Panthers don't plan to name coach until June

The Florida Panthers do not plan to name a new coach until mid-June or prior to the 2017 NHL Draft on June 23, general manager Dale Tallon told NHL Network on Thursday.
"It's going very well," Tallon said of the search to replace Tom Rowe. "There are a lot of strong candidates. I've enjoyed the process. We're going to take our time. ... We're talking to a lot of different people from different backgrounds and it's been an interesting search so far."

Former Montreal Canadiens coach Michel Therrien, University of Denver coach Jim Montgomery and San Jose Sharks assistant coach Bob Boughner reportedly are among as many as 12 candidates.
"We're very young still, so we need somebody that's modern in his approach, a good teacher, a good communicator, strong but fair, someone who can handle these younger people, as far as the direction they need, and how to handle them, and how to take care of them," Tallon said. "So those are all the qualities, and he still has to have passion and desire."
Rowe was reassigned by the Panthers on April 10, after he finished the season in place of Gerard Gallant, who was fired Nov. 27. Florida was 35-36-11, 14 points out of a Stanley Cup Playoff berth in the Eastern Conference after winning the Atlantic Division last season.