Ranking the Greatest NHL Coaches of All Time

These NHL Coaches Have Etched Their Names in History as the Best Ever.

History Makers

There’s no denying that the National Hockey League offers as much end-to-end action as any sport. It’s a league with a history of great players who can skate, pass, shoot, defend, and stop the puck, too. It’s also a league with many iconic NHL coaches as well.

Names such as Scotty Bowman, Al Arbour, Glen Sather, Hap Day, Joel Quenneville, Toe Blake, Dick Irvin, and Punch Imlach would be atop any “best behind the bench” list.

“Lifers” such as Paul Maurice, John Tortorella, Lindy Ruff, and Barry Trotz. Ken Hitchcock and Daryl Sutter have also made their marks.  

Bowman, of course, leads with nine Stanley Cups during his career, including five with those legendary 1970s Montreal Canadiens. Bowman wasn’t a one-hit wonder, winning once with the Pittsburgh Penguins and thrice with the Detroit Red Wings.

Blake’s eight Cups in Montreal included five in a row beginning in the 1955-56 season, while Day led the Toronto Maples Leafs to five titles (first in 1941-42). Those long-suffering Leaf fans are well aware the team is closing in on six decades (1966-67) since the franchise’s last Cup.

Sather, Arbour, Imlach, and Irvin each won four titles in their respective careers. Entering the 2024-25 season, 19 coaches have multiple Cups to their names,   

Back to Bowman, whose 2,141 NHL games coached and 1,244 regular-season wins are untouchable standards.   

It’s not stunning that Spencer Carbery of the Washington Capitals is the short-priced favorite to win the 2024-25 Jack Adams Coach of the Year honors. There’s nary a fan or pundit who had the Caps among the league leaders in points as of this writing in early March.

Who Are the Best NHL Head Coaches of All Time?

NHL news always seems to include the coaches, with pressure to win all across the 32-team league. However, there are those coaches who do/did so with regularity.   

That’s not necessarily a surprise, as NHL rumors long noted these successes.

It’s difficult to go past Scotty Bowman, those aforementioned nine titles over a three-decade career. Bowman’s teams won 58 percent of their games in an era where ties still existed.

Who Is the Longest-Tenured Coach in the NHL?

If you want to discuss the true veteran among current NHL coaches, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Jon Cooper is the guy. Dating to Popovich March in the 2012-13 season, Despite never playing professionally, Cooper has become one of the elite coaches in the league, winning two Stanley Cups and making the NHL playoffs in all but one full season (through ‘23-’24) with the Lightning.

Cooper, along with Jared Bednar (Colorado Avalanche), Mike Sullivan (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Rod Brind’Amour (Carolina Hurricanes) are the only coaches to be with current teams since way back in the 2010s. 

Does BetUS Have Constant Updates on Stanley Cup Winners’ Odds? 

NHL picks and predictions include a variety of options, especially when it comes to the biggest prize out there, the NHL Stanley Cup winner. As of this writing during the second half of the 2024-25 regular season, four teams are dominating the market.

Trying to end Canada’s jinx here, it’s the Edmonton Oilers as tepid 7-1 (+700) favorites to win the first north-of-the-border Cup since 1993. Defending champion Florida is 8-1 (+800), with the Panthers joined by the Carolina Hurricanes at that price.

Priced at 9-1 (+900) on the betting odds are the Dallas Stars, the only other team under double digits in early March.

Note that the odds to win the title are fluid. Do not forget to check the boards before wagering.     

Any Final Thoughts?

Fans of NHL games and NHL scores know the 82-game season is a grind, but it also offers a wide array of options on which to wager. There are both regular- and postseason prop wagers, so it’s imperative to do your homework to try and find any advantage you may be able to find.