photo of the moment as quickly as po sible.
When we talked when he did take [url=https://www.nhledgestore.com/anton-khudobin-jersey][b]Anton Khudobin Jersey[/b][/url] the team over, it wasnt so much power play,” Savard, who won a Cup in 2011 with the Bruins, said on the call. “It was just talking as a bouncing point for him sometimes when he had tough times. He did a fantastic job and I wont take credit for anything again, we talked, but [he did a] marvelous job.”
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The Ottawa, Ont., native, hadexplored coaching opportunities in the Ontario Hockey League in recent years before dabbling in the media side of the game. While he and Berube had “roughly touched on” the concept of his joining the Blues this past spring, he was still surprised when his former teammate called himto officially offer the job.
“I didnt know [url=https://www.nhledgestore.com/cam-neely-jersey][b]Cam Neely Jersey[/b][/url] what to say,” Savard said regarding the offer for hisfirst-ever coaching job at theprofe sional level.”I was so excited. I didnt think it would come true this way, that it would work out, especially coming from the Stanley Cup champions.”
Regardle s of his lack of coaching experience, Savarddoes not imagine he’ll have any trouble building relationships with players on St. Louis’roster.
Im more of a hands-on guy,” he said.”Im a hockey guy.I want to be around the players, I want to be around the team and help in the best way I can. Im very capable in that aspect, so I really appreciate this opportunity that [GM] Doug Armstrong is giving me and hopefully I can prove [him]right that I can help out this team.