Two NHL coaching vacancies remain, and Mike Yeo wants one.
Both the Anaheim Ducks and the Calgary Flames have sought and have been granted permission to interview the head coach, according to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune.
The 42-year-old Yeo was fired mid-season by the Minnesota Wild but is still under contract with the club. He also interviewed for the Ottawa Senators coaching job, won by Guy Boucher.
Yeo went 173-132-44 with Minnesota and was the NHL’s third-youngest coach when he was fired by GM Chuck Fletcher on Feb. 13 after losing 13 of his last 14 games. It was his first time being fired in his career.
Days after leaving the Wild, Yeo told The Associated he wanted to right back behind the bench and believed he would have opportunities.
“I want to coach,” Yeo said. “That’s in my blood. That’s who I am, and I really believe my best days as a coach are ahead of me.”
The Wild rallied to make the playoffs after bringing in interim coach John Torchetti, who was later let go in favour of Bruce Boudreau.
“Are there things I would do differently?” Yeo said. “Absolutely, and I’m fairly confident I will get a chance to do that.”
Flames GM Brad Treliving, who is in Russia managing Team Canada, is heading up the interview process for Calgary, a team that wants to improve its possession and special teams.
“Brad will be the guy that hires this coach. I’m here to help him and assist him and oversee it,” Flames president Brian Burke told Prime Time Sports. “Brad will do it his way. He might interview 20 people. I don’t know.”
Anaheim also has interest in AHL Utica Comets head coach Travis Green, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
