Canadiens1958
Registered User
Listed alphabetically, not a ranking. Comments appreciated. Thank you.
Al Arbour
Played for a number of the great coaches on this list and managed to take the best qualities from each to guide a dynasty team after a learning stage.
Mike Babcock
Has managed to assimilate the various hockey philosophies while mastering in game strategies and making excellent use of all his players, coaching resources. Has improved the team everywhere he coached while improving as a coach at every step.
Toe Blake
Superior at evaluating talent and defining each player's role and contribution. Mastered in game strategy. Players coach. Managed to re-direct players negatives into positive on ice performances. Coached two dynasties while leaving a legacy upon retirement.
Scotty Bowman
True career coach after serious junior injury forced him to abandon hopes of a playing career. Great in game strategist one of the few who managed to adapt with the changing times in the NHL.
Hap Day
Master teacher and strategist. Great with young players and a great defensive strategist. Multiple Stanley Cups.
Tommy Gorman
Underrated. Excellent evaluator of talent. Won Stanley Cups in successive seasons with two different teams.
Cecil Hart
Won Stanley Cups with talented teams and overachieved with so-so teams.
Punch Imlach
Re-built a floundering Maple Leaf team into a Stanley Cup finalist in app 2/3 of a season then proceeded to win four Stanley Cups in 9 years with the same core. Then built an expansion team from scratch to a Stanley Cup finalist status within five years. Excellent at recognizing the talents and roles for each of his players.
Tommy Ivan
Excellent coach especially defining roles and responsibilities for young players. Coached the Red Wings dynasty from the start then went to Chicago and built the foundation for their rise from the basement.
Jacques Lemaire
Could coach any style but insisted on defensive responsibilty first. Always improved his players and teams.
Roger Neilson
Pioneered video as a coaching/teaching aide. Always managed to get his teams to play better than their talent level.
Ted Nolan
Managed to build teams that overachieved if given a key part. Had a knack for recognizing what a players specific assets were and put these assets to optimum us within a team concept.
Lester Patrick
One of the founders. Managed to adapt to various leagues, rule changes and produce quality teams.
Milt Schmidt
Always managed to make his teams better. His influences were seen in the Bobby Orr era Bruins.
Fred Shero
Players coach. Excellent strategist. Had the knack for recognizing each players talents and putting them in roles where they could contribute the most to team success.
Al Arbour
Played for a number of the great coaches on this list and managed to take the best qualities from each to guide a dynasty team after a learning stage.
Mike Babcock
Has managed to assimilate the various hockey philosophies while mastering in game strategies and making excellent use of all his players, coaching resources. Has improved the team everywhere he coached while improving as a coach at every step.
Toe Blake
Superior at evaluating talent and defining each player's role and contribution. Mastered in game strategy. Players coach. Managed to re-direct players negatives into positive on ice performances. Coached two dynasties while leaving a legacy upon retirement.
Scotty Bowman
True career coach after serious junior injury forced him to abandon hopes of a playing career. Great in game strategist one of the few who managed to adapt with the changing times in the NHL.
Hap Day
Master teacher and strategist. Great with young players and a great defensive strategist. Multiple Stanley Cups.
Tommy Gorman
Underrated. Excellent evaluator of talent. Won Stanley Cups in successive seasons with two different teams.
Cecil Hart
Won Stanley Cups with talented teams and overachieved with so-so teams.
Punch Imlach
Re-built a floundering Maple Leaf team into a Stanley Cup finalist in app 2/3 of a season then proceeded to win four Stanley Cups in 9 years with the same core. Then built an expansion team from scratch to a Stanley Cup finalist status within five years. Excellent at recognizing the talents and roles for each of his players.
Tommy Ivan
Excellent coach especially defining roles and responsibilities for young players. Coached the Red Wings dynasty from the start then went to Chicago and built the foundation for their rise from the basement.
Jacques Lemaire
Could coach any style but insisted on defensive responsibilty first. Always improved his players and teams.
Roger Neilson
Pioneered video as a coaching/teaching aide. Always managed to get his teams to play better than their talent level.
Ted Nolan
Managed to build teams that overachieved if given a key part. Had a knack for recognizing what a players specific assets were and put these assets to optimum us within a team concept.
Lester Patrick
One of the founders. Managed to adapt to various leagues, rule changes and produce quality teams.
Milt Schmidt
Always managed to make his teams better. His influences were seen in the Bobby Orr era Bruins.
Fred Shero
Players coach. Excellent strategist. Had the knack for recognizing each players talents and putting them in roles where they could contribute the most to team success.
