The Colorado Eagles announced last month that Greg Cronin, a former associate coach with the New York Islanders, will take the reigns for the teams inaugural season as the AHL affiliate for the Colorado Avalanche. Cronin’s refusal to adapt to the modern game — specifically the use of data analytics — has led to a sense of uncertainty among the fanbase. Although justified on many levels, the issue stems from an interview conducted five years ago and may ultimately be irrelevant to his job here in Colorado.
Prior to the start of the 2013 NHL season, Alec Brownscombe, founder of Maple Leafs Hot Stove, conducted a phone interview with Cronin while he was an assistant coach in Toronto.