How helpful is it for a coach to have been an NHL player before coaching NHL players?

[Where'd Luongo?]

Coaching in the NHL is a difficult job and the work ethic required to play in the NHL is so much more difficult than other leagues that one has to wonder, if you were an NHL player before being a coach, are you at an advantage to a coach who never did play NHL hockey?

 

There are a few coaches that have made a great career of coaching that didn't make it to the NHL as a player, but many more coaches were NHL players at one point. When I listen to Willie and Travis talk, it seems to me that Travis got a huge advantage in being in the NHL because of two main factors:

 

1) He was able to experience first hand what it is like to be a player and be successful.

2) He was coached by top quality NHL coaches and learned their ways from an observing standpoint before moving into a coaching role, and now he can look back at his own and his teammates experiences when he addresses issues with his current role as a coach.

[thejazz97]

I think you have to be involved with hockey in some capacity in your life - at least enough to understand the game. As for being an NHL player, you don't necessarily have to be.

[WHL rocks]

I don't think it's important at all. 

 

Scotty Bowman and Mike Babcock never played a game in the NHL or the AHL. One is the best coach in the history of the NHL and the other the best coach in the NHL since his Ducks beat the Wings in the playoffs around 15 years ago. 

 

Bowman only played minor league hockey and Babs played in the CHL. 

[73 Percent]

Is it overly important? No.

 

Is it helpful? Yes I believe so.

[LaBamba]

The greatest player in the history of the game couldn't coach a fat girl into a pizza. 

 

I think the lesser known coaches get recognized because they can coach. While ex players get recognized because they are ex players. 

[Ghostsof1915]

I think you'd have to play organized sports in some fashion. My brother growing up played, soccer, football, and lacrosse. He focused on football, was offered a scholarship to a junior college in the US and turned it down. (He felt in football you were one injury away from ending your career.) He played junior football, and was outstanding, but when he was interested in playing for the BC Lions a coach told him he was too short to play middle linebacker at 6'1". (I call BS on that.) 

He volunteered to help out a former team-mate in junior football on his coaching staff, but I think the fans, and the game wasn't fun as a coach. He came back to coaching only because his son wanted to play Lacrosse in his area, and there was a lack of coaches. So he agreed to be an assistant coach.

 

Coaching at all levels is real thankless, but the lessons they teach are invaluable. It's just a pity that people have abused the system and even tried to use amateur sports as a way to make money and turn it into little kingdoms forgetting it's to make our future generations better. 

[Angry Goose]

As a player, I think it helps to know the guy talking in your ear has a solid understanding of the game.  Coaches that babble on how to play the game when they've never put the work in are easier to ignore.  

 

The NHL is a different story though, it's less of a development league.

[jono2009]

it helps, but isnt a must

[HerrDrFunk]

I would say it is definitely an asset but not the end all be all of what makes a good coach at the NHL level. I think coaching is just one of those jobs that has so many intangibles tied to it that whether a specific person will be good at it or not is a bit of a crap shoot.

 

 

[GB5]

There seems to be an element of respect in coaches who are ex-players but based on the success of Babcock, Bowman, Hitchcock etc. I don't really think it matters.

Albeit, some of the best are those that had a sniff of the NHL and bounced around from team to team in different leagues and were exposed to a lot of different styles and philosophies. ( eg. Pat Quinn, AV...)

 

A right fit in a coach with a good staff is the bottom line

[hammertime]

I would say somewhat but not very a lot of factors come into becoming a nhl player Size, Speed, Shot, Strength, Durability etc there are plenty of players who think the game on an elite level but never make the show for various reasons. I would say there are many factors that are far more important to being an NHL coach than having actually played in the NHL. Certainly doesn't hurt though.

[timberz21]

Like many says, helps but not a must.

 

I also think that it used to help more than it does today.  Because the NHL changed a lot since the 20th century and most NHL player/coaches played in the 80/90s, where hockey was an old boys club and still think players should shake off head shot and get back on the horse.

 

I might be generalizing a lot, but I feel like most player/coach probably has more or a Tortorella mentally, which is obsolete.

 

[chon derry]

not totally nesasary , hitchcock comes to mind with only a  limited actual playing career ,does seem know how to motivate players , have heard he can be pretty tough on players as well.

[Where'd Luongo?]

What brought this to mind for me was Travis' interview recently. I'm not saying ship out Willie or any of that madness and I don't want to start that crap all over again, but what I am saying is that in his interview he says that a lot of his coaching abilities comes from his experiences as a player. Given his success in development of players, I would have to say that this is an ability that most have to learn and experience in order to get.

 

Many of you have mentioned Hitchcock and Babcock etc. and you are correct that they pulled it off. I think I would relate that to the fact that they have a god-given talent to coach and came about it lots of it naturally but most coaches need to put in the work to be as great as they are.

 

Here is the interview:

 

[Down by the River]

There are always exceptions. Talking about Gretz and then talking about Babcock/Bowman/Hitchcock and you kind of get the 'outliers'.

 

It is not necessary to have played, but I think it gives you a leg-up. You know the war-stories, and guys appreciate that you understand what they're going through, even if you're still a dick to them. 

[Boudrias]

Found it interesting that almost all the coaches that Green mentioned were NHL players. Not having been a NHL player does not preclude being a good coach. Many examples. Someone mentioned Bowman not being a NHL'er which is true but I do believe he was a talent and was drafted. Eye injury ended his career. Not sure if an eye but an injury.

 

If I had a choice being a NHL'er is an advantage. Green had many reasons why and I won't bother repeating. My take is that come crunch time in any game where that extra drive is needed a coach who has been there will have a better grasp of what he can ask and who he should ask to do a job.   

[MadOgre]

3 hours ago, LaBamba said:

The greatest player in the history of the game couldn't coach a fat girl into a pizza. 

 

I think the lesser known coaches get recognized because they can coach. While ex players get recognized because they are ex players. 

You need to be smart about the game but you also have to be able to teach and motivate your players. Its no surprise Superstar players who enjoyed very large ego's can not connect with a team full of players who need guidance and motivation.

 

I have family members who coach well but cannot  play if their life depended on it. But they understand the play very very well! So their able to teach even tho they cant go and do it themselves.

[MadOgre]

Hank and Dank. Future Head Coach and Assistant Coach ?

[Where'd Luongo?]

Just now, MadOgre said:

You need to be smart about the game but you also have to be able to teach and motivate your players. Its no surprise Superstar players who enjoyed very large ego's can not connect with a team full of players who need guidance and motivation.

 

I have family members who coach well but cannot  play if their life depended on it. But they understand the play very very well! So their able to teach even tho they cant go and do it themselves.

And their PeeWee hockey team almost won the championship :D just kidding, sorry for poking fun.

[MadOgre]

Just now, Where'd Luongo? said:

And their PeeWee hockey team almost won the championship :D just kidding, sorry for poking fun.

No worries haha