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Robson returns |
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Written by Dylan Purcell
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Monday, 13 July 2009 |
Rich Preston and Brad Robson have worked in hockey circles long enough to know it’s a funny old game.
Preston, the general manager and head coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes hockey club, said the first thing on his to-do list was to hire a player-personnel guru, an assistant GM.
Notice he didn’t say he was going to hire a new assistant general manager. That’s an excellent choice of words, as Preston announced the ’Canes newest assistant GM and director of player personnel is the same guy who resigned a few weeks ago.
Robson, who was hired two years ago as the team’s assistant GM, is back to handle those duties for Preston.
At the risk of offending the experienced hockey men calling the shots, it seems everything old is new again in Lethbridge.
“It is a strange business,” said Robson. “If you’d asked me a week ago, I would’ve said ‘No.’ But I sat down and talked to Rich and it just felt like it was something that would work.
“I told my wife, at the risk of sounding corny, I thought it was a good fit. I think it’s a really good match.”
Preston saw an old-school hockey scout whose success at the NHL level is unquestionable and who has built up good experience at the WHL level. Robson spent years with the Dallas Stars as a regional scout when they were winning President’s Trophies and a Stanley Cup.
“I talked to a few people who knew him, and I sat down and talked to him and he’s a bird-dog,” said Preston. “He gets after it.”
Preston arranged a meeting at the Team Pacific development camp at Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary and Robson said his impression was a good one. But it wasn’t just Preston who sold him on the idea of coming back.
There’s also that playoff loss to the Spokane Chiefs in the 2008 WHL final.
“I definitely left with a bitter taste in my mouth because of that,” he said. “Even last year, we had a good team but it never happened. I think there’s definitely some unfinished business and I want to have a hand in that.”
Robson also takes an instant familiarity with the team’s protected list and the returning players. Preston said while that helps, it comes down to getting an experienced scout in an important role. Robson said being a good scout comes from work ethic and a word Preston values, commitment.
“That’s how you beat the other teams,” said Robson. “You out-work them. If they’ve seen a kid play in five games, you go to the sixth and maybe see something nobody else saw. You’ve got to have a committed group of scouts but if you’re the head guy, it’s got to be you working harder than everybody else.”
Robson continued with the Hurricanes after the dismissal of head coach Mike Dyck and Roy Stasiuk in May, preparing for the upcoming training camp as well as the European draft with assistant coach Matt Kabayama. Robson also applied for the vacant GM’s position but removed his candidacy and resigned from the assistant GM’s spot in late June. He said the process was taking too long and that he needed to be free to pursue other options.
“When he left, I think the situation was unclear as far as his status,” said Preston about Robson’s resignation. “I talked to a lot of people around here who knew what was going on and it made sense to bring him back.”
Robson said working with Kabayama again will be fun, as it was just the two of them for awhile.
“Yeah, it was interesting. I know with Rich and with Matt coming back, we’ve got a very good staff there, they know how to build a winning team. I think the important thing I’ve seen in my years is that you need teachers and we’ve got good teachers for the game here.”
Preston’s next order of business will be another staffer — he said likely a goaltending coach.
“Now, when you look at what a goaltender coach does, they help with so much more than the goaltenders,” said Preston. “They can help the shooters as far as letting them know what to expect from the other team’s goalie, they can do a lot more than coach goalies.”
Preston added that he was impressed with what he saw working with former Calgary Flames goaltending coach David Marcoux, a possible candidate for the Hurricanes’ post.
“I’ve talked to him but he’s got a lot of options. He’s certainly an excellent coach.”
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