Who is the best NHL coach?

[Chieflongtee]

IMO an excellent coach is only as good as the players he is handed out. So in your opinion who is the best NHL coach and why?

[jonf]

I will reserve judgment on this until the playoffs. It all comes down to how effective you are at motivating your team in the playoffs.

[davevandyk]

i would say perhaps Ted Nolan, i have always been a fan of his, and was amazed that he was out of the league for such a long time.

[Chieflongtee]

motivating your team in the playoffs.

Do you really need to motivate your team in the playoffs? I would think strategy at that point is more important than motivation.

[jonf]

Well, not all teams seem to get motivated as much as others. Obviously some guys have more of a knack for it than others.

Ted Nolan is definitely a great pick. What he did the other day...saying Simon's suspension was too long...that was genius. His team is in the middle of a tight playoff race and doesn't need distractions from the media. He cleverly diverted their attention to him and the suspension. Its that kind of little things that make a great coach.

[BC MIST]

Who is the best NHL coach? The coach whose general manager who has bought the best players.

Same as in golf. Leadbetter, Harmon, Smith, Haney must be the best teachers because they teach the best players. NOT.

[Chieflongtee]

Well, not all teams seem to get motivated as much as others. Obviously some guys have more of a knack for it than others.

Ted Nolan is definitely a great pick. What he did the other day...saying Simon's suspension was too long...that was genius. His team is in the middle of a tight playoff race and doesn't need distractions from the media. He cleverly diverted their attention to him and the suspension. Its that kind of little things that make a great coach.

Patrick Roy put Ted Nolan in his back pocket last year in the Memorial cup.

[Big Johnny69]

I will throw a vote out there for Andy Murray in St. Louis. That team was terrible. He comes in and gets them back to .500 hockey. An unbelieveable accomplishment.

I don't neccesarily agree judgement has to be reserved until the playoffs. The Blues will not make the playoffs, but Murray has shown he is one of the best coaches in the NHL. At least for this season.

But if I was building a team and had the choice of any coach I'd probably pick one of the following:

Lindy Ruff: has taken a team without a real superstar and made them into of the best teams in the NHL. Reminds me of the Sens from a few years back.

Mike Babcock: Comes into Detroit and keeps them at the head of the class.

Ken Hitchcock: I've always liked his no nonsense demeanor.

Peter Laviolette: I've always liked him as well.

Those would be my choices.

[LBH]

Michel Therrien in Pittsburgh: the guy gets fired from Montreal but he had no team. In Pittsburgh, he has a very young team, gets them motivated and look what they are doing. Ok he has 2 superstars (Crosby, Malkin) but 2 guys don't make a team (look at the Rangers from a few years ago). Pittsburgh is a Cup contender... WOW!

[spackler]

Jules Winnfield

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8s6aid04pw