Why it doesn't matter if Mark Crawford stays as ZSC coach

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Sporting director Sven Leuenberger does not yet know who will be on the ZSC Lions board of directors next season. Still, coaching issues don't bother him. Because whatever the name, the philosophy of ZSC will remain the same: quintessentially North American style.

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Most athletic directors would be nervous if it wasn't clear in November who would be on the board for next season. At SCB, Langnau, Lausanne, Kloten and now Davos, the head coach's contract has been extended to next season in advance, and in some cases even the following season. Gotlund – curious about world hockey – has hired a coach for next season and is now working for another club in Sweden. As the last leaves fall and the first fog rises, it's the coaches' agents everywhere who are pushing for early extensions of employment contracts.

Only an athletic director would not allow himself to be fooled. Sven Leuenberg. The contract between ZSC Lions and head coach Marc Crawford (63 years old) is about to expire. The athletic director and coaches don't care. There's a good reason for the relaxed atmosphere surrounding one of Europe's most sought-after coaching jobs. On the one hand, the ZSC Lions “run” extremely well: they qualified and won the championship, and dominated the league as defending champions.

Sven Leuenberg has not yet confirmed his coach for next season.Image source: imago sports photo service

On the other hand, Crawford could retire when his contract in Zurich expires after a stellar NHL career. He doesn't have anything to prove to himself or the world as far as hockey is concerned. Sven Leuenberger said: “When we re-signed Mark, he told us this could be his last contract. We respect that and have not yet discussed whether he would like to continue.”

The motto of prudent management is “Gouverner, c'est prévoir” (“Governance means foreseeing”). Still, the ZSC athletic director has no “Plan B” in place in case Crawford no longer serves as a board member next season. Things are going well: “By having coaching discussions at this time, we would only risk uneasiness…”

There is another reason for the calmness of the ZSC sporting director: after the complete failure of the expensive and acclaimed Swedish templaters (Hans Wolsen, Rikard Grünberg), he knows who will be responsible for next season Who are they: North Americans. “That's not entirely correct,” corrected Sven Leuenberger. “Someone with a North American hockey philosophy.” Theoretically, that could be European, too.

But maybe more theoretical. The ZSC sports director also said: “There are almost no top European coaches who have not found a job for next season.” The North American coaching market will only open after our season is over. “So if the worst happens, we have plenty of time after the season to find a coach.” The logic behind this statement is: If Crawford does retire, his successor will likely be an active “Gangster” in North America. Names have come and gone, but the North American coaching philosophy remains. Everything is easier if a sporting director knows what type of coach is suitable for his club.

In 2012, Bob Hartley won the championship with ZSC.Image: KEYSTONE

The ZSC Lions not only won the title with their charismatic NHL franchise captains – Stanley Cup Champion Bob Hartley and Marc Crawford (2012, 2014, 2024) Three championships. When the ZSC Lions won it all, there were native North Americans on the board (Kent Ruhnke, Larry Huras, Harold Kreis, Bob Hartley, Marc Crawford, Hans Kossmann).

Bob Hartley and Marc Crawford also understood and mastered this very special challenge in Zurich better than any other ZSC head coach, it was almost like rounding out the circle For Fang: Patiently developing young talent and still winning championships.

Will Crawford stay at ZSC?Image: trapezoid

Goethe's Doctor Faustus was probably right when he said that names are nothing but smoke and mirrors. But when it comes to pushing well-paid youngsters to the limits of their performance in a timely way in a city as seductive as Zurich, then a big name will help.

Charisma, then, is the oxygen of leadership. There is nothing more attractive in our sport than fame and a career in the most important league in the world, the NHL. This applies more at Zurich than at any other club: the coach's words must be in the dressing room and are also gospel.

Mark Crawford is the ideal ZSC coach for the 21st century. If he doesn't stay next season, Sven Leuenberg's succession plan isn't that difficult: He's just looking for the next Crawford. So an attractive North American. So it doesn't matter whether Mark Crawford continues as ZSC coach.

• 7

  A leader who can decide games and make his team better on and off the ice.

• 6-7

  A talented player who can decide a game on a good night and is a leader.

• 5-6

  A good NL player: usually a rainbow butterfly of talent, sometimes a serious worker who brings out a lot of talent.

• 4-5

  Players on the third or fourth block, veterans or newcomers.

• 3-4

  The future is still ahead of you, or the future is already behind you.

• The rating is the North American hockey grading standard, ranging from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest). There are no levels below level 3, because those who play in the top leagues are at least barely adequate.

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