Seriously, Sather?!
I think coaches are easier to sort because you don't have to worry about judging UFAs or trades or salary cap issues or draft choices, it's simply based on performance: Stanley Cups, Jack Adam Trophy's, wins, points % etc. The only difference in our blogs is that, I will be using stats based only on the past 10 years or so. The NHL has changed so dramatically from the 80's (expansion, a salary cap, player equipment, video replay) that it is tough to rank and sort different eras of the game. For example, Iron Mike Keenan was a great coach in the 80s and 90s, but hasn't done anything since 1996. So I ask, how much does his success in 1985 carry over to 2008/2009? To eliminate this argument, I'll take a look from roughly 1995 to the present; however, I have included the coach's current team and career Points% (the % of game's in which the team managed to get at least 1 point) stat just for fun (stats are relevant to the beginning of the 2008-09 season).
THE ELITE
Randy Carlyle (ANA - 2005) – Team .630 – Career .630
He has made the playoffs in all 3 years at the helm of the Ducks. Already with a Stanley Cup, he recently passed
Ron Wilson for the franchise lead in career victories.
Mike Babcock (DET - 2005) – Team .715 – Career .638
In 5 short years, he has appeared in 2 Stanley Cups (going 1-1) and has the highest P% with his current team then any other active coach. Sure he has a lot of talent to work with, but it takes skill to manage that talent (anyone remember Team Canada in '06)?
Jacques Lemaire (MIN - 2000) – Team .527 – Career .557
I'm not sure why everyone thinks this guy is elite, I just followed the trend. He has 3 playoff births (1 conference final) in 7 seasons with Minni, but hasn't done anything of substance in the last 10 years. He is 3rd in active wins though.
Ron Wilson (TOR - 2008) – Team n/a – Career .542
2nd in active wins. He took Washington to the Cup Finals in '98 and turned the Sharks into a western conference power during his 5 years there. He missed the playoffs only once, and hasn't finished worst then 2nd in his division the past 4 years.
Lindy Ruff (BUF - 1997) – Team .558 – Career .558
You're not the longest active-serving head coach for nothing. Six playoff births in 11 seasons, with a Cup Final early on. He is 5th on the active career wins list with 397.
THE PROVEN
Ken Hitchcock (CBJ - 2006) – Team .490 – Career .599
For one, he's an Edmonton boy. 5 straight division titles from 1996-2001, 4th in active wins, 3 All-Star games as team coach, 2 Presidents' Trophy's and 1 Stanley Cup.
Dave Tippett (DAL - 2002) – Team .639 – Career .639
One of 7 coaches to have back-to-back 50 win seasons. Has made the playoffs in every year he has coached and his lowest point total is 97. Wow. And they say winning isn't everything...
Peter Laviolette (CAR - 2003) – Team .567 – Career .560
Two playoff appearances with the Isles, but only one with his current team. In that one playoff season, they went 52-22-8 and won the Cup. Perhaps we place too much emphasis on winning the Stanley Cup, but oh well.
Tom Renney (NYR - 2004) – Team .566 – Career .543
Struggled early on in his career with Vancouver and NY, but has pulled it together in recent years with 3 consecutive 40+ win seasons.
Barry Trotz (NSH - 1998) – Team .511 – Career .511
Same story as Renney. Missed the playoffs his first 5 years while they were building a team, but has made 4 straight appearances since then. Now he just has to get them out the First Round...
Craig MacTavish (EDM - 2000) – Team .540 – Career .540
He's proven, but certainly not consistent. In his 7 years they have gone... First round, none, first round, none, Cup Final, none, none. He's 2nd in all-time Edmonton wins and anyone who pulls the tongue from Harvey the Hound gets a plus in my books.
Joel Quenneville (CHI - 2008) – Team n/a – Career .593
His teams have only missed the playoffs ONCE in eleven years! ONCE! Now, that's being a proven coach.
Terry Murray (LAK - 2008) – Team n/a – Career .549
Had great success with the Flyers in the late '90s an led Florida to franchise records for wins & points in 2000, but he hasn't coached in the NHL for 7 years; however, he does have a better career P% then MacT or Trotz.
THE JURY'S STILL OUT
Alain Vigneault (VAN - 2006) – Team .588 – Career .523
Only two playoff berths in his career; however, he led Vancouver to a franchise wins record (49) and won the Jack Adams in 06-07. Well, did he lead Vancouver to those wins and trophy or did Luongo... Hmmm...
Bruce Boudreau (WSH - 2007) – Team .664 – Career .664
The reigning Coach of the Year, despite only coaching 61 games. He led an amazing turn around in Washington and this year will go along way in seeing if it was just a fluke.
Claude Julien (BOS - 2007) – Team .573 – Career .573
He's been fired twice in the past three seasons, but has had talented teams in Montreal, New Jersey and Boston. You really wonder whether this is a coach who makes a difference with his team.
Tony Granato (COL - 2008) – Team n/a – Career .647
Has a great career P% (2nd only to Boudreau) among active coaches, but is only .500 in the playoffs and has a lot less talent to work with in his second go-around with Colorado. Ray Ferraro is his brother-in-law, and we all love Ray!
Guy Carbonneau (MON - 2006) – Team .591 – Career .591
Everything points to this former player becoming an elite coach, but he's only made the playoffs once in his two coaching seasons and it's just too early to tell with him...
Brent Sutter (NJD - 2007) – Team .604 – Career .604
Only one season under his belt. He is a Sutter, so that's a plus, but he coaches in possibly the toughest division (NYR, NYI, PHI, PIT), that's a minus.
Andy Murray (STL - 2006) – Team .486 – Career .528
He had early success in LA with three consecutive playoffs, but has missed his next five. Things aren't getting any easier with Erik Johnson done for the year in St. Louis.
Michel Therrien (PIT - 2005) – Team .565 – Career .535
He propelled Pittsburgh to one of the greatest turn-around in NHL history (58 – 105pts) and a Jack Adams nomination in 06-07, then a Cup Finals appearance the following year. Some of that is Therrien, but how much is Crosby and Malkin?
THE SUSPECT
Craig Hartsburg (OTT - 2008) – Team n/a – Career .488
Coached the Ducks to a playoff berth his first season in 98-99, missed the next two, got canned and hasn't coached an NHL game since then. He's a great junior coach, but the NHL is a game of men not boys.
John Stevens (PHI - 2006) – Team .474 – Career .474
His first year with the Flyers was a nightmare situation and he steered the ship to a playoff berth the following year. His 3rd year will break the tie.
Wayne Gretzky (PHO - 2005) – Team .470 – Career .470
So, it turns out that the greatest player the NHL has ever seen does not make the greatest coach the NHL has ever seen. He has the worst career P% of any active coach. I think it's time to end this experiment...
Mike Keenan (CAL - 2007) – Team .573 – Career .548
Ok Drew, lets hear it. Arguably the best coach of the 80's and early 90's (11 straight playoffs w/ 4 different teams and a Stanley Cup ring), but the guy hasn't done anything the last 10 years! He's been fired 3 times in 6 seasons. What are your Flames gonna do when he inevitably implodes?
THE NEW KIDS
John Anderson (ATL - 2008) – Team n/a – Career n/a
Coached 11 seasons with the AHL's Chicago Wolves and won 4 league championships. Just the kind of winning attitude this struggling franchise needs.
Todd McLellan (SJS - 2008) – Team n/a – Career n/a
Was a former assistant coach in Detroit and won a Cup last season. You know anyone coming out of the Red Wings organization is going to be good.
Rick Tocchet (TBL - 2008) – Team n/a – Career n/a
He's a former convicted criminal, much like MacTavish. Maybe he can become a good coach like MacTavish too, but don't count on it. He learnt his craft under Gretzky in Phoenix, take that for what it's worth...
Scott Gordon (NYI - 2008) – Team n/a – Career n/a
Played in 5 of 6 playoffs in the AHL with the Providence Bruins. That's 
impressive. What isn't impressive is the team he takes over on Long Island. Gooood Luck, Scott.
Peter DeBoer (FLA - 2008) – Team n/a – Career n/a
Guided the Detroit/Plymouth Whalers and Kitchner Rangers (both of the OHL) to 13 consecutive playoffs, appearing in the Memorial Cup twice (winning in 2003 w/ Kitchener). He is also a 2-time OHL Coach of the Year.
-Smith
p.s. Nice lose by those Pats, way to give up first place...
iron mike, was one of the best by i completely agree with you on this one, the new game is too different for old mikey, i'd feel much beter if daryl was back coaching
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