It was out with Joe Sakic and in with Joe Sacco for the Colorado Avalanche this season.
The Avalanche are down one soon-to-be Hall of Famer, who called it a career this summer, and brought in a rookie head coach to lead the team towards the future.
Sacco left his position as bench boss of the American Hockey League's Lake Erie Monsters to take over the coaching reins from Tony Granato.
So far, things have worked out well for the former NHLer, as he leads his first-place Avalanche into tonight's encounter with the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place (7:30).
"It's been great playing for him; he's pretty strong in his word and he gives us a lot of confidence and allows us to play the way we want to play," said Avalanche centre Paul Stastny.
"Our practices are pretty structured; he holds us accountable and we've learned not just to play for him, but to play for each other.
"The big thing is that we're not playing as individuals, we're just worrying about what's best for the team and that's what's carrying us right now."
Sacco, 40, played 738 games with five teams over a 13-year NHL career.
He'd been a coach in the Colorado system for four years before getting promoted.
Taking over from Granato, who had two stints behind the Avalanche bench to bookend Joel Quenneville's tenure, Sacco has not come in and revamped the entire system.
Rather, it's small, subtle adjustments that so far are paying big dividends.
"When you play in the NHL, there might be a few things here or there that are different between coaches, but a lot of it is very similar," Stastny said.
"I think it's more of a mentality thing for us. We're taking care of ourselves on the ice and we've been able to incorporate different things and play both offensive and defensive styles."
Under Sacco, Stastny, who is entering his fourth season in the league, is back displaying the form that saw him collect 149 points over his first two seasons.
The six-foot, 205-pound centre has 10 points through his first 11 games this season and is one of a number of reasons for Colorado's quick start.
"It's been good so far," he said. "Every game, I'm feeling a little better, and I'm really excited the way the season is going."
DEREK.VANDIEST@SUNMEDIA.CA
