Power Ranking Playoff Coaches
Alrighty, the playoffs are here. Exciting times. Times where defense wins, refs don't call shit and coaches single-handedly destroy the watchability of hockey. So, let's take a look at this yea'rs post-season coaches and rank them from best to worst.
1. Joel Quenneville (Chicago Blackhawks)
This guy is just so obviously the best. Say what you want about the Blackhawks and how tiresome it's become to know who will win the cup every other year, but this guy gets. it. done.
Teams usually go through a cycle. The cycle goes like this:
A team drafts young players, starts to develop them, they become elite, then they become old, and then you start from scratch.
The Blackhawks operate on a different cycle...
Always be good.
So they are. And Joel Quenneville is one of the most important factors in that.
Career Playoff Coaching Record: 117-93 (.557)
2. Mike Babcock (Toronto Maple Leafs)
The cock. What more do you need to say? He's got 1 cup, 3 finals appearances and 144 total playoff games.
What he has done for the Toronto Maple Leafs has not only made their fans horrible to be around, but made a perennial joke into a legitimately exciting team. Their might not be a group of hockey players that go at the pace the Leafs do.
Now, if he could just convince Shanahan to get rid of Roman Polak...
Career Playoff Coaching Record: 82-62 (.569)
3. Claude Julien (Montreal Canadiens)
The only reason I put Babcock ahead of Julien is career trajectory, which probably isn't fair....make this 2. b)
Claude Julien came over from the powerhouse Bruins at the right time. Chara is old and slow, Rask is nearing the end and a lack of forward scoring depth is going to bite them in the ass. So he's as savvy as he is...coachy.
Hopefully Bergevin like shim more than Neely did.
Career Playoff Coaching Record: 61-47 (.560)
4. Todd McLellan (Edmonton Oilers)
Ok, so here is another guy that could be a number 2 or 3. This guy kept the Sharks relevant for periods of time that they shouldn't have been, but just couldn't get anything out of them in the post-season. A change in scenery has given him access to Connor McDavid, so yeah, not a bad trade.
Watch his career playoff win percentage sky-rocket in the next couple years....
Career Playoff Coaching Record: 31-31 (.500)
5. Mike Sullivan (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Ok, the sample size is tiny, but the guy won the cup last year and may as well be the favorite to repeat.
Career Playoff Coaching Record: 19-12 (.613)
6. Bruce Boudreau (Minnesota Wild) & Barry Trotz (Washington Capitals)
One of these guys is coaching the President's Trophy team and the other is not. But it doesn't really matter, because these two are cut from the same cloth. No neck, bald head. Amazing coaches.
Barry Trotz doesn't get anywhere near the credit he deserves for the hockey culture in Nashville, he kept a team relevant from start to finish, finish in this case coming in the form of getting canned because your team couldn't stay healthy.
Career Playoff Coaching Record: 32-44 (.421)
Bruce Boudreau got fired because he can't win in game seven. That is stupid.
Career Playoff Coaching Record: 41-39 (.513)
7. Peter DeBoer (San Jose Sharks)
This guy is the king of first impressions. He comes in, kicks ass and then kind of fizzles. Last year he went to the cup final, and this year, he could do it again. Has as good a chance as any in the West.
Career Playoff Coaching Record: 28-18 (.583)
8. John Tortorella (Columbus Blue Jackets) & Guy Boucher (Ottawa Senators)
How fitting for the two boring ding dongs to be paired. These guys have had some real success in the post-season but both feel like they are somehow becoming relics.
Both like a defense first system that fairs well when every goal counts, but it's becoming a way of the past, and attitudes don't help.
This is Tortorella's last chance at another Stanley Cup
Career Playoff Coaching Record: 43-47 (.478)
Boucher looks like a villain...
Career Playoff Coaching Record: 11-7 (.611)
9. Basically Everyone Else...
Glen Gulutzan: No Post-season record
Bruce Cassidy: 3-4 (.429)
Mike Yeo: Honestly....I forgot about him. He's ok: 11-17 (.393)
10. This asshat....
1. Joel Quenneville (Chicago Blackhawks)
This guy is just so obviously the best. Say what you want about the Blackhawks and how tiresome it's become to know who will win the cup every other year, but this guy gets. it. done.
Teams usually go through a cycle. The cycle goes like this:
A team drafts young players, starts to develop them, they become elite, then they become old, and then you start from scratch.
The Blackhawks operate on a different cycle...
Always be good.
So they are. And Joel Quenneville is one of the most important factors in that.
Career Playoff Coaching Record: 117-93 (.557)
2. Mike Babcock (Toronto Maple Leafs)
The cock. What more do you need to say? He's got 1 cup, 3 finals appearances and 144 total playoff games.
What he has done for the Toronto Maple Leafs has not only made their fans horrible to be around, but made a perennial joke into a legitimately exciting team. Their might not be a group of hockey players that go at the pace the Leafs do.
Now, if he could just convince Shanahan to get rid of Roman Polak...
Career Playoff Coaching Record: 82-62 (.569)
3. Claude Julien (Montreal Canadiens)
The only reason I put Babcock ahead of Julien is career trajectory, which probably isn't fair....make this 2. b)
Claude Julien came over from the powerhouse Bruins at the right time. Chara is old and slow, Rask is nearing the end and a lack of forward scoring depth is going to bite them in the ass. So he's as savvy as he is...coachy.
Hopefully Bergevin like shim more than Neely did.
Career Playoff Coaching Record: 61-47 (.560)
4. Todd McLellan (Edmonton Oilers)
Ok, so here is another guy that could be a number 2 or 3. This guy kept the Sharks relevant for periods of time that they shouldn't have been, but just couldn't get anything out of them in the post-season. A change in scenery has given him access to Connor McDavid, so yeah, not a bad trade.
Watch his career playoff win percentage sky-rocket in the next couple years....
Career Playoff Coaching Record: 31-31 (.500)
5. Mike Sullivan (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Ok, the sample size is tiny, but the guy won the cup last year and may as well be the favorite to repeat.
Career Playoff Coaching Record: 19-12 (.613)
6. Bruce Boudreau (Minnesota Wild) & Barry Trotz (Washington Capitals)
One of these guys is coaching the President's Trophy team and the other is not. But it doesn't really matter, because these two are cut from the same cloth. No neck, bald head. Amazing coaches.
Barry Trotz doesn't get anywhere near the credit he deserves for the hockey culture in Nashville, he kept a team relevant from start to finish, finish in this case coming in the form of getting canned because your team couldn't stay healthy.
Career Playoff Coaching Record: 32-44 (.421)
Bruce Boudreau got fired because he can't win in game seven. That is stupid.
Career Playoff Coaching Record: 41-39 (.513)
7. Peter DeBoer (San Jose Sharks)
This guy is the king of first impressions. He comes in, kicks ass and then kind of fizzles. Last year he went to the cup final, and this year, he could do it again. Has as good a chance as any in the West.
Career Playoff Coaching Record: 28-18 (.583)
8. John Tortorella (Columbus Blue Jackets) & Guy Boucher (Ottawa Senators)
How fitting for the two boring ding dongs to be paired. These guys have had some real success in the post-season but both feel like they are somehow becoming relics.
Both like a defense first system that fairs well when every goal counts, but it's becoming a way of the past, and attitudes don't help.
This is Tortorella's last chance at another Stanley Cup
Career Playoff Coaching Record: 43-47 (.478)
Boucher looks like a villain...
Career Playoff Coaching Record: 11-7 (.611)
9. Basically Everyone Else...
Glen Gulutzan: No Post-season record
Bruce Cassidy: 3-4 (.429)
Mike Yeo: Honestly....I forgot about him. He's ok: 11-17 (.393)
10. This asshat....
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