DAILY BRIEFING: the head coach call back all rangers athletics today in regards to thier….

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If Mike Maddux weren’t coaching the Texas Rangers’ pitching staff in the American League Championship Series, he doesn’t have to think too hard about what else he would be doing.

“Golfing,” he said. “Watching these games on TV.”

That is Maddux for you. He keeps things to the point. He has his own sense of humor, full of one-line zingers and the occasional not-safe-for-work jokes.

Listen to Maddux long enough, though, and you’ll likely leave with some newfound wisdom.

It’s wild how quickly things changed this year on the NHL coaching front.

Back in late March, as the 2022-23 regular season was winding down, I wrote a piece looking at where a handful of coaches stood with their teams, including eight whose contracts were set to expire after the 2023-24 season. That list included.

Since then, Keefe, Hakstol and Tourigny have signed extensions, and Larsen and Hynes were let go. That leaves us with three coaches entering this season on expiring deals: McLellan, Brind’Amour and Smith.

There’s also the matter of the New Jersey Devils’ Lindy Ruff, which we’ll get into in a minute.

If Mike Maddux weren’t coaching the Texas Rangers’ pitching staff in the American League Championship Series, he doesn’t have to think too hard about what else he would be doing.

“Golfing,” he said. “Watching these games on TV.”

That is Maddux for you. He keeps things to the point. He has his own sense of humor, full of one-line zingers and the occasional not-safe-for-work jokes. “Very dry,” Rangers reliever Chris Stratton said. “Very unique.”

Listen to Maddux long enough, though, and you’ll likely leave with some newfound wisdom….