Guy Boucher returns as Canada's coach for Spengler Cup

In this Sunday, Feb. 2, 2012 file photo, Tampa Bay Lightning coach Guy Boucher gives instructions during a first-period timeout in an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh. (AP / Gene J. Puskar)

TORONTO -- Fired by his Swiss league team, Guy Boucher has all the time in the world to prepare for the next step in his career.

His focus right now is on coaching Canada at the Spengler Cup, but after being released by SC Bern in Switzerland's National League A, the former Tampa Bay Lightning coach has his sights on returning to the NHL in the not-too-distant future.

"I think now it was really important for me to make it clear that I want to be back, I'm ready to be back," Boucher said by phone from Switzerland. "Even more experience, even more ready and that can be at any time, absolutely."

Boucher took the Lightning to the Eastern Conference final in 2011 and came up one victory short of the Stanley Cup final. He was fired midway through the 2013 season and took his coaching talents overseas.

One full season and parts of two others later, the 44-year-old from Notre-Dame-du-Lac, Que., said he has learned a lot. Throw in one Spengler Cup experience already and another coming, and Boucher believes he's a better coach than he was with the Lightning.

"Every year when you're at a high level, and Switzerland definitely is a high level, I think you really grow and when you do things like the Spengler Cup or the world championships like I've done in the last years, it certainly gives you a lot of info, a lot of insight and it moulds you," Boucher said. "It doesn't necessarily change the core of what you like, but it certainly tweaks a lot of the things that you were doing before, and it just gives you a different portrait of how you approach things sometimes."

Boucher has kept tabs on the NHL while in Europe. He met with Mike Babcock during the world championships in Prague and spoke with Jacques Martin over the summer.

Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, calling himself a "huge fan of Guy Boucher" said the club interviewed and considered the coach when Babcock was still debating where to coach this season.

Boucher said he had to turn down some other coaching opportunities in Europe to leave the door open to return to North America. With his children in school, he and his wife are trying to figure out logistics on how to get back once the Spengler Cup is over.

That kind of planning aside, Boucher might be the hottest coaching free agent out there once there's a vacancy.

"I think he's a tremendous communicator," Hockey Canada president and CEO Tom Renney said Friday. "He's well-spoken. He's got a technical acumen that's second to none. In-game adjustments are really, really important in this game and I think he can do that and give a team confidence by the nature of his ability to adjust quickly.

"Guy's a heck of a coach. I think in my mind he'll be in the National Hockey League again here fairly quickly."

Boucher has made no secret of the fact that he's eager to return. He could be a mid-season replacement in the new year or get some serious looks in the off-season.

But he isn't looking past another opportunity to coach Canada after winning gold as an assistant at the world junior level and also being part of world championship and under-18 staffs. Boucher insisted that's motivating him more than wanting to beat Swiss teams after being fired.

Boucher said he fully respects Bern going in a different direction once he made it clear he wasn't sticking around for the long term.

"I'm really motivated because that's one thing I haven't won yet, the Spengler," Boucher said. "And representing Hockey Canada and Team Canada for me has always been an immense thrill, but not just a thrill it's been an honour and such a great learning experience but also a proud one."

Rob Cookson, an assistant on Marc Crawford's staff with the Zurich Lions, will serve as Boucher's assistant coach for the Spengler Cup, which Canada hasn't won since 2012.

After going 1-1-0 last year, Boucher has higher hopes for Canada this time around. He cited versatility and depth of forwards as a particular strength.

"Last year was tougher to get players for injury reasons, and so last year we battled hard but I think this year right now we're looking like we've got some really good tools," Boucher said. "I think this year we feel that we have a better team."