Guy Boucher on NHL return: 'I’ve been approached, so it’s a possibility'
The NHL’s 2015 coaching market is currently a deep one, with the likes of Dan Bylsma, Todd McLellan, Peter DeBoer, among others, looking for work. It could get deeper if Mike Babcock, Dave Tippett, Ken Hitchcock and Claude Julien become available, which is possible.
Another name that has jumped into the pool, and one we haven’t heard from in two years, is Guy Boucher. The former Tampa Bay Lightning head coach has been in Switzerland coaching SC Bern since Jan. 2014.
While on TSN 1050 with Dave Naylor Tuesday, Boucher said that NHL teams have contacted him to express their interest.
“I’ve never hid the fact that I definitely do want to go back. I have another year on my contract here. Family’s happy, had a terrific year, saw a lot of good things, learned and grew. I’ve got no problem staying here. Last year I couldn’t accept it because I didn’t have an out-clause. This year I do have an out-clause.
But it would certainly be in the right situation, with the right people. And if I fit, it would certainly interest me, but like I said, it has to be in the right situation because I have a very good situation right now. I’ve been approached, so it’s a possibility. We’ll see what happens.”
Boucher has turned SC Bern around in his season and a half in Switzerland, improving them from a 70-point team that finished out of the playoffs in 2013-14 to a 96-point team (finishing second overall during the regular season) and guiding them to the National League A semifinals this season.
His contract with SC Bern runs through the end of next season, but as Boucher pointed out, his out-clause kicks in this off-season.
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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy
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