Nhl Coaches That Never Played Hockey
When you think of NHL coaches, you likely picture former players who have retired from the game. While it is true that many coaches have played the game at a professional level, there are a handful of coaches who have never played hockey at a high level. In fact, some have never even played the game at all.
In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the NHL coaches who never played hockey and explore how they found success in a sport they never played.
Joel Quenneville
Joel Quenneville is a former NHL head coach who had a successful career despite never playing the game. He spent his entire playing career in the minor leagues before transitioning to coaching in 1991.
Despite his lack of playing experience, Quenneville found success as a coach, leading the Chicago Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup championships during his tenure with the team. He is currently the head coach of the Florida Panthers.
Barry Trotz
Barry Trotz is another NHL head coach who never played professional hockey. Trotz got his start in coaching at the University of Manitoba before working his way up to the NHL. He was named head coach of the Nashville Predators in 1998 and held the position for 15 seasons.
During his time with the Predators, Trotz became the winningest coach in franchise history and led the team to the playoffs seven times. He would later lead the Washington Capitals to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2018.
Bob Hartley
Bob Hartley is a former NHL head coach who never played hockey at a high level. Hartley began his coaching career in the minor leagues before working his way up to the NHL.
Hartley won his first Stanley Cup championship as head coach of the Colorado Avalanche in 2001. He later coached the Calgary Flames and led the team to the playoffs twice during his tenure with the club.
Dave Tippett
Dave Tippett is a former NHL head coach who never played hockey at a high level. Tippett began his coaching career in the minor leagues before being named head coach of the Dallas Stars in 2002.
Tippet led the Stars to the playoffs in each of his first five seasons with the team and won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top coach in 2010. He later coached the Arizona Coyotes and currently coaches the Edmonton Oilers.
Conclusion
While it is uncommon for coaches in the NHL to have never played the game at a high level, the success of coaches like Joel Quenneville, Barry Trotz, Bob Hartley, and Dave Tippett highlights the importance of coaching skills and knowledge of the game. These coaches have been able to find success in the NHL through their dedication, hard work, and ability to lead their teams to victory.