The Montreal Canadiens unofficially made changes within their organization on Tuesday by parting ways withAdam DouglasHead of the Department of Sports and Performance Science since the end of the era Marc BergevinThis dismissal would be the direct reason for Hughes and Gorton’s attempts to review the Bleu-Blanc-Rouge medical team after several seasons marked by record numbers of injuries.
This information was reported by the journalist Arpon Basu from The athletewho was present at the aptitude tests for the next draft and did not see Douglas in the CH team.
At the same time, we could potentially see the return of a veteran to the Canadiens organization.
A second round in the NHL
First reported by the reporter Craig Morganthe former Canadian scout and assistant coach of the Arizona Sun Devils this season, Albie O’ConnellHe reportedly decided to leave his position in the NCAA after being given the opportunity to work for an NHL team ahead of the 2024-25 season.
According to sources, ASU assistant men’s hockey coach and recruiting coordinator Albie O’Connell is leaving the program after one season for a chance with an NHL team.
Craig Morgan
Accordingly Arpon Basuit’s very possible that the Watertown, Massachusetts native will return to Montreal as an assistant coach or recruiter, a possibility due to his history with the Montreal organization dating back to the 2022-23 season.
Although nothing has been confirmed at this time, it is legitimate to draw direct links between O’Connell’s sudden departure and the vacant positions at the Canadian club.
What does Albie O’Connell’s journey look like?
O’Connell has quite the coaching resume, starting as an assistant coach at The Berkshire School (USHS) in 2002-2003 and later working with numerous NCAA teams throughout his long coaching career.
After one season at Berkshire, O’Connell got his first coaching job at the NCAA as an assistant Colby College (NCAA in Section 3).
After spending a season with the Mules From Missouri, he made the final leap into Division 1 by becoming an assistant coach at Niagara University. In addition to the Purple Eagle O’Connell, from Niagara, served as assistant coach for the following teams:
- THE holy cross (2006-07)
- Merrimack College (2007-08)
- Northeast (2008-11)
- Harvard (2011-14)
- Boston University (2014-15).
After more than ten years as an assistant coach, O’Connell became the Terriers’ assistant head coach from 2015 to 2018. He then took over the management himself for four years before joining the Montreal Canadiens as a university recruiter in 2022.
After spending one season at CH, he moved to the Arizona State Sun Devils.
As O’Connell prepares for his return to the NHL, his desire to return to the Bettman scene has generated a lot of interest. Let’s see if it was Montreal that reached out to him.
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