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Monday, July 5, 2010 02:51 AM
By Aaron Portzline
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Blue Jackets fill final spot on coaching staff.
The Blue Jackets will complete their coaching staff today with a surprising hire.
Bob Boughner, a former NHL defenseman who has achieved great success coaching in the Canadian junior ranks, will be named an assistant to Scott Arniel, The Dispatch has learned.
Boughner has coached the Windsor Spitfires to two straight Memorial Cups — the Stanley Cup of junior hockey — and is a majority owner in that franchise.
With such a lucrative, successful situation — and in his hometown, no less — many thought Boughner would be reluctant to leave the Spitfires except for a head-coaching position with one of the NHL’s glamour franchises.
Neither Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson nor Boughner responded to messages left by The Dispatch, and Windsor general manager Warren Rychel would not comment.
But multiple NHL sources said that Boughner’s hiring would be made official by the Blue Jackets today.
He’ll join a staff that includes Brad Berry and Dan Hinote. Each had solid NHL careers.
Boughner played in 630 NHL games with six clubs, totaling 15 goals, 57 assists and 1,382 penalty minutes. He had 106 fighting majors.
Former NHL players Randy Cunneyworth and Mike Ramsey were among the candidates who interviewed for the opening.
