20 – Philadelphia Flyers John Stevens
Bio:
John Stevens was named the coach of the Flyers in October of 2006. Stevens was the head coach of the Flyers AHL affiliate Philadelphia Phantoms for six seasons (2000 to 2006), leading them to the Calder Cup Championship in 2005. Stevens’ career AHL coaching record is 230-181-33-25 in 480 regular season games and a 29-19 playoff record.He was named as a Flyers assistant coach of the Flyers in June of 2006. Stevens played 15 seasons of professional hockey as a defenseman (1984-85 to 1998-99), including 53 career NHL games with the Flyers and Hartford Whalers. Over parts of five seasons (1986-87 and 1987-88 with the Flyers and 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1993-94 with Hartford), Stevens recorded 10 assists and 48 penalty minutes in 53 games. He was a member of three Calder Cup Championship teams as a player (Hershey – 1988, Springfield – 1991 and Philadelphia – 1998) and won the Barry Ashbee Award as the Phantoms’ top defenseman for the 1996-97 season. He was named the Phantoms’ first ever captain on October 1, 1996. Stevens was originally drafted by the Flyers in the third round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. He was named an assistant coach for the Phantoms on February 10, 1999, after his retirement from hockey due to an eye injury.
Most notable player feat: Member of three Calder Cup champs
Greatest coaching achievement: Beating the Canadiens in 2008
Notorious or reknown for: Looking like a cocaine addicted lawyer
NHL Player stats: 53-0-10-10
NHL Coaching stats: 238-107-98-33 .519% / 23-11-12 .478%
Route to the NHL: AHL assistant and head coach
NHL Experience: 3 seasons
Winning seasons as an NHL coach:
Individual hardware: Chainsaw
General behind the bench demeanor: Seething
Coaching career:
Per Stanley Cup wins as a coach: 0 pts
Per Stanley Cup final appearances: 0 pts
Per 25 games won as an NHL coach – playoffs: 0 pts
Per 100 games won as an NHL coach – regular season: 3 pts
Per 100 games coached at the NHL level: 4 pts
Per 100 games coached at AHL/minor level: 5 pts
Per championships won coaching at junior, AHL or U.S. Collegiate or University level: 5 points
Playing Career:
Reached NHL Level: 25 pts
Reached AHL Level 0 pts
Played minor/junior/U but did not reach pro ranks: 0 pts
Per 100 NHL games played: 0 pts
Per 100 AHL/minors games played: 8 pt
Per Stanley Cups won as a player: 0 Pts
Total points: 50
19 – Montreal Canadiens Jacques Martin
Bio:
Martin was named Canadiens’ coach June 1, 2009 after four seasons coaching (three as GM) in the Panthers organization. Martin has 20 years of experience at the NHL level, including 15 seasons as head coach. With the Panthers, Martin posted a 110-100-36 mark, standing as its all time leader in games coached and wins. In 2006, Martin became only the 13th head coach in NHL history to record 450 wins, later becoming the 12th coach to reach 1000 games. He currently ranks 10th all time for games coached and wins. Midway through 1995-96, Martin was hired by the Ottawa Senators. In a 9 year tenure, he won three division titles, reaching the 100 point mark four times. Martin posted a 341-255-96 record, holding franchise records for games coached (692), wins (341), playoff games (69) and playoff wins (31). Martin has been nominated for the Jack Adams Trophy as NHL Coach of the Year four times (1997, 1999, 2001, 2003) winning the award in 1999. In 1986-87, Martin entered the NHL as coach of St. Louis, leading them to the playoffs in both his two seasons. From 1988-93, Martin worked as an assistant with Chicago and Quebec. Following a year as coach of the AHL’s Cornwall Aces, he moved into an assistant’s role with Colorado. Martin began his career with the OHL’s Peterborough Petes as assistant to Dick Todd from 1982 to 1984, moving on to become Guelph Platers coach in 1985-86. In his first season in Guelph, the Platers won the OHL championship and the Memorial Cup, earning him the Leyden Trophy as OHL Coach of the Year. Before embracing a coaching career at the minor league level, Martin was a goaltender with the NCAA’s St. Lawrence Saints.
Most notable player feat: Backup goalie in college
Greatest coaching achievement: Memorial Cup with Guelph in 1986
Notorious or reknown for: Worst interview amonst NHL coaches, a messy divorce with a brutal settlement
NHL Player stats: In his dreams, he shot wide on an open net
NHL Coaching stats: 1098-517-406-119-56 .551% / 85-38-47 .447%
Route to the NHL: OHL, AHL
NHL Experience: 21 seasons, 13 as head coach, 8 as an assistant
Winning seasons as an NHL coach:
Individual hardware: Jack Adams trophy 1999, three other nominations
Coaching career:
Per Stanley Cup wins as a coach: 0 pts
Per Stanley Cup final appearances: 0 pts
Per 25 games won as an NHL coach – playoffs: 3 pts
Per 100 games won as an NHL coach – regular season: 15 pts
Per 100 games coached at the NHL level: 22 pt
Per 100 games coached at AHL/minor level: 1 pts
Per championships won coaching at junior, AHL or U.S. Collegiate or University level: 5 points
Playing Career:
Played minor/junior/U but did not reach pro ranks: 5 pts
Per 100 NHL games played: 0 pts
Per 100 AHL/minors games played: 0 pt
Per Stanley Cups won as a player: 0 Pts
Total points: 51
18 – Carolina Hurricanes Paul Maurice
Bio:
Maurice was named the coach of the Hurricanes in December 2008, his second stint, and 10th season with the Hurricanes altogether. He returned as the winningest coach in team history, having amassed 268 wins in his 674 regular season games coached during his first tenure with the club from 1995-2003. Maurice has a combined 344-357-137 career NHL coaching record in 11 seasons with Carolina and Toronto. In 2003, he was the longest tenured head coach in the NHL after having originally been promoted from a Whalers assistant coach’s position in November of 1995. At 28 years old when he was first hired, he was the league’s youngest head coach. Prior to joining the Whalers as an assistant in 1995, Maurice spent two seasons as coach of the OHL’s Detroit Jr. Red Wings. While there, he complied a regular season record of 86-38-8, leading them to the OHL championship and a Memorial Cup appearance. Maurice played junior hockey with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires (1984-1988) and was Philadelphia’s 12th choice in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. Maurice had his career cut short due to an eye injury and began coaching as an assistant with the Jr. Red Wings shortly thereafter.
Most notable player feat: Four seasons with Windsor Spitfires OHL
Greatest coaching achievement: Taking Hurricanes to 2002 Cup final
Notorious or reknown for: Press conference hoots in Toronto, eye injury ending his playing career
NHL Player stats: None
NHL Coaching stats: 895-377-376-99-43 .501% / 53-25-28 .472%
Route to the NHL: OHL, AHL
NHL Experience: 11 seasons
Winning seasons as an NHL coach: 7
Individual hardware: Cue ball
General behind the bench demeanor: Impassioned and tuned
Coaching career:
Per Stanley Cup wins as a coach: 0 pts
Per Stanley Cup final appearances: 15 pts
Per 25 games won as an NHL coach – playoffs: 3 pts
Per 100 games won as an NHL coach – regular season: 12 pts
Per 100 games coached at the NHL level: 18 pts
Per 100 games coached at AHL/minor level: 2 pt
Per championships won coaching at junior, AHL or U.S. Collegiate or University level: 0 points
Playing Career:
Played minor/junior/U but did not reach pro ranks: 5 pts
Per 100 NHL games played: 0 pts
Per 100 AHL/minors games played: 0 pts
Per Stanley Cups won as a player: 0 Pts
Total points: 55
17 – Boston Bruins Claude Julien
Bio:
Julien joined the Bruins with ten years coaching experience at the junior, AHL and NHL levels in addition to a 12 year professional playing career. He began his coaching career in 1996 with the Hull Olympiques of the QMJHL and he led the team for four seasons, winning a Memorial Cup in 1996-97. Julien then moved on to the AHL, as Edmonton tapped him to lead their top affiliate in Hamilton in 2000. He coached the Bulldogs for two plus seasons, winning AHL coach of the year honours in 2002-03. That same season, he was promoted to Montreal in January. Julien coached his first full NHL season in Montreal in 2003-04, leading the Canadiens to their best record in ten years with 93 points. He was named the head coach in New Jersey on June 13, 2006 and he compiled a 47-24-8 record for 102 points and a first place standing in the Atlantic Division in 79 games in 2006-07 before he was replaced behind the Devils bench. Julien was the NHL coach of the year, winning the Jack Adams Trophy this past season, after leading the Bruins to a second overall finish.
Most notable player feat: Recorded 1 NHL assist
Greatest coaching achievement: Memorial Cup with Hull Olympics in 1997
Notorious or reknown for: Being followed by Michael Ryder, having been unjustifiably fired – twice!
NHL Player stats: 14-0-1-1
NHL Coaching stats: 402-213-134-10-45 .598% / 29-14-15 .483%
Route to the NHL: Junior and AHL
NHL Experience: 6 seasons
Winning seasons as an NHL coach: 5
Individual hardware: 2009 Jack Adams
General behind the bench demeanor: Complacent, at the worst of times
Coaching career:
Per Stanley Cup wins as a coach: 0 pts
Per Stanley Cup final appearances: 0 pts
Per 25 games won as an NHL coach – playoffs: 3 pts
Per 100 games won as an NHL coach – regular season: 6 pts
Per 100 games coached at the NHL level: 8 pts
Per 100 games coached at AHL/minor level: 3 pts
Per championships won coaching at junior, AHL or U.S. Collegiate or University level: 5 points
Playing Career:
Reached NHL Level: 25 pts
Per 100 NHL games played: 0 pts
Per 100 AHL/minors games played: 7 pt
Per Stanley Cups won as a player: 0 Pts
Total points: 57
16 – New York Rangers John Tortorella
Bio:
Ranger coach John Tortorella played NCAA hockey with the University of Maine Black Bears for three seasons before moving on to a four year ACHL stint with the Virginia Lancers. He took over as coach in Virginia in 1986 before moving on to become assistant with the AHL New Haven Nighthawks in 1988. One year later, he was hired in Buffalo, as an assistant to coaches Rick Dudley and John Muckler. Upon a new coaching regime in Buffalo in 1994, Tortorella was reassigned to their minor league affiliate Rochester Americans, where he would lead the team to a Calder Cup championship in the first of his two seasons. In 1996, Tortorella was brought into the Coyotes organization, serving as assistant to Jim Shoenfeld for two seasons. In 1999-2000, Tortorella was hired by the Rangers organization for the first time, to serve once again as Muckler’s assistant. Later that year he was promoted to interim head coach, but would not retain the position. Tortorella resurfaced in Tampa Bay in 2000-01 as coach of the Lightning. While his abbrasive manners and “tough love” style of coaching were not immediate hits with his players, the Lightning progressed in short, winning nine more games in his season, and ten more in his third. Tortorella’s career reached it’s pinnacle in 2003-04, when after building Tampa into a first place club, he guided the team all the way to a Stanley Cup championship. After three seasons of failure to move beyond the first round, Tortorella was not retained following the 2007-08 campaign. After a short spell in broadcasting, Tortorella made a late season return to the Rangers as head coach, going 12-7-2 down the stretch to place the Rangers in seventh place. A first round playoff exit followed.
Most notable player feat: 96 pt season with the ACHL Virginia Lancers
Greatest coaching achievement: Stanley Cup
Notorious or reknown for: Outburst and veracious discources with players, most recently, squirting a fan with a water bottle
NHL Player stats: None
NHL Coaching stats: 560-251-232-37-40 .517% / 52-27-25 .519%
Route to the NHL: 3 years in minors
NHL Experience: Head coach 6.5 seasons/ 9 seasons as assistant
Winning seasons as an NHL coach: 4
Individual hardware: Hammer and chisel
General behind the bench demeanor: Abbrasive
Coaching career:
Per Stanley Cup wins as a coach: 25 pts
Per Stanley Cup final appearances: 0 pts
Per 25 games won as an NHL coach – playoffs: 3 pts
Per 100 games won as an NHL coach – regular season: 6 pts
Per 100 games coached at the NHL level: 10 pts
Per 100 games coached at AHL/minor level: 3 pts
Per championships won coaching at junior, AHL or U.S. Collegiate or University level: 5 points
Playing Career:
Played minor/junior/U but did not reach pro ranks: 5 pts
Per 100 NHL games played: 0 pts
Per 100 AHL/minors games played: 1 pts
Per Stanley Cups won as a player: 0 Pts
Total points: 58
15 – Washington Capitals Bruce Boudreau
Boudreau, the 2007-08 Jack Adams winner, begins his third season as Capitals coach, after leading the team to the two Southeast Division titles. Boudreau, the 14th coach in Capitals history, has coached championship teams in the AHL and the ECHL. He was in his third year as the coach of the Hershey Bears, Washington’s AHL affiliate, when promoted to the NHL post. He led the Bears to the Calder Cup finals in each of his two full seasons in Hershey, winning the Calder Cup in 2006. Boudreau also spent four years with Manchester Monarchs and two with Lowell Lock Monsters for a nine seasons total record of 340-216-56-43. Before moving up to the AHL, he was the head coach and director of hockey operations for the ECHL’s Mississippi Sea Wolves, winning the 1999 Kelly Cup. Boudreau made his start in the CHL with the Muskegon Fury in 1992-93, and took over the Fort Wayne Komets of the IHL in 1993-94. The Komets advanced to the Turner Cup finals his first season at the controls, and Boudreau was named IHL coach of the year. A Toronto native, Boudreau played parts of eight seasons with the Maple Leafs and Blackhawks, recording 70 points in 141 NHL games. A third-round pick of the Leafs in the 1975 NHL draft, Boudreau enjoyed one of the best seasons ever by a Canadian junior player during 1974-75, when he posted 165 points playing for the Toronto Marlboros. An outstanding AHL player, Boudreau ranks 11th all-time in scoring in league history with 316 goals and 799 points.
Most notable player feat: Six 100 pt seasons in AHL/IHL/CHL
Greatest coaching achievement: Winning Calder Cup and Kelly Cup and making Turner Cup finals
Notorious or reknown for: witty press conference remarks, yanking Theodore after one game in 2009 playoffs
NHL Player stats: 141-28-42-70
NHL Coaching stats: 143-87-15 .661% / 21-10-11 .476%
Route to the NHL: IHL, COHL, ECHL, AHL
NHL Experience: 2 seasons as head coach
Winning seasons as an NHL coach: 2
Individual hardware: Jack Adams
General behind the bench demeanor: from smiling to shock and awe
Coaching career:
Per Stanley Cup wins as a coach: 0 pts
Per Stanley Cup final appearances: 0 pts
Per 25 games won as an NHL coach – playoffs: 0 pts
Per 100 games won as an NHL coach – regular season: 3 pts
Per 100 games coached at the NHL level: 2 pts
Per 100 games coached at AHL/minor level: 8 pts
Per championships won coaching at junior, AHL or U.S. Collegiate or University level: 10 points
Playing Career:
Reached NHL Level: 25 pts
Per 100 NHL games played: 2 pts
Per 100 AHL/minors games played: 11 pts
Per Stanley Cups won as a player: 0 Pts
Total points: 61
14 – Pittsburgh Penguins Dan Bylsma
Bio:
Bylsma was named interim coach of the Penguins in February of 2009, with the interim tag being removed by April of the same season. He would soon become one of the few coaches in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup with less than a full season behind the bench. Bylsma had been serving as coach of the AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, when he received a promotion to the NHL. He had posted a 35-16-1-2 record in 54 games in the minors at the time. Bylsma had been WB/S’s coach for just one season, having been promoted from assistant, where he’d served the two previous campaigns. Bylsma played nine NHL seasons as a right winger with the Kings and Ducks from 1995 to 2004. A fourth line role player who excelled at killing penalties and blocking shots, the studious Bylsma played 429 NHL regular season games, with the highlight of his career coming with an appearance in the 2003 Stanley Cup final, while a member of the Mighty Ducks. Bylsma began coaching career as an assistant with the AHL Cincinnati Mighty Ducks in 2004-05. He made his NHL coaching debut as an assistant with the Islanders in 2005-06. Bylsma joined the Penguins organization as assistant to Todd Richards in WB/S in 2006-07. In two seasons, the Richards-Bylsma coaching tandem led WB/S to a 98-49-5-8 record, advancing to the Calder Cup final in 2007. Bylsma played Junior B hockey for St. Mary’s of the Ontario Hockey Association before playing four years of college hockey at Bowling Green. He was twice selected to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) All-Academic Team.
Most notable player feat: Making the 2003 Cup final with the Mighty Ducks
Greatest coaching achievement: Stanley Cup win
Notorious or reknown for: Looking like Michael Douglas in “Falling Down”, winning a Cup 49 games after NHL debut
NHL Player stats: 429-19-43-62
NHL Coaching stats: 25-18-3-4 .800% / 24-16-8 .652%
Route to the NHL: AHL and NHL assistant
NHL Experience: Nearing 50 games
Winning seasons as an NHL coach: 1
Individual hardware: A Cup ring
General behind the bench demeanor: relaxed and in control
Coaching career:
Per Stanley Cup wins as a coach: 25 pts
Per Stanley Cup final appearances: 0 pts
Per 25 games won as an NHL coach – playoffs: 0 pts
Per 100 games won as an NHL coach – regular season: 0 pts
Per 100 games coached at the NHL level: 0 pts
Per 100 games coached at AHL/minor level: 1 pts
Per championships won coaching at junior, AHL or U.S. Collegiate or University level: 0 points
Playing Career:
Reached NHL Level: 25 pts
Per 100 NHL games played: 8 pts
Per 100 AHL/minors games played: 4 pt
Per Stanley Cups won as a player: 0 Pts
Total points: 63
13 – Chicago Blackhawks Joel Quenneville
Bio:
Quenneville was named the 37th coach in Blackhawks history on October 16, 2008, after originally joining the organization as a pro scout one month earlier. He has proven to be a consistent winner throughout his career, registering a .592 regular winning percentage in parts of 11 years with the St. Louis Blues and the Colorado Avalanche. A veteran of 839 games as coach, he boasts a record of 438-283-118). Quenneville was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 1978 NHL Entry Draft, spending 13 seasons as an NHL defenseman with the Leafs, Colorado Rockies, New Jersey Devils, Hartford Whalers and Washington Capitals. He retired as a player in 1992 season, after serving as a player/coach for the AHL’s St. John’s Maple Leafs. Quenneville broke into coaching with the AHL’s Springfield Indians before serving as an assistant coach for the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche organization for two and a half seasons. He helped Colorado capture the 1996 Stanley Cup in that position before accepting his first NHL head coaching job with St. Louis for the 1996-97 campaign.
Most notable player feat: 100 point season for OHL defenseman with Windsor 1978
Greatest coaching achievement: One of only three men in NHL history of the NHL to play and coach 800 games
Notorious or reknown for: The occasional wicked tantrum, sneaking up on Denis Savard
NHL Player stats: 803-54-136-190
NHL Coaching stats: 917-483-305-77-52 .597% / 104-51-53 .490%
Route to the NHL: AHL and NHL assistant
NHL Experience: 15 seasons including 12 as head coach
Winning seasons as an NHL coach: 12
Individual hardware: He’s been robbed
General behind the bench demeanor: On edge, but sharp as a tack
Coaching career:
Per Stanley Cup wins as a coach: 0 pts
Per Stanley Cup final appearances: 0 pts
Per 25 games won as an NHL coach – playoffs: 6 pts
Per 100 games won as an NHL coach – regular season: 15 pts
Per 100 games coached at the NHL level: 18 pts
Per 100 games coached at AHL/minor level: 1 pts
Per championships won coaching at junior, AHL or U.S. Collegiate or University level: 0 points
Playing Career:
Reached NHL Level: 25 pts
Per 100 NHL games played: 16 pts
Per 100 AHL/minors games played: 1 pt
Per Stanley Cups won as a player: 0 Pts
Total points: 82
12 – Atlanta Flames John Anderson
Bio:
Anderson has won 5 championships in 13 seasons as head coach, most recently winning the 2008 Calder Cup with the AHL Chicago Wolves. He has 30 years experience in pro hockey as a player and coach. During his tenure with the Wolves, he earned a 506-283-99 regular season record, a 105-60 totals in the post season, including two Calder Cups (2002, 2008) and two Turner Cups (1998, 2000) when the Wolves were International Hockey League members. Anderson earned his first of five league titles as coach of the Quad City Mallards of the Colonial Hockey League in 1997. Anderson began his coaching career with the Winston-Salem Mammoths, leading them to the Southern Hockey League finals and a 30-23-7 regular-season record. During his 12 year NHL playing career from 1977 to 1989, Anderson amassed 282 goals and 349 assists for 631 points in 814 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Quebec Nordiques and Hartford Whalers.
Most notable player feat: Two 100 point seasons in OHL, 13 year NHL career
Greatest coaching achievement: 5 championship titles
Notorious or reknown for: A wicked blonde ‘stache
NHL Player stats: 814-282-349-631
NHL Coaching stats: 82-35-41-6
Route to the NHL: SHL, COHL, IHL, AHL
NHL Experience: 1 season
Winning seasons as an NHL coach: 0
Individual hardware: A minor league trophy cabinet
General behind the bench demeanor: On patrol
Coaching career:
Per Stanley Cup wins as a coach: 0 pts
Per Stanley Cup final appearances: 0 pts
Per 25 games won as an NHL coach – playoffs: 0 pts
Per 100 games won as an NHL coach – regular season: 0 pts
Per 100 games coached at the NHL level: 2 pts
Per 100 games coached at AHL/minor level: 12 pts
Per championships won coaching at junior, AHL or U.S. Collegiate or University level: 25 points
Playing Career:
Reached NHL Level: 25 pts
Per 100 NHL games played: 16 pts
Per 100 AHL/minors games played: 3 pt
Per Stanley Cups won as a player: 0 Pts
Total points: 83
11 – Calgary Flames Brent Sutter
Bio:
Sutter joins Calgary after two seasons as bench boss in New Jersey Devils, compiling a 97-56-11 record during the regular season, and an Atlantic Division title in 2008-09. Prior to that, Sutter spent eight seasons as owner, president, general manager, and head coach of the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels, in which time he led them to a 314-194-68 record. Brent guided the Rebels to a WHL Championship in 2001, a season in which he was named as the WHL’s top coach. 2001 was the first of three consecutive WHL Eastern Conference Championships from 2001-03. He has represented Canada twice as head coach of the National Junior team to consecutive 6-0-0 marks and gold medals at the 2005 and 2006 IIHF World Junior Championships. As a player, the Viking, Alberta native helped his country win the 1984, 1987, and 1991 Canada Cup Championships. In an 18 year NHL playing career with the Islanders and Blackhawks, he recorded 363 goals and 466 assists for 829 points and 1,054 penalty minutes in 1,111 career games. Sutter was a member of the 1982 and 1983 Stanley Cup Championship teams, later serving as captain from 1987 through 1991. Brent Sutter is the third youngest of seven Sutter brothers, six of whom played in the NHL.
Most notable player feat: Stanley Cups in 1982 and 1983
Greatest coaching achievement: two WJC Gold medals/undefeated record
Notorious or reknown for: Right now, turning his back on New Jersey, being one of six NHL brothers
NHL Player stats: 1111-363-466-829
NHL Coaching stats: 164-97-56-11 .625% / 12-4-8 .333%
Route to the NHL: Seven years as head coach and owner of Red Deer Rebels
NHL Experience: Two seasons
Winning seasons as an NHL coach: 2
Individual hardware: Pitchfork
General behind the bench demeanor: Fingers on the pulse
Coaching career:
Per Stanley Cup wins as a coach: 0 pts
Per Stanley Cup final appearances: 0 pts
Per 25 games won as an NHL coach – playoffs: 0 pts
Per 100 games won as an NHL coach – regular season: 3 pts
Per 100 games coached at the NHL level: 2 pts
Per 100 games coached at AHL/minor level: 4 pts
Per championships won coaching at junior, AHL or U.S. Collegiate or University level: 10 points
Playing Career:
Reached NHL Level: 25 pts
Per 100 NHL games played: 20 pts
Per 100 AHL/minors games played: 0 pt
Per Stanley Cups won as a player: 20 Pts
Total points: 84
