Dan Watson named head coach of the Griffins. Watson becomes the 12th head coach in franchise history after serving six seasons as head coach of the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye.
Dan Watson named head coach of the Griffins. Watson becomes the 12th head coach in franchise history after serving six seasons as head coach of the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye.
After seeing how Cossa thrived under him and how well the Walleye have done i’m really happy with this decision.
barchamb13
> Watson never missed the playoffs as head coach, reaching the Kelly Cup Finals twice (2019 and 2022) and leading Toledo to three division titles (2016-17, 2017-18 and 2021-22), three 100-point seasons (2016-17, 2017-18 and 2021-22), two regular season championships (2016-17 and 2021-22), and four Western Conference Finals berths (2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023). In 2016-17, he garnered the John Brophy Award as the ECHL’s Coach of the Year in his first year as head coach, when the Walleye won the Central Division behind a franchise-record 51 wins (51-17-2-2, 0.736) and reached the Western Conference Finals.
buddycheesus
Ayite. That’s some good news and I’ll take it today
elvishblood_24
who dat is
xenonwarrior666
NeuralHandshake
He’s a great coach and will do well in Grand Rapids. He’s either going to stay there or quickly move up to Detroit.
As background, he coached one season under Lalonde but has spent the past decade+ in Toledo as an assistant coach, interim head coach, assistant again (under Lalonde) and then head coach once Lalonde left. His style is 100% in line with Lalonde’s in terms of on-ice product and locker room. Guys love playing for him and Toledo’s recruiting has been top notch.
The downside is Toledo failed to win a Kelly Cup after two finals appearances and a run this year that really should have ended in a third finals appearance. Watson is indeed successful and players indeed do well under him, but he hasn’t won an ECHL Championship yet. Lalonde didn’t either, but Lalonde did a “worst to first” move with Toledo that was incredible.
Watson should have been GR coach years ago, so this is unsurprising to me. Wings brass spent a lot of time this season at games and physically on the bench during games. It was pretty clear to anyone that they were watching more than just Cossa.
As a Walleye fan, it’s kind of sad to see him go. But it’s not at all a shock (and I’ve been calling this for months now) and possibly even a good thing. Toledo should have won a Kelly Cup championship by now. It hasn’t. It’s time to find a new voice and it works out for everyone when the old one moves up to GR.
I’ve been more surprised by the times he wasn’t chosen to be head coach. Simon was a mistake and it should have been Watson then.
slabby
Such a good choice. I’m hyped. It’s incredibly important that GR be a good development environment, and I think he brings that.
FirstNameLastName918
As a walleye fan I’m sad, but Wats fuckin deserved this job! He’s gonna be on an NHL bench soon.
TerrenceJesus8
I’m a Walleye fan first and a Wings fan second. So oof
9 Comments
After seeing how Cossa thrived under him and how well the Walleye have done i’m really happy with this decision.
> Watson never missed the playoffs as head coach, reaching the Kelly Cup Finals twice (2019 and 2022) and leading Toledo to three division titles (2016-17, 2017-18 and 2021-22), three 100-point seasons (2016-17, 2017-18 and 2021-22), two regular season championships (2016-17 and 2021-22), and four Western Conference Finals berths (2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023). In 2016-17, he garnered the John Brophy Award as the ECHL’s Coach of the Year in his first year as head coach, when the Walleye won the Central Division behind a franchise-record 51 wins (51-17-2-2, 0.736) and reached the Western Conference Finals.
Ayite. That’s some good news and I’ll take it today
who dat is
He’s a great coach and will do well in Grand Rapids. He’s either going to stay there or quickly move up to Detroit.
As background, he coached one season under Lalonde but has spent the past decade+ in Toledo as an assistant coach, interim head coach, assistant again (under Lalonde) and then head coach once Lalonde left. His style is 100% in line with Lalonde’s in terms of on-ice product and locker room. Guys love playing for him and Toledo’s recruiting has been top notch.
The downside is Toledo failed to win a Kelly Cup after two finals appearances and a run this year that really should have ended in a third finals appearance. Watson is indeed successful and players indeed do well under him, but he hasn’t won an ECHL Championship yet. Lalonde didn’t either, but Lalonde did a “worst to first” move with Toledo that was incredible.
Watson should have been GR coach years ago, so this is unsurprising to me. Wings brass spent a lot of time this season at games and physically on the bench during games. It was pretty clear to anyone that they were watching more than just Cossa.
As a Walleye fan, it’s kind of sad to see him go. But it’s not at all a shock (and I’ve been calling this for months now) and possibly even a good thing. Toledo should have won a Kelly Cup championship by now. It hasn’t. It’s time to find a new voice and it works out for everyone when the old one moves up to GR.
I’ve been more surprised by the times he wasn’t chosen to be head coach. Simon was a mistake and it should have been Watson then.
Such a good choice. I’m hyped. It’s incredibly important that GR be a good development environment, and I think he brings that.
As a walleye fan I’m sad, but Wats fuckin deserved this job! He’s gonna be on an NHL bench soon.
I’m a Walleye fan first and a Wings fan second. So oof