No doubt, UNH would be roadkill if there's a return trip to the Downeast. I got into trouble with Sparkee two years ago when I wrote MS7's pregame speech on here for the MBPBEGAM round "playoffs", and of course, UNH spit the bit (as usual) ... maybe this season, I could take a shot at Ben Barr's pregame pep talk??
As an aside FU17 (!) - I need to come up with something bettah ... Flag? Nah. 17?? Blah ... anyway - kudos, I love questions and topics like this. Not the stupid self-serving clickbait churned out by potty to let him do his usual "I Hate NH"-laced rants. Let me try ...
Someone on here before me - maybe you, or maybe some other sensible sort - suggested the Jimmy T. as interim coach option before I adopted it. So I don't want to poach someone else's credit ... but this would best address the financial challenges we always read about, how the U is so cash-strapped it can't find the princely sum of USD $250,000 (max BTW) to buy Coach out of his final year. With an institution running an annual 8 figure budget, I can't fathom the possibility they can't find that money somewhere between the proverbial couch cushions to get this done ... but just assuming they can't (more likely won't), then sending Souza out on gardening leave for the final season of his contract, and putting Jimmy T. in charge, allowing the two assistants to stick around, and leaving the "program GM" position Tortorella is currently holding vacant for a season seems fiscally prudent, and Jimmy T. can outcoach MS7 in his sleep. If a buyout can be reached - assuming Coach Souza won't do the right thing by his alma mater and voluntarily resign - a buyout of 50% of the amount due lets Souza get on with his life, and funds the differential between Tortorella's GM salary to his interim HC salary for the '26/'27 season.
I can't even imagine MS7 doesn't already have a fire lit under his butt. For once, I can't criticize the road work he apparently put in this offseason, so he has to know he's already on thin ice. Problem remains, he just can't coach at this level. And in Souza's defense, he's had Stewie and Jules with him since the start, I cannot see him as a guy who would jettison a personal friend/dedicated assistant to "save" his job. I think they are probably safe with their contracts - AD Rich wasn't chintzy with MS7's renewal, why would she do anything but the same with his guys?
In the end, I don't see the AD having the stones (figuratively of course) to pull the plug of her own volition. I think our only hope is that Jimmy T. comes to her at or near the end of the season in March, and recommends the glaringly obvious need for a change. Tortorella might even sit down with Souza first and tell him he's better off resigning, because otherwise he's gonna recommend a change? I don't think Tortorella has any designs on the HC job, even as an interim, and stepping into the role as a caretaker is even a little wobbly-looking if AD Rich doesn't hatch the idea first. Hopefully she reads this forum once in awhile, and this might plant the seed for the events that need to happen?
I can't pretend to know the relationships between Jimmy T. and Mike's assistants. It would be hard for either to receive serious consideration to replace MS7, and given their allegiance(s) to Souza, either/both might also step away from UNH if their current boss moves on, however it may happen. Jimmy T. keeping either/both of those guys on during a caretaker season would be a humane step to allow them both to either prove themselves independent of Souza, or to have time to relaunch elsewhere?
There's a lot of meat on that bone, I'm glad you raised it here and now, I suspect there will be lots more discussion of this as this disappointing season winds down ...
