Should we stand up at the line? Should we contain to one side? Both approaches have their pros and cons, and it’s ultimately up to the player to read the situation and make a decision. In other words, it’s a situation that makes me happy to be a coach and not a player. The reward of stepping up on the blue line and stopping the rush before it fully takes shape is great, but the risk of the play blowing past the defensemen is great as well. For former Vancouver Canucks assistant coach Glen Gulutzan, minimizing the potential damage and committing to proper habits makes a world of difference for defensemen as well as forwards facing an attack that just seems to get faster and faster every year.
Glen Gulutzan
Glen Gulutzan was introduced as an Oilers Assistant Coach prior to the 2018-19 season. He spent the previous two seasons as head coach of the NHL's Calgary Flames. Gulutzan helped the Flames reach the playoffs in 2016-17 and accumulated a record of 82-68-14 in 164 games as Calgary's bench boss.
Gulutzan has 20 years of coaching experience and worked his way up from the WCHL, ECHL, and AHL before landing his first NHL head coaching job with the Dallas Stars in 2011. His NHL career also includes three seasons working as an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks.
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