Rumor: Former NHL head coach has assistant coaching options

Fox Sports Midwest reporter Andy Strickland floated a rumor on social media today that recently fired Vancouver Canucks coach Willie Desjardins may resurface in the NHL as an assistant coach.

Desjardins struggled to find consistency during his three seasons as head coach in Vancouver, but the team’s young players spoke glowingly about his approach to teaching and development. His “players first” mentality may lend him perfectly to the role of assistant coach to newly hired Dallas Stars head coach Ken Hitchcock.

 Desjardins, of course, is no stranger to the Stars organization. He was an assistant coach with the team from 2010 to 2012 under head coach Marc Crawford. Following that he was head coach of the team’s AHL affiliate Texas Stars and led the team to a Calder Cup championship in 2014 before being hired by the Canucks.