Our Sunday NHL column is on George Gwozdecky, the No. 2 assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning. The former Denver Pioneers head coach, 61, discusses the working relationship with Lightning head coach Jon Cooper, 47, defensive bench-boss Rick Bowness, 60, and Steve Thomas, 51 — who played in 1,235 NHL regular-season games.
The staff reports to GM Steve Yzerman and assitant GM Pat Verbeek, who combined for more than 1,200 NHL regular-season goals and four Stanley Cups. Similar to the Avalanche’s front office with Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy (six combined Cups), Tampa Bay’s suit-and-ties know how to get it done.