Barry Smith is headed off to Russia
TSN reports that former Red Wings assistant coach Barry Smith has accepted an offer to become a head coach in St. Petersburg Russia. He was an assistant coach in Phoenix this season.
The Coyotes coaching staff will definitely have a new face on the bench as sources tell TSN associate coach Barry Smith has accepted a head coaching position in the Russian Elite league with SKA St. Petersburg.
The rumors on Smith coaching in Russia surfaced late last month. There is quite a bit of turmoil in the front office in Phoenix, as the team has reported losses of nearly $30 million this year.
The TSN report linked above indicates there could be several changes made in the front office, although I suspect Smith left for other reasons. Wayne Gretzky had recently made public statments supporting Smith and since the head coach just signed an extension there is reason to believe his support would have guaranteed Smith’s continued employment with the Coyotes.
With minor chatter about a franchise being located in Las Vegas it woudn’t surprise me if Phoenix was eventually relocated there. I haven’t heard any rumors to suggest this is likely to happen but given how poorly hockey has done in the desert it wouldn’t shock me if the ‘Yotes pulled up stakes and hitched their fortunes to Las Vegas.
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