Nightingale moves from Red Wings to USNTDP

Adam Nightingale wasn't looking to leave the Red Wings but when a special opportunity presented itself, he couldn't pass it up.
On Aug. 27, the U.S. National Team Development Program named Nightingale head coach of the U.S. National Under-17 Team, replacing John Wroblewski, who left to take a job as head coach of the Los Angeles Kings' AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign.

Dan Muse is the new head coach of the Under-18 team, replacing Seth Appert, who left to coach the Rochester Americans, the Buffalo Sabres' AHL affiliate.
Nightingale said there were several reasons the U.S. NTDP job appealed to him.
"I want to be a head coach and I have been before, just a chance to do it again," Nightingale said in a recent phone interview. "I think this age is really unique from, not just hockey, but the whole off-the-ice as well, it's an opportunity to make an impact. I remember moving away from home, there's a lot of change, a different school, you're living in a different home, you've got totally new teammates. It's just a different environment so to try to help mentor that age, I think, is something I really have a passion for, and then I think just representing our country with USA Hockey.
"I've been fortunate to do four IIHF events and it's something I was proud of as a player, playing youth hockey, USA Hockey, and then it also helped me in my coaching career. Different doors have opened and I really believe just some of the opportunities I've been given from USA Hockey so the chance to give back and be part of USA Hockey was probably the third reason."
Just because there were reasons to leave doesn't mean it was easy for Nightingale, a Michigan native who had spent the last three years with the Red Wings, the first two as video coach and the last year as an assistant coach.
"I loved being a Red Wing," Nightingale said. "It was important for me to talk to Steve (Yzerman, executive vice president and general manager) about it and ask for his blessing on it, too. He was great, he was super supportive and understanding so that was great. Once I talked with him -- not that I expected he wouldn't but that was important to me. Once he gave me his blessing, the process kind of started, had a few interviews and ended up getting the job."
Nightingale said he also had the support of his wife, Kristin, and their three children, Trevor, Emmerson and Keeton.
"We're only five miles from the rink so that's the great thing," Nightingale said. "Then at their age I think it's probably hard to understand the whole moving piece, as a coach we've moved quite a bit. My wife and I knowing that we don't have to move and I'm able to still pursue my dream of being a head coach. I'm super lucky, my wife has never batted an eye of moving and we've gone to all types of spots and variances of pay and always supportive and the kids are the same way. So if it's not like that, I'm 100 percent positive I wouldn't have been able to get to this point where I was able to get this job."
Nightingale said he would definitely draw on everything he learned with the Wings and apply it to his new role with the U.S. National Team Development Program.
"I learned a lot. I think first off, working for Blash (Jeff Blashill), now being a head coach, I really feel fortunate for him empowering me and giving me responsibility," Nightingale said. "He didn't have to do that. Trusting me, and I think that's important for me with our staff, that I try to do the same thing. I know how much that meant to me and helped me in my development. I think learning how to manage, I don't want to say disappointment, but adversity.
"Obviously last year was a trying year for sure but I think you learn a lot about yourself as a person and as a coach in that type of environment. I think Blash did a great job of having us all focus on the next game or the next day and not get caught up and bogged down by what happened in the past -- not be satisfied with it for sure, you gotta get better, but no different with these kids. So definitely going to use that approach to focus on what we can control and focus on the now."
Nightingale said he also learned from his fellow assistant coaches, including reuniting with Dan Bylsma, with whom he worked in Buffalo.
"He's been super great, he's definitely a mentor to me," Nightingale said. "Then Doug Houda, I helped him with the penalty kill and just learning that aspect of the game but also his passion for teaching defensemen. He's just got a real unique ability of connecting. Jeff Salajko, our goalie coach, I think he's great at his job and he's great at building relationships. LJ Scarpace and Jeff Weintraub, two guys that I think are tireless workers and supportive and low-ego guys, so I learned from everyone there.
"Steve and Ken (Holland, former general manager and current Edmonton Oilers GM), just watching how they and their staff manage and how they treat people. I think it's just such a unique, when you look at sports organizations, I have a hard time thinking there's a better one out there with the type of atmosphere that it has."
Now Nightingale would like to create a similar atmosphere with his young players, who are already in town practicing.
"I got the job on a Wednesday, I think the players got here on a Sunday," Nightingale said. "I got to meet their parents, I think that's really important. They're trusting us with their sons in these critical ages so making sure they're comfortable so that was good.

"Super lucky, they're very hungry and eager to be coached. I think that trying to take advantage of that time, when they're in that stage and try to encourage them to always have that approach where you want to be coached. I'm no different, I want to get better as a coach. I know I don't have all the answers and I know the players understand that, to keep striving to get better. Definitely there's an excitement in the air and a lot of challenge as well."
When he's with his team, Nightingale said he's always working to coach the way he would want his own sons to be coached.
"I got two boys that play hockey, 12 and 8, and when I say that, I want their coaches to be demanding and I want them to be honest but I also think empathy is a quality that a coach can have in understanding maybe what players are going through," Nightingale said. "It doesn't mean that you're making excuses for them, but that for me would be trying to develop a relationship so you earn trust and once you earn trust, I think you can help people grow as a player and as a person."
Nightingale is well aware of what has been happening in the country with racial injustice issues being brought to greater light.
Detroit's own Trevor Daley is one of the founding members of the Hockey Diversity Alliance, whose goal is to eradicate systemic racism and intolerance in the sport of hockey.
That needs to be addressed well before players reach the NHL and Nightingale said it can start just with how you treat people on a daily basis.
"We've talked to our team about being a role model and an example for all youth players, whatever their race or ethnicity is," Nightingale said. "When you put that jersey on, there's kids that are going to watch you and you have an opportunity to make an impact with how you show you appreciate this opportunity. When you're at school, obviously things are different online but when you're in the community, same thing. Just know that you're a person first and a hockey player second and the most important thing we can all do is try to be the best person we can be, and acknowledging that none of us are perfect as well. I think that's important.
"I think trying to instill at this age those qualities that they can help contribute to a positive change to our country."
As a proud native of Cheboygan, Mich., and someone who has been on the staff of four U.S. national teams, Nightingale is also looking forward to helping develop future generations of American players.
"The national team, it's been around 24 years and has done a really good job," Nightingale said. "You look at the coaches that have been been here and had success and when I say success, obviously you want to win in the international events and do well there but just producing hockey players. That's the one thing we talked to our team about, we're going to focus on developing winning hockey players and that's the goal here because such a huge investment by USA Hockey and the NHL, it's important that we do things the right way and keep focus on again, trying to create and develop winning hockey players."