This week three more AHL coaches got the call to the NHL. Of course, we've mentioned in two posts now that Mike Haviland is taking a post with the Chicago Blackhawks. But it's also worth noting that former Wolves bench boss John Anderson is taking Todd Nelson (Wolves assistant) and Rochester head coach Randy Cunneyworth with him to Atlanta. And in San Jose, Todd Richards from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is joining the Sharks as an assistant. (so is former Chicago Blackhawks and Norfolk Admirals coach Trent Yawney).

EDIT 8/22/08 (added Philadelphia and Providence, removed two incorrect teams): That makes the unofficial AHL-wide count of new coaches in 2008-09 at 12 (Chicago, Grand Rapids, Iowa, Norfolk, Peoria, Philadelphia, Portland, Providence, Rochester, Rockford, Springfield, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton). Hershey's Bob Woods will be in his first full season.

Let's take an updated look at the coaching situation in the West Division (new coaches in bold):

• Chicago Wolves: still open
• Houston Aeros: Kevin Constantine (second year)
• Iowa Chops: still open
• Milwaukee Admirals: Lane Lambert (second year)
• Peoria Rivemen: Davis Payne
  
• Quad City Flames: Ryan McGill (fourth year in West Division, second in Quad City)
• San Antonio Rampage: Greg Ireland (second year)
• Rockford IceHogs: still open

So it looks like Quad City's Ryan McGill becomes the Dean of the West Division coaching corps with John Anderson's departure. Anderson was with the Wolves for 11 years. No coach in the West Division has been in the same city for longer than one season.

Oh and a treat for reading all the way to the end of the post -- here's the transcript from an AHL chat session last spring with the Chicago Blackhawks' newly-aquired center Tim Brent.