Best coach?

[lmanchur.]

Who, in your opinion, is the best coach in the NHL right now? I'm not necessarily asking who will win the Jack Adams award, but, overall, who do you think is the best coach in the NHL?

I have two:

1) Bob Hartley (Colorado) -- Yeah, this guy has a lot of talent to work with, but he's put up three incredible seasons in a row now!

2) Jaques Lemair (Minnesota) -- This team has exceeded ALL expectations in the tough Western Conference in their debut season. Great job!


Who does everyone else pick? Voice your opinions here.

[PeterDewar]

I have to go with 2 different coaches:

I first agree with Lee in Jaques Lemair. He is doing an incredible job this year.

Also, Pat Quinn. I know a lot of people don't like him but he really can be a great coach.

Worst Coach? Pat Burns, straight up. I hate the dude, sorry everyone!

[lmanchur.]

Originally posted by PeterDewar
Worst Coach? Pat Burns, straight up. I hate the dude, sorry everyone!

No no... Mike Keanan is the worst ever!

[Peck]

i think the best is Pat Quinn and Jaque Martin with the Sens and the leafs. The worst i dunno......

[lmanchur.]

Wait -- add Mike Milbury to that list... if he's not the worst coach, he's the second worst, but defintely the most terrible General Manager... how has he stayed on the Island that long!???

[PeterDewar]

Mike Keanan is a close second to Pat for worst coach in my opinion.

[budman2]

I like a coach that can motivate a team to excell, we don`t really know what goes on in the dressing room but the reasults speak for themselves sometimes. so i like pat quinn( of course i do ,as a do or die leaf fan , why wouldn`t i) but i think mike keenan as a band wagon jumper and all around self motivated slime ball , who proves my point by first letting the st.louis fans and club down and then jumping the band wagon in new york. i think mark messier ran the club and led them to the cup. mike was just changing lines, and not very well at that. he may also have contributed to eddy belfors problems and could have been the first coach beat up by his whole team in chicago.bottom line ... mikey sucks , hard!!!!!pat rules.
Hartly !!!! how could the guy screw up? he has and had, the best nucleous of talent sence the edmonton oilers of the seventies. smile mr. hartly and collect your cup.

[BTRoots]

:confused: I can't believe no one has mention Scottie Bowman as the best of the best. He can't produce a winning team every year, as there are many other factors, but he is definitely the best coach in the NHL.

Then I'd have to go with Mark Crawford. He did well for the Avs and is definitely getting the job done with the 'Nucks. All the credit for a much improved team can't go to Messier and his three years here, least of all from me, his Nemesis. Crawford has done very well with the bottom dwelling team, a team that hasn't been out of the race all season.:)

Just a note on Mike Keenan. He may not be the best coach to play for (if he doesn't like you), he may not even be a very nice man (don't know). But, love him or hate him, he does produce results and has an impressive resume for bringing teams to the playoffs and the Cup, his methods and personality aside. :D

[lmanchur.]

Originally posted by CanFan
:confused: I can't believe no one has mention Scottie Bowman as the best of the best. He can't produce a winning team every year, as there are many other factors, but he is definitely the best coach in the NHL.

Well, Bowman is not the best this year.... I am talking about this year.... All time, though, Bowman is probably second or third best, IMO.

[BTRoots]

Originally posted by SC-Lee


Well, Bowman is not the best this year.... I am talking about this year.... All time, though, Bowman is probably second or third best, IMO.

As I said, He can't be the best every year. A human impossibility. So, who IYO, is the very best?

[lmanchur.]

Originally posted by CanFan
So, who IYO, is the very best?

What do you mean?.. All-time or this season?

[BTRoots]

Originally posted by SC-Lee


What do you mean?.. All-time or this season? This thread concerns 'this' season. This I must have misunderstood from the word get-go. My mistake. Now I read your question about Bowman, as second or third, 'all-time'. IMO, Scotty Bowman is the best coach ever, last year, this year, all-time, in the NHL. If he, IYO, is second or third, who is first or second? Last year, this year, or, next year? Who is the best? IYO.:)

[lmanchur.]

Okay... this year? -- Bowman is NOT the best... if he was, he'd be figure out how to make the old legs skate, making the Red Wings number one in the league.

All-time, though, I would say Bowman is behind Hector "Toe" Blake...

[BTRoots]

Originally posted by SC-Lee


All-time, though, I would say Bowman is behind Hector "Toe" Blake...

Yeah, sorry. :o I forgot all about old "Toe". OK Bowman is second, all-time. I guess we'll have to wait a bit to decide who the best, this year, is, seeing as how we're measuring by the teams overall success, this year. I think we all have to agree its not Sather. Who's the Avs' coach?:D

[BTRoots]

End of discussion? No reply? No other opinion? No coach RULES? Lee's word is God's Word on coaches? What a disappointing bunch of hockey specialists!