5 candidates to become next Coyotes coach

After eight years in the desert, Dave Tippett is out as coach of the Arizona Coyotes. The team announced the move late Thursday, adding the search for the next bench boss will begin immediately.

Here are five resumes, each offering something unique, that could come across the desk of general manager John Chayka:

Todd Nelson

Fresh off a Calder Cup win with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Coyotes would be wise to consider Todd Nelson.

The 48-year-old had his first go-around in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers in 2014-15, lasting 46 games before getting the ax. Since his departure, he's spent two seasons with Grand Rapids, bringing his total to seven years as an AHL head coach after a five-year run with Oklahoma City.

Nelson's resume also shows three years as an NHL assistant, including a year with the Oilers and two seasons with the Atlanta Thrashers. He also guided the Muskegon Fury to back-to-back championships in 2004 and 2005 in the now-defunct United Hockey League.

Lindy Ruff

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

If Tippett is known for a tight, defensive structure, the Coyotes could reach for the other end of the spectrum with Lindy Ruff, a veteran bench boss who can unleash his team's offensive arsenal.

Dumped by the Dallas Stars after a four-year run, few available coaches bring experience comparable to Ruff, who ranks fifth all time with 736 victories to his name. Prior to taking his talents to Texas, Ruff was behind the Buffalo Sabres' bench for 15 seasons, a tenure which included a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1999.

While the Stars' problems last season came from their blue line and in keeping pucks out of their own net, Dallas never had a problem generating offense under Ruff. His most impressive offensive campaign came in 2015-16, when the Stars led the NHL with 267 goals.

Jim Playfair

The quickest move could be to shift Tippett's duties to Jim Playfair, who did not follow the head coach through the exit door. Playfair has served as Coyotes associate coach for the past six seasons.

Such a move could give Arizona a leg up in training camp, with Playfair already familiar with the current roster. The 53-year-old has been responsible for the Coyotes' defensive core, playing a key role in the development of Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the recently departed Connor Murphy, and last season's rookie blue-liner Jakob Chychrun.

Prior to joining the Coyotes in 2011, Playfair spent 11 years with the Calgary Flames organization, including five seasons as the AHL coach, five campaigns as an NHL assistant, and as the Flames head coach in 2006-07, in which the team lost in Round 1 of the playoffs.

Willie Desjardins

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Willie Desjardins brings a wealth of experience in working with young players across different leagues.

Prior to his three years with the Vancouver Canucks, in which he was relieved following the 2016-17 season, Desjardins spent nine seasons with the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers, capturing the Ed Chynoweth Cup in 2004 and 2007.

Three years later, Desjardins joined the Stars as an associate coach before being moved to the AHL head coaching position in 2012. In his second season with the AHL's Texas Stars, Desjardins posted a 48-18-10 record en route to a Calder Cup championship. In all, Desjardins would bring no shortage of winning pedigree to the Coyotes.

Dallas Eakins

Chayka has built his career on analytics, and there is no doubt he could have lengthy discussions about the topic with Dallas Eakins, a fellow supporter of advanced statistics.

"When you talk to people in hockey, and even fans, there's such a divide. You're either for these analytics or you're against them," Eakins told ESPN in 2015. "For the life of me, I can't wrap my head around why the analytics guys hate the old-school guys and the old-school guys hate the analytics. Why wouldn't you look at (advanced stats)? I don't understand why you would not at least look at them."

After a disastrous and short-lived tenure as coach of the Oilers, in which Eakins secured 36 wins in 113 games, he has rebuilt himself as the bench boss of the AHL's San Diego Gulls, the minor-league affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. Eakins has played a key role in the development of the Ducks' young defensemen, namely Brandon Montour and Shea Theodore, who was recently claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights.

Flames coach Glen Gulutzan, who at 40 was named coach of the Stars, can certainly relate to Eakins. Gulutzan lasted two seasons in Dallas before resurfacing as Flames bench boss this season. It was a solid campaign for Gulutzan, who finished sixth in coach of the year voting. Eakins, who spent four games during his playing days with the Coyotes, could see a similar revival.