Patrick Roy stacks up well among former NHL stars who became head coaches
When Patrick Roy returned to once again take his place behind an NHL bench last February, it reminded me of just how many marquee stars have coached in the league.More of a mirror, I guess, of the NBA and not at all reflective of MLB or the NFL.In all, 19 of the NHL’s Greatest 100 named in 2017 have been head coaches.
Three others coached in the WHA.Of these 22 Hall of Famers, just three won either the Stanley Cup or the Avco Cup.Here is Slap Shots’ ranking of the combined careers — star power plus impact behind the bench — counting down in reverse order.Oh, standard disclaimer: Don’t blame me, blame the model.22.
Alex Delvecchio: Slipped into the middle between Ted Lindsay and Gordie Howe in the ’50s, but had neither of his linemates on the bench for Fats’ 245 games as Detroit head coach (82 victories) in the mid-’70s.21: Andy Bathgate: There was life after Broadway for the Rangers fabled No.9 that included a Stanley Cup in Toronto and, yes, a 59-game stint behind the bench of the 1973-74 WHA Vancouver Blazers.20.
Brad Park: The No.2 Who Is Never to Be Honored at the Garden finished his playing career with a couple of seasons in Detroit then had the misfortune of spending 45 games as head coach a year following his retirement, the club going 9-34-2.19.
Jacques Plante: Does anyone remember, actually remember, the absolute shock of seeing Goaltending’s Original Showman in nets for the Bruins at age 44 in the first two games of the 1973 playoffs against the Rangers? The Snake spent the next season as head coach of the WHA Quebec Nordiques, who went 38-36-4.18.King Clancy: Hockey’s original royalty on defense back in the day, led his beloved Leafs for three nondescript seasons in the ’50s after a spin in the late ’30s.17.
Denis Savard: The charismatic No.18 got his ring in Montreal before returning to his legacy city of Chicago.
Was four games (1-2-1) into his second full season behind the Blackhawks bench in 2008-09 when he was replaced b...