Player Agent Allan Walsh Blasts Oilers’ Dave Tippett
Hockey fans have gotten to know the name Allan Walsh quite well over the years. The outspoken NHL player agent has no problem voicing his opinion, particularly on his Twitter account, and was at it again this past week, this time going after Edmonton Oilers head coach Dave Tippett.
Walsh took to Twitter on Sunday evening to go after the Oilers bench boss due to scratching one of his clients in defenceman William Lagesson. The 25-year-old is currently up with the Oilers after starting the season in the American Hockey League but has been healthy scratched on numerous occasions with the big club. Walsh isn’t so upset with the healthy scratches, however, as he is with the way it has been communicated to his client.
Oilers defenseman William Lagesson had his best game in the NHL Friday night. What happens? Dave Tippett never told him he’s out tonight, didn’t tell him to skate with the scratches, he finds out just before the game. It’s the kind of disrespect from a coach that destroys teams.
— Allan Walsh🏒 (@walsha) December 6, 2021
William Lagesson has done everything asked of him by the organization. Players get scratched and have no issues with that. All we ask is to be treated with respect and Dave Tippett has shown he doesn’t care to do that with his players. https://t.co/CmMUrhDk3j
— Allan Walsh🏒 (@walsha) December 6, 2021
Neither Tippett nor Lagesson have commented on the issue, and Walsh failed to follow up any further despite many replying with interest to his tweet. As mentioned previously, Walsh has no problem blasting whoever, whenever, on social media, for better or worse. Many will remember the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs when his client Marc-Andre Fleury was relegated to a backup role with the Vegas Golden Knights, a decision which resulted in Walsh tweeting out an infamous photo of Fleury with a sword stabbing him in the back.
In this particular case involving Lagesson, it is likely Walsh is just looking out for his client more than anything. By all accounts, Tippett is a well-respected coach, as there have been little to no current or former players who have had negative things to say about him.
One interesting thing to note with this situation is that Walsh had to have found out from someone that Tippett didn’t let Lagesson know he was out of the lineup, so it is possible the defenceman himself vented his frustrations to Walsh. If that is indeed the case, hopefully, Tippett learns from this, as Walsh is correct in saying there is some disrespect shown by not properly communicating with players.