There are rumours Ian MacInnis could be making the jump to the OHL with the Kingston Frontenacs next season, but David Murphy notes there are some red flags surrounding the story.

PHOTO CREDIT - Robert Lefebvre/www.icelevel.com

Cornwall - Mar. 21, 2011 - Rumours make some conversations interesting and can be harmless, depending on the subject.

Rumours in politics can be dangerous and cause more harm than good. Rumours in sports can be fun and interesting.

Case in point, there's a rumour making its way around local hockey circles that regardless of how well the Cornwall Colts finish this year, head coach, GM and owner Ian MacInnis will be behind another bench next season.

Word at the rink is MacInnis will replace Kingston Frontenacs Coach and hockey legend Doug Gilmour in the fall. I still haven't been able to pinpoint where this rumour began but I can pretty much guarantee it didn't start in the Limestone City.

I hear (the most famous starting line in any rumour) that MacInnis - who's a childhood friend and former linemate of Gilmour's with the Cornwall Royals - will take over after Gilmour takes a step to the GM booth in KTown.

It sounds like there's merit to that idea. Gilmour does have aspirations of "moving up" in the hockey world. He did step down from an AHL assistant coaching position in Toronto to take the reins of the Frontenacs a couple of seasons ago. Word was it would allow him to run a team and learn how to be a head coach prior to a possible promotion to the NHL level.

MacInnis meanwhile has built a solid record with the Colts without having to go through a complete overhaul of the franchise. He's kept the team competitive for a handful of seasons. Usually junior hockey teams go through a rebuilding phase, especially after hosting a national championship like the Colts did in the spring of 2008 with the RBC Cup. The "rebuilding" of the Colts happened without sacrificing on ice success and upper level hockey people usually notice that. The GM and/or coaches responsible for that type of program are usually a short step away from the next level.

But with all rumours, there are some red flags that would lead me to believe there's not a lot of truth to this story.

Number one, when I repeated this juicy tidbit of info to a Frontenac's insider prior to a recent TV Cogeco broadcast between Kingston and the Oshawa Generals, the initial response was utter surprise on the face of the person.

Then, I was reminded that Gilmour still has three years remaining on his current agreement with the Frontenacs (the "out clause," I'm told, is a head coaching opportunity at a higher level). It's believed Gilmour won't be going for the time being.

Number two, Kingston GM Larry Mavety, who's been around the game long enough to have been a junior coach of Ian MacInnis is, by all accounts, not ready to relinquish his post. And the belief is Fronts owners are in no mood to relieve Mavety of his duties.

So, if Mavety doesn't move and Gilmour isn't getting a bench boss job at a higher level, there's not much room for MacInnis (unless he'll work as an assistant coach under this longtime friend).

Aha, now there's a rumour that might grow legs. I'll have to check on that possibility with Ian the next time we speak.