Pat Burns
- JACMAN

+1

this
- nbboy

if he asked "best" sure. I have a soft spot for burns though.

Pat Burns
Scotty Bowman
Ken Hitchcock
Ted Nolan
Herb Brooks

not in any particular order

Scotty Bowman, best coach ever.

Badger Bob Johnson!

Terry Crisp & Darryl Sutter

I've always liked Ken Hitchcock.

Badger Bob Johnson. It's a Great Day for Hockey!

Dallas Eakins

Iron Mike Keenan from the Mid 80's with the Flyers. got the most out of a no name bunch of guys

Al Arbour or Bobby Kromm.

Dallas Eakins
- robin_steele264

Words right out of my mouth

Pat Quinn, or was it Al Arbour? I know who it isn't!!
- LeftCoaster

This. Pat Quinn.

Ron Rolston. Hands down.

Pat Roy obviously

Pat Burns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know there are a lot of homers here. But look at what Pat Burns has done as a coach with Montreal, Toronto, Boston, and New Jersey. Hands down that guy knew how to get the most out of his players. And I am pissed with the NHL that they would not induct him into the HHOF before he passed away.

Pat Burns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know there are a lot of homers here. But look at what Pat Burns has done as a coach with Montreal, Toronto, Boston, and New Jersey. Hands down that guy knew how to get the most out of his players. And I am pissed with the NHL that they would not induct him into the HHOF before he passed away.
- acresd

Pat Burns was awesome. I have a hard time not saying Scotty Bowman is the best of all time though. 13 Stanley cups, three different teams. That's pretty crazy.

Jacques Lemaire.

Eklund: Who is Your All-Time Favorite NHL Coach?
- Eklund

Herb Brooks
Al Arbour
Rollo Tomassi

Eklund: Who is Your All-Time Favorite NHL Coach?
- Eklund

Ken Hitchcock

Daryl Sutter.

Jacques Demers!

What a motivator! No other coach could have done what he did in 1993. And to think the man is illiterate. Great man! Big heart, great hockey sense.

Jacques Lemaire!

Al Arbour. As an Islander fan who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s how could it not be!

But there was more to it. From the interviews of ex-players — Al Arbour was a hard nosed coach who wouldn't take BS, but was also fair. Im not sure how he might mesh in today's NHL, but my guess is he would still be a winner!


I have to give a "hat tip" of sorts to Ted Nolan who reminds a lot of Arbour in his style of coaching. What appears loose to some is really NOT. I was so pleased when the Islanders hired him, and disappointed when they let him go. Im glad he got an NHL job back in Buffalo, and hope that he either stays with Buffalo or finds a new NHL job. He's my favorite current NHL Coach.


My other hat tip goes to Herb Brooks. Other than Arbour, Im not sure there is a coach who gets more from his players, and will not take crap. The downside to Herb seemed to be that a "female dogy" NHL players could and would just not listen to him. I think Brooks had a tough time dealing with motivating that "big name" type of guy. Still a fantastic coach.

Pat Burns