The summer of change for the Florida Panthers keeps on rolling along. The team announced Wednesday that Geordie Kinnear has been named the head coach of the team’s AHL affiliate in Springfield. They’ve also added Dave Barr and Scott Allen to the team’s NHL coaching staff. Barr will be an associate coach to head coach Gerard Gallant, while Allen will serve as an assistant. They join assistant coach Mike Kelly and goaltending coach Robb Tallas as the team’s coaching staff.
“We are very pleased to welcome Dave, Scott and Geordie,” president of hockey operations Dale Tallon said. “They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our organization as we look to improve upon our record-setting season and continue to build winners in South Florida and Springfield for years to come.”
Barr comes to the team from an assistant coach position with the Buffalo Sabres. He’s spent time as an assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils (2011-14), Minnesota Wild (2009-11) and Colorado Avalanche (2008-09). He was also the general manager and head coach of the OHL’s Guelph Storm from 2004 to 2008, winning a championship in 2004 and Coach of the Year honors in 2006.
Allen, 50, spent last season as head coach of the team’s AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates (who have been relocated to Springfield). He’s been inside the Florida organization for three years, serving as an assistant coach to the affiliate the prior two years, under new general manager Tom Rowe.
Kinnear, 42, has been an assistant coach for the Carolina Hurricanes AHL affiliates for the last 10 seasons.