A question of perspective...do NHL players respect a coach who has played in the league?

Question

In the NHL, there are coaches who make good players great, and great players...well, ask Mario, Wayne, Patrick, Bobby, and Gordie. Some coaches earn the respect of their players by offering their own experiences playing in the league, and there's Scotty Bowman, who despite not playing in the NHL won a hell of a lot during his legendary career.

Where am I going with this? Does being an ex-player in the NHL coincide with being a good coach? Do players respect a coach who has played in the league? What of the non-playing coaches?

Answer 1

It's irrelevant, players at the NHL level have spent years learning from people who never played in the NHL. There have been many great coaches who never played in the NHL

Fred Shero won 2 Stanley Cups and coached in 4 Stanley Cup finals in 6 years
Scotty Bowman..........enough said
Pat Burns has been coach of the year three times with three teams
Jacques Demers
John Tortorella
Tom Watt
Mike Keenan
etc

There's an old saying you've probably heard before

Those who can......do
Those who can't....teach

Almost every coach who has ever coached in the NHL has played hockey up to the Junior/University level. So, they know the game. Some were just better at thinking about the skills than doing them.

Prior to last year, the last Stanley Cup winner to be coached by a 'true' ex-player was the 2000 Devils (Larry Robinson)

Out of the last 16 Stanley Cup Champions, only the 07 Ducks (Carlyle), 00 Devils (Robinson) 96 Avalanche (Crawford), and 95 Devils (Lemaire) were coached by ex-NHLers (Note: Laviolette played 12 whole games). So,non-playing coaches have the player's respect too

Answer 2

here is my theory, and this is a personal opinion so people please don't jump down my throat!!

I played three years ago for a AAA team in my state and my coach had NEVER ever played hockey. It was very hard for me to take direction from him, he would tell us how and what to do and its was like really dude you've never played the game why are you telling me how and what to do.

He would always say hew new just as much about the game because he's read every book,and watched a ton of games and been to seminars, but I'M SORRY you don't know as much about the game if you've never played it, it is one thing to know the game as fan, but to actually play it gives you way more incite and your able to understand all the different situation. Don't even try to tell me that you know all you need to know about the games and yet and you coach practice by WALKING on the ice in shoes cuz you cant even skate!!!!

Now I'm sure the NHL coaches have at least played hockey maybe not NHL but at least some sort of hockey to give them a players perspective. Even if not to be a NHL coach they must have some knowlege, but I think being a player of some level helps!

personally I think It should be a requirement to have played some type of hockey to coach!

Answer 3

I think Coach Nolan said it all....."There's some good athletes out there. It doesn't necessarily make them good people."
(which is what he said about Patrick Roy).
http://www.nhl.com/news/2006/05/273244.html

And, Gretzky is a perfect example of a perfect hockey player but an imperfect Coach.

Ted Nolan played and coached in the OHL and the NHL. He won the Jack Adams award. However, he still doesn't get respect from all players.

Some players are fueled by the NHL experience and success of their coach - some aren't. Personally, I think if a Coach is respectful to all of his players and treats them all equally (no preferential treatment to star players), than that would be the Coach I would personally respect the most AND it would be a bonus if he had the NHL experience.

Answer 4

I've played hockey my whole life. If I was coached by someone who was actually out there and saw what I am seeing, I would have a lot more respect for what he's teaching and advising us in regards to the situations that come up during games. So I would probably say yeah, in general. Obviously if there is a coach who has done their Due Diligence and has never once stepped on the ice, but knows how to win, then I guess yeah, you'd listen. But chances are, these coaches have at least played a few games in some sort of league....

Answer 5

I don't think that you need to have played in the NHL in order to be a great coach. It might help gain some respect from players, but I don't think it makes a big difference on the coaching side of things. What makes a good coach is a general leadership ability, combined with hockey knowledge and strategy that can be applied to any situation.

Answer 6

Snoop, being an ex-NHLer helps in coaching. While Scotty Bowman is an exception, look at other non-players. Guys like John Tortorella, Tom Renney, and Paul Maurice are on their way out if their teams struggle. Barry Melrose, mullet and all, was and may be still the only coach to lead the Kings to the playoffs. He was an ex-player. If I were a NHLer, I would be apt to listen to the guy who was there before me and knew what it took to win and succeed, rather than the guy who never played and is trying to mold me based on speculation.

It's with anything in the world: would you listen to someone who has never had children talk about parenting advice, or would you get the facts from an actual parent?

Answer 7

I think being an ex-player gets your foot in the door. I don't think it automatically makes you a good coach, though. Being a former player will get you short term respect, your coaching ability is what decides how long this respect lasts.
A good player will have a vision of the game as it applies to him. A good coach will have a vision of the entire game and must be able to communicate that vision. So, game experience is secondary to communication skills. Ability to perform a task and the ability to explain it are much diffenent skills.
Some people are great at carrying out orders while others are great at delivering them.

Answer 8

if i were an NHL player i would defiantly respect a coach that has played before more than one who has not. for example Lindy Ruff is the current longest tenured coach of the same team with the sabres. he played for the Buffalo Sabres. he wasn't an amazing player during his career, but he sure got the job done. if you ask me i think he has been the best coach in hockey over the past few years. his players have tons of respect for him. i am sure he gets his players motivated and ready for the game from experiences with his playing days.
however, you should always respect your coach, even if he doesn't have any experience in the NHL. just because they didn't have a career in the NHL doesn't mean they have no knowledge of the game.

Answer 9

1. I think in general they do even if he played just a handful of games.
2. I have an idea where you going with this as you tell us with the next three questions.
3. Yes, almost all coaches played the game at some level.
4. Answered that in #1.
5. What of them? Name them and I'll get back to ya.

Answer 10

Yes, but it doesn't matter. The Great One was a great player but omg what a miserable team.

Randy C was no WG, but we do have the SC. [Ducks]

non-playing coaches have done a good job.