“That’s what I like about Derek (King), he’s a lot like Todd (Nelson),” Bryan Helmer stated the day the Hershey Bears introduced their new coach, the one who would hold up the high standard for the most decorated team in the American Hockey League (AHL). Derek King came in with big shoes to fill and a rebuilding Bears team that would make it difficult to play to that standard. Yet, he’s getting the buy-in and the most out of this younger team.
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It’s one thing to receive high praise from the fans or the team that employs him. It’s what happened in his previous stop in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks; he was well-regarded by everyone. It’s another thing to receive the praise from players who have been around the AHL and have experienced multiple head coaches.
That’s what Wyatt Bongiovanni is dealing with right now. He was acquired from the Belleville Senators last week, a team that replaced its head coach halfway through the season. Now, he’s with a team that has stability and an established coach. “It’s good, it’s refreshing,” Bongiovanni noted in a conversation with Hockey Hot Stove. King made a strong first impression and proved why he’s one of the best coaches in the AHL.
King is a Player-Friendly Coach
It’s well known that King is a player-friendly coach. He’s a calm presence behind the bench and won’t overreact to the highs or the lows. On top of that, King is the type of head coach who players can talk to, not just about hockey but life in general. Some coaches will healthy scratch a player for making a mistake or limit their ice time. The Bears head coach has learned to live with the mistakes, knowing the process it takes to win in this league.
“There are no bad coaches in this league; everyone has their own way of handling certain situations,” Bongiovanni noted. King has a young team that’s made plenty of mistakes, and he’s talked about removing the bad habits all season from those players. Yet, he understands that the mistakes will come with the territory, and eventually, they’ll learn how to win in this league.
Because of this style, the Bears love playing for King. Coaching requires the arts and sciences to get the most out of the team. King is known for his ability to connect but also has the technical part to his coaching. “They like to offer their insight and provide great feedback too,” Bongiovanni added, referencing the entire coaching staff for the Bears, most of whom learned from the previous coach, Todd Nelson.
The Attention to Detail
You can tell a lot about a coach based on how their practices are run. Do they have a lot of energy? Are they on top of the players? Are they too distant and not on the ice altogether? The energy King brings to practice is much different from what was expected for an older coach. While he’s not on top of everything, he oversees it and can point out the issues in a player’s development.
That’s just the morning skates or the midweek drills. What goes unnoticed is the game preparation King plans for each opponent. “I really like the detail. The prescouts. They really prepare us for each game. I’ve been in three games against three different opponents, and each one they’ve prepared us for what we might see coming,” Bongiovanni mentioned when asked what makes King different, a question that made him pause for 10 seconds as he tried to toe the line (he wanted to praise his new head coach without critizing others and presumably not give away too many secrets).
That game prep was on display in the 4-2 win over the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins. They knew goals would be hard to come by against Sergei Murashov, one of the best goaltenders in the AHL, and they had to earn their ice and their shots. It’s what they did in the game to allow them to find the back of the net three times against the elite goaltender and then on the empty net to seal the win.
King understands the identity of this new-look Bears team. They have plenty of skill in their top six but their bottom six is essentially two checking lines that defend. The Bears win the game by allowing Ilya Protas and Andrew Cristall to make a difference on the offensive end and then allowing the veterans to clamp down and seal victories. At the same time, King can pivot depending on who they are playing against.
King Hasn’t Won Yet, So Hershey is His Best Chance
By most standards, King is having a great season, especially since it’s his first with the new team. The Bears are in fourth place in the Atlantic Division and have shown flashes but haven’t put it together consistently. Yet, for the Bears, the standard is different. It’s a Calder Cup or bust, and anything short of that is a disappointment. This team has won 13 AHL championships, the most in the league, and they expect to win it every year.
The praise for King is always high, whether it’s from the fans, his peers, or his players. The knock on him is that he’s never won or led contending teams. King coached rebuilding teams and is known for developing prospects but can’t put it together for the playoffs
It’s all coming together with the Bears. The team is finding it’s identitiy for the home stretch and leaning into it. The Bears have a young group but are playing when it matters most. “I like where we’re at,” King noted.
Other Notes From Wilkes-Barre
The Friday night game was the first of the three-in-three and both teams felt it. The three games in three days were once a common occurrence, but these days, they are reserved for the final two months of the season. The first of the three in three is pivotal to win, and both teams knew they had to get it to start the weekend strong.
The game itself came down to the wire. The Bears built up a 3-0 lead but had to clamp down in the final five minutes to come out on top. The defense stepped up, and an empty-netter secured the 4-2 win.
On the Penguins side, they look like a team that is hitting a wall. The recent loss was their fourth in a row, and Murashov, who has won 20 of their 36 games this season, had a rough night in the net as he allowed three goals. In the big picture, the Penguins will be fine. Yet, in the moment, these losses are tough to digest.
The Bears are heading back to Chocolatetown to face the Belleville Senators next. The Penguins, meanwhile, have a home and home series against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, who are coming off an impressive 4-1 win over the Syracuse Crunch. It’s why this time of the year is always fun since a lot can happen on a given weekend.
