How Rocky Thompson’s AHL Coaching Stint Will Help Sharks

How into analytics is incoming San Jose Sharks assistant coach Rocky Thompson?

Trevor Letowski, who worked with Thompson in Windsor from 2015-17, told San Jose Hockey Now, “He certainly values analytics. That was just kind of coming into play [in 2015]. Back then, I think he was a little bit ahead of the curve.”

Did that interest continue when Thompson took over behind the Chicago Wolves bench in 2017?

“I think it got worse,” laughed Chicago GM Wendell Young.

With that in mind, San Jose Hockey Now spoke with both Young and assistant coach Bob Nardella to learn more about Thompson’s tenure with Wolves, which included a trip to the 2019 Calder Cup Finals.

Young shared how Rocky used analytics to help a Chicago player get a new contract with the Vegas Golden Knights and how Thompson reminds him of Scotty Bowman. Nardella offered his thoughts on how Rocky might help the San Jose Sharks power play and revealed Thompson’s two loves.