FanNation

These are all coaches that the players can learn alot from and develop as a player. And it doesnt hurt that many are players coaches.

Each has a unique view on how the game is played and generally incorporates development of the player and then the scheme. May likely be why none have won a championship.

Side note: Gretzky is Gretzky, who would not want to play a year for the guy.

buffalo bandwagon fan | 03/26/08, 10:14 AM

carbo should be up their on that list. has done a great job for the past 2 seasons. hes a winner and you never see him complain to the refs and never see him upset at the players behind the bench.

stanley zand | 03/26/08, 06:58 PM

the top two chocies only received 1/4 of the votes, and the next 1/4 of the votes spread across a half dozen coaches.

the lack of consensus amongst the players is telling; they do not agree any coach is a difference maker. i think the players are right.

had this question been posed 10 years ago, im confident scotty bowman for example would poll over 16% of the votes. or, if the same question was posed to players in the other major sports, im confident the top choice would poll better there too.

moe4 | 03/27/08, 02:35 AM

FYI Lindy Ruff also won the Jack Adams.

sephion9 | 03/27/08, 10:48 AM

Bruce Boudreau from the Capitals looks like a great coach from where I am sitting - he takes over a team that is dead last in the league in points (during the season) and now they are on the brink of the playoffs - sure, they have Ovechkin but he must be doing something right to motivate his players - 6-14-1 before he took over and 33-17-7 since Coach of the Year, in my opinion

SkinsWin | 03/28/08, 03:39 PM

stanley zand --

Carbo spent all last season sniping at the refs and alienating Alexi Kovalev. Did you just wake up from a coma?

I'll grant you he has matured greatly this year, but he was the major reason the tea, failed last year.

madmikefl | 03/29/08, 10:23 AM

This is a joke...Laviolette is one of the best if not the best in the game. Have you seen how many mangame the Hurricanes have lost to injury..and I'm not talking a tummy ache. He's had so many Albany River Rats play for him this season that they might as well rename them the Carolina Rats!

NDinNC | 03/29/08, 03:22 PM

The above statement is wrong - Jacques Lemaire has won a Stanley Cup behind the bench for the Devils in 95.

WildInSeattle | 04/04/08, 07:02 PM

The above statement is wrong - Jacques Lemaire won a Stanley Cup behind the bench for NJ in 95.

WildInSeattle | 04/04/08, 07:03 PM

Sorry - didn't mean to post twice.

WildInSeattle | 04/04/08, 07:03 PM