Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has named John Anderson an assistant coach.
Anderson joins the Wild after serving as Head Coach of the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League (AHL) the last three seasons. Prior to being named Head Coach of the Wolves on July 16, 2013, he served as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Coyotes for two seasons (2011-13) and was the Head Coach of the Atlanta Thrashers for two seasons (2008-10). The Toronto, Ont., native went 624-368-124 (.614) in 14 seasons as the Wolves Head Coach (1997-2008, 2013-16), leading Chicago to four championships; the 2008 and 2002 Calder Cup and the 2000 and 1998 Turner Cup. Prior to joining the Wolves, Anderson captured the Colonial Cup as Head Coach of the Quad City Mallards of the Colonial Hockey League in 1996-97. He began his coaching career with Winston-Salem in 1995-96, leading the Mammoths to the Southern Hockey League Finals.
Anderson recorded 631 points (282-349=631) in 814 NHL regular season games during 12 seasons with Toronto (1977-85), Quebec (1985-86), and Hartford (1986-89), and added 27 points (9-18=27) in 37 career Stanley Cup playoff contests. The right wing also played three seasons in the International Hockey League (IHL) with the Fort Wayne Komets (1990-91) and San Diego Gulls (1992-94). As a player/assistant coach with the Gulls, Anderson helped propel the club to an IHL-record 62 wins and the 1993 Turner Cup Finals. Two years earlier, he tallied 83 points (40-43=83) in 63 games to help the Komets reach the 1991 Turner Cup Finals. Anderson was named the AHL’s Most Valuable Player with the New Haven Nighthawks in 1991-92 after notching 95 points (41-54=95) in 68 games, while capturing the AHL’s Sportsmanship Award and earning a spot on the AHL First All-Star Team. He and Wild Head Coach Bruce Boudreau were teammates on the Toronto Marlboros (1973-75), Dallas Blackhawks (1977-78), Toronto Maple Leafs (1977-83) and Fort Wayne Komets (1990-91). Anderson was selected 11th overall by Toronto in the 1977 NHL Entry Draft.
He and his wife, Karen, have two sons, Jacob and Spencer, and a daughter, Hannah.
[Minnesota Wild press release]
