Ex-Thrashers coach Ramsay joins Panthers staff

The Florida Panthers have hired former Atlanta Thrashers coach Craig Ramsay as an assistant.

“It is great to be able to rejoin the Florida Panthers organization and come back home again,” Ramsay said in a statement released by the Panthers. “Having previously served as associate coach during the team’s first two seasons, I have seen firsthand the passion that the South Florida community has for hockey and I look forward to being part of it once again.”

The Panthers hired Kevin Dineen to replace Pete DeBoer as coach at the end of the regular season. The Panthers finished last in the Eastern Conference this past season and have missed the playoffs a league-record 10 consecutive seasons. Dineen, in his first NHL coaching job, will try to turn that around.

Panthers GM Dale Tallon called Ramsay “a brilliant hockey mind” who will bring his experience as a player, coach and player personnel director to the franchise.

“Craig’s vast knowledge of the game will be an asset for head coach Kevin Dineen, our entire coaching staff and all our players,” he said.

True North Sports and Entertainment bought the Thrashers in June and moved the team to Winnipeg, but decided to not retain Ramsay or general manager Rick Dudley. The Thrashers were in the hunt for a playoff berth, but went 34-36-12 and finished fourth in the Southeast Division and out of the playoffs in Ramsay’s only season as their coach.

Ramsay previously spent three seasons as an assistant with the Boston Bruins. He played 14 seasons with Buffalofrom 1971-85.

Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=6746139&campaign=rss&source=NHLHeadlines