Thrashers Find New Head Coach in Craig Ramsay

 

Having already replaced relieved general manager Don Waddell with Rick Dudley, the Atlanta Thrashers have now found their new head coach to take over for John Anderson in the form of Boston Bruins assistant Craig Ramsay, according to a report by TSN.

Ramsay will depart from the Bruins after serving as Claude Julien's assistant coach since 2007. John Torchetti will be joining him on the bench in a move from associate coach for the Chicago Blackhawks last season.

This will be Ramsay's first full-time gig as a head coach. The 59-year old has twice played the role of interim head coach for a total of 49 games between the the Buffalo Sabres (1986-87) and Philadelphia Flyers (2000-01). He was also an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2004. As a player, he spent 14 years in the Sabres organization and posted career totals of 252 goals and 420 assists for 672 points in 1070 games. He also posted a career plus/minus mark of plus-328, and was award the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 1985.

While Ramsay may lack experience as the head honcho behind the bench, he brings with him tons of experience, knowledge and respect within the game. With all of the changes occuring throughout the Thrashers organization, it was imporant for Dudley to find a bright mind to steer this new roster in the proper direction. Ramsay has the background and skills to get the job done, and will finally get his opportunity to prove he can be the guy in charge for a team that has nowhere to go but up.