The ZSC Lions parted with their head coach Rikard Grönborg and the two assistants Peter Popovic and Johan Andersson with immediate effect. The new head coach will be Marc Crawford, who returns to Zürich after six years spent with the Ottawa Senators and the Chicago Blackhawks. Grönborg thus leaves the ZSC Lions after three and a half seasons and a few months earlier than expected.
As it happened during his first stint with the Lions, Crawford will be assisted by Rob Cookson, who, however, will be available only in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, Michael Liniger will work as an ad-interim assistant coach. The two 61-year-old Canadians have received a contract for two and a half years up to and including the 2024-25 season.
Team manager Sven Leuenberger explains why Marc Crawford fits perfectly into the ZSC Lions' coaching profile: "Marc brings with him a huge amount of experience that our team needs. He knows Switzerland and the ZSC Lions very well and is 'up to date' thanks to his recent coaching activities. Instead of waiting until next season, Marc Crawford will take over immediately."
