After a hiatus for over five years the Coach’s Challenge series has returned. The project that was a returning feature in the early days of the podcast series here at Eyes On The Prize, and the favourite show of Patrik Bexell, gets back into the fold. Hopefully we’ll get a chance to talk to more coaches through out the season – and beyond.
In Europe, Dan Tangnes is a very well respected name. He succeeded in bringing Rögle up to the SHL in 2012, even though they were relegated in 2013 (Rögle was then promoted 2015 and has been up in the SHL since). Tangnes then coached Linköping to some of their best runs between 2014 to 2018 before going to the National League (Switzerland) to build up the organization in Zug.
This was a master stroke by the Swiss team. Tangnes changed the culture and finished off his seven seasons with a Swiss Cup trophy and two Schweizer Meisterpokal (for the playoff win). His return to Rögle, where Tangnes also played during his career has been nothing short of a success as the team currently sits second in the SHL table.
We get to hear how Tangnes changed the culture in Zug, the difference from the National League (Switzerland) and SHL (Sweden), how his coaching has changed over the years, how to lead a new style of coaching team, and where he gets his inspiration from. It becomes a conversation about the different styles between the National League in Switzerland and the SHL in Sweden. That leads to the topic of a European coach in NHL, if it will happen and what kind of road that coach will have to take to get there.
Tangnes also gives his ideas on players leaving Europe too early, and the NHL teams’ drive to get them across the Atlantic. In this segment he also describes a first-round pick sitting a bit further away; that is Filip Johansson (number 24 to Minnesota Wild in 2018).
In the end he gives his thoughts on having Adam Engström during summer training in Rögle, and coaching against Vinzenz Rohrer and David Reinbacher, including some thoughts on their development (around the 34 minute mark).
Past episodes in this series:
Coach’s Challenge: Sam Hallam
Coach’s Challenge: Cam Abbott
Coach’s Challenge: Robert Ohlsson
Coach’s Challenge: Roger Rönnberg
Coach’s Challenge: Rikard Grönborg
