Has Lindy Ruff's status changed yet? The last I heard he refused his one year offer in Buffalo. I think if there's a motivator who knows how to adjust things on the fly from one shift to the next is Ruff! His teams play an uptempo style with some grit.

It would have to be a big collapse for C.J to get canned while still under contract. That being said.

Barry Melrose: Love the guy as an analyst, studio guy. There is ZERO chance he would be a head coach again. he was fired in Tampa Bay not because of his system, but rather because he did NOT have a system.

Cam Neely: Unless C.J is fired in season, there is no way he is coach.

Kevin Dineen: Thats an intersting choice. Like I said in a previous post, he's already be in the NHL if not for a DUI.

Scott Gordon: Familiar with a bunch of the Bruins dating back to his days in Providence. Long shot at best. Could be an assistant.

Kirk Muller: Forget the connection to the Habs, any team looking for a coach he will be on every short list.

Bob Hartley: Suprised he doesn't get mentioned more. Good coach, just don't see him as a fit here.

John McLean: I'm thinking he is best served as an assisntant.

Mike Milbury: No way. Good studio guy, but I'm thinking his time has passed. He's fiery and outspoken which is o.k, but not when your a former G.M. I don't think Chiarelli will touch it.

Ken Hitchcock: Too much of a system like C.J's..Like to see more of an offensive minded coach. Thered be less food at the post game spread but tons of more quotes.

John Muckler: PC is very familiar with him and from what I understand he is looking to get back into coaching.

I side with those who choose Dineen.  Remember how he played?  Tough.  Aggressive.  Motor always running.  All with Crone's Disease, I think.  I can't imagine him playing like that and not having his club play the same way. 

Regarding Nolan, I'd heard on THE FAN 590 some time ago that in parts of the league, he's seen as a GM killer, a sneaky type who had undermined Muckler in Buffalo and Smith as the GM with the NYI.  How much truth there is to this stuff, I have no idea.

Hold on!  Maybe this guy from the Flames!  He'd bust heads!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrkR7ih6f3M

Actually, he's from their farm team.

I'm amazed at people who think a guy who hasn't coached in years can jump right in. The game has changed a lot since Milbury last coached and he would have too much to catch up on. This is the reason Melrose failed in his comeback.

I think people like to pick TV analysts because they know the game well and the fans are familiar with them but the requirement for a head coach go well beyond that. Neely is also a terrible choice because he has no coaching experience at all.
Chiarelli needs to go back to his original objectives when he took over (he wanted a fast forechecking team that is hard to play against) and find both personnel and coach who can achieve that.