Vancouver Canucks: Trent Cull hired as new Utica Comets head coach
By David Joun
The Vancouver Canucks have finally found a coach for the Utica Comets.
At long last, the Vancouver Canucks‘ AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, have announced the hiring of Trent Cull as their new head coac. He will be tasked with the development of many Canucks prospects at the AHL level.
Trent Cull has been named head coach of the Utica Comets!
— Utica Comets (@UticaComets) June 28, 2017
Details: https://t.co/d7k81R3TA4 pic.twitter.com/aHmDFQe5E4
At age 43, Cull replaces Travis Green behind the Comets bench. The position was vacant after Green was promoted to the Canucks’ head coach position.
Cull comes to the Canucks organisation after eight years behind the Syracuse Crunch bench as an assistant. With Syracuse being the AHL affiliate to the Tampa Bay Lightning, one is led to believe that a coach from Steve Yzerman‘s organisation would have a good mind for hockey.
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Last season, the Crunch were just two wins away from capturing the Calder Cup.
In addition to those eight years with Syracuse, Cull has also spent three years four years as the head coach for the Sudbury Wolves.
He left Sudbury in 2013, leaving behind a 94-107-22 record in which his team never made it past the second round of the playoffs.
The Georgetown, Ontario native never played at the NHL level as a player. He did, however, play nearly a decade as a defenseman in the AHL.
Announcing the hiring of Trent Cull, Canucks GM Jim Benning had this to say via Canucks.com.
"Trent is a passionate Head Coach with significant AHL experience.He understands the development path of a young player, including the challenges they face, and has been a part of many successful organizations. Trent is a teacher with a positive, energetic work ethic."
Trent Cull: Here to develop players
Cull’s assessment of himself, courtesy of Rick Dhaliwal of News1130, seems to echo the same sentiments.
Cull : "My strength as coach is developing players. It's a focus for the #Canucks, develop those players in the AHL.
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) June 28, 2017
Cull : "Team speed is important and we have to be in great shape, have to check those boxes." #Canucks
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) June 28, 2017
In addition, he had these things to say about some of the notable Canucks prospects that he could be coaching next year:
Cull says Jake Virtanen reminds him of Brett Connolly, "high drafts picks are excellent challenges to get back to the NHL. " #Canucks
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) June 28, 2017
Cull says Jordan Subban jumps out at him, "He skates so well, moves pucks and has a great shot. He's a strong prospect for the #Canucks".
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) June 28, 2017
At last! Someone from the Canucks organisation praises Jordan Subban!
Since the Syracuse Crunch were divisional rivals with the Utica Comets, Cull would be familiar with the environment and with many of the Comets players.
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Trent Cull was, however, not the top choice for the Canucks. Earlier in the month, Vancouver had failed to secure Rocky Thompson. Declining the offer, Thompson chose instead to become the Vegas Golden Knights’ AHL Affiliate head coach.