Top Shelf Tuesday: 1st Edition

Every Tuesday at Tape to Tape we will be writing a feature called "Top Shelf Tuesday". This feature will be a recap of the past few days in the NHL.

While the LA Kings and their next victim are "battling" for the Stanley Cup, most hockey fans are stuck thinking ahead to next season and what that means for their own club. 


Today there are some noteworthy happenings around the league featuring Montreal's new coach, players and coaches signing extensions and a top prospect who might just have a career as a comedian if hockey doesn't work out...

More after the jump!

•  Montreal names Michel Therrien as Head Coach

After an extensive search, the club finally named their choice for the vacant head coach position. Today, General Manager Marc Bergevin named Michel Therrien as the next head coach for the Montreal Canadiens. This is Therrien's second stint coaching the storied franchise. He was hired as the head coach in 2000 and lead the team to it's first playoff birth in four years in 2002. Therrien had a 77-77-36 record and was later replaced by Claude Julien (via TSN)

His last coaching job saw him as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins where he lead the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2007-2008. That Penguins team would lose to the Detroit Red Wings in six games. In 2009, when the team was only five points out of a playoff spot and in 10th place, he was replaced by Dan Bylsma. The rest as they say, is history. 

This will be Therrien's first coaching gig since Pittsburgh. He joins a retooled Montreal Coaching/Management staff that has seen numerous changes this summer.

• As mentioned here yesterday, Tomas Vokoun is now a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins

For more on Vokoun and the Penguins, here's the link from yesterday's post:

http://tapetatape.blogspot.com/2012/06/vokoun-marches-with-penguins-when.html#more

• Avalanche re-signs forward Cody McLeod to a 3 year, $3.5 million contract

This year's already thin Free Agent class just got a little thinner with Cody McLeod off the market. The gritty left winger is not a prolific scorer by any means. The 27 year old forward has been able to contribute little offensively in a fourth line role. Known for using his hands for more than dangling (164 PIM this past season), McLeod would have been a great addition to any team looking for forward depth.

• Toronto Marlies Head Coach Dallas Eakins signs 3 year extension

Dallas Eakins has been part of the Maple Leafs organization for the past seven years in a variety of capacities. Since 2009, he has been the Head Coach of their affiliate team, the Toronto Marlies, leading them to the Calder Cup Finals this year.
 Many experts believe he is one of the top "up-and-coming" coaches not in the league today. Eakins' contract allows him to seek an NHL coaching job after next season. Assistant Coaches Gord Dineen and Derek King have also signed extensions to stay on board with the Marlies.

• Top Prospect and potential 1st overall pick Nail Yakupov visited Edmonton.

Nail Yakupov, the top ranked player by NHL Central Scouting is expected to hear his name called first at this year's NHL Entry Draft. The Russian sniper visited the team expected to pick him first, the Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton currently holds the 1st overall selection and unless a team gives them an offer they can't refuse, expect the Oilers to step up to the podium first. Yakupov is poised to join 2010 1st overall pick Taylor Hall and 2011 1st overall pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. 

Normally a right winger, Yakupov was asked whether he would play left wing as to not compete with Jordan Eberle and Ales Hemsky for ice time. His response? "I can play goalie too"

Yakupov was also asked by the media what kind of questions he was getting by Oilers Brass. "They asked me if I had a girlfriend" said Yakupov. Another reporter asked "What was your answer?" Yakupov responded with a laugh and said "I have two". Safe to say this kid is going to be a character in the NHL regardless of what team he plays for. He has his heart set on going 1st overall and chances are he will.