Stoner Posted November 7, 2015 Report Posted November 7, 2015 (edited) Canadians make up half (maybe even a touch less than half) of the player ranks in the NHL. But they account for 24 of the 30 head coaches. The other six coaches are Americans, including our own Hot Daniel. The other countries, comprising about 25% of the players, are not represented at all. (And, other than the Czech Ivan Hlinka, have they ever been?) Is this a problem? Will the tide turn? Would the game be better if the coaching ranks were more diverse? Inspiration for this post: on NPR this morning it was mentioned that although blacks and Hispanics account for 25% of baseball players, only two coaches next season will be black or Hispanic. (I guess I should look at the GMs, too.) Edited November 7, 2015 by pASabreFan Quote
dudacek Posted November 7, 2015 Report Posted November 7, 2015 Canadians know more about hockey. Quote
Weave Posted November 7, 2015 Report Posted November 7, 2015 Yes, I think the game would be better if the coaching was more diverse. I'd love to see more European influence in tactics. I imagine that language would be a big stumbling block that limits Euro coaches chances here. Quote
Stoner Posted November 7, 2015 Author Report Posted November 7, 2015 At least 24 GMs are Canadian. I couldn't determine if the Rangers GM is Canadian or American. He would be #25. Quote
rakish Posted November 7, 2015 Report Posted November 7, 2015 Jeff Gorton has an American flag on his eliteprospects page http://www.eliteprospects.com/staff.php?staff=11225 Quote
Stoner Posted November 8, 2015 Author Report Posted November 8, 2015 Jeff Gorton has an American flag on his eliteprospects page http://www.eliteprospects.com/staff.php?staff=11225 Thanks. So 24 Canadian coaches and 24 Canadian GMs. Out of 60 combined positions, only one to a non-North American, the Finnish GM in Columbus. Quote
TrueBlueGED Posted November 8, 2015 Report Posted November 8, 2015 Yes, I think the game would be better if the coaching was more diverse. I'd love to see more European influence in tactics. I imagine that language would be a big stumbling block that limits Euro coaches chances here. Me too. One thing I do wonder about, along the lines of the language barrier, is...is there interest? I've never gotten the impression that a lot of European coaches were truly trying to break into the NHL. Of course, I'm not sure how I'd know if there was a lot of interest either, so there's that. Quote
bunomatic Posted November 8, 2015 Report Posted November 8, 2015 (edited) Me too. One thing I do wonder about, along the lines of the language barrier, is...is there interest? I've never gotten the impression that a lot of European coaches were truly trying to break into the NHL. Of course, I'm not sure how I'd know if there was a lot of interest either, so there's that. I think the other problem was that for those that did follow and understand hockey( Like most on this site probably ) the glow became too much of a distraction. We already knew how to pick up the puck by following the flow of play which came with a rudimentary knowledge of the game. It was a chicken and egg thing. Learn the game /learn how to follow the puck. The glow won't teach you the game. It was always my belief that for the small amount of people that would actually be turned on to hockey because of this innovation it would piss off scores more because of the distraction. In my case it did. I hated it. Sorry Blue I had intended to quote a different thread and didn't realize I was here. Doh ! Edited November 8, 2015 by bunomatic Quote
TrueBlueGED Posted November 8, 2015 Report Posted November 8, 2015 I think the other problem was that for those that did follow and understand hockey( Like most on this site probably ) the glow became too much of a distraction. We already knew how to pick up the puck by following the flow of play which came with a rudimentary knowledge of the game. It was a chicken and egg thing. Learn the game /learn how to follow the puck. The glow won't teach you the game. It was always my belief that for the small amount of people that would actually be turned on to hockey because of this innovation it would piss off scores more because of the distraction. In my case it did. I hated it. Methinks you quoted the wrong person :lol: Quote
LastPommerFan Posted November 8, 2015 Report Posted November 8, 2015 Implement The Toonie Rule? Quote
bunomatic Posted November 8, 2015 Report Posted November 8, 2015 Methinks you quoted the wrong person :lol: Thought I was in the ' I have an idea thread :blush: Quote
French Collection Posted November 8, 2015 Report Posted November 8, 2015 It's an old boys club that is recycling guys all of the time. New guys come through the junior ranks and have old boy contacts. My experience is that the journeymen tend to make better coaches and Canada is full of grinders. My first point is the main reason for Canadian coaches. Richard, Howe, Hull, Orr, Lafleur, Perreault, Gretzky, Lemieux were great but could not explain and teach the fire in the belly and creativity required for greatness. They probably cannot understand why the average guy can't see the game like they did. The plumbers relied on tactics and can teach this. Quote
Taro T Posted November 8, 2015 Report Posted November 8, 2015 It's an old boys club that is recycling guys all of the time. New guys come through the junior ranks and have old boy contacts. My experience is that the journeymen tend to make better coaches and Canada is full of grinders. My first point is the main reason for Canadian coaches. Richard, Howe, Hull, Orr, Lafleur, Perreault, Gretzky, Lemieux were great but could not explain and teach the fire in the belly and creativity required for greatness. They probably cannot understand why the average guy can't see the game like they did. The plumbers relied on tactics and can teach this. Not disputing your last paragraph. Have supported the view that stars rarely can coach because they don't see/learn the game like most/ normal players do. But other than Wayner, who in that list tried to coach? Quote
shrader Posted November 8, 2015 Report Posted November 8, 2015 If players wind up becoming coaches, then today's coaches would not be drawn from the same percentages of today's players. They'd be drawn from the pool of 10-15 or even more years ago. Quote
Eleven Posted November 8, 2015 Report Posted November 8, 2015 Not sure how to react other than to say that this is very interesting. Quote
French Collection Posted November 8, 2015 Report Posted November 8, 2015 Rocket Richard coached the Nordiques in the WHA and lasted 1game. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=4550 Quote
MattPie Posted November 9, 2015 Report Posted November 9, 2015 Was Teppo a coach? Seems like I remember him behind the bench. Quote
LGR4GM Posted November 9, 2015 Report Posted November 9, 2015 Was Teppo a coach? Seems like I remember him behind the bench. He was briefly. I think part of it is nepotism in sports. Since most of these ppl are working in NA they get jobs by knowing other people in NA. They have connections so to speak. Quote
X. Benedict Posted November 9, 2015 Report Posted November 9, 2015 Was Teppo a coach? Seems like I remember him behind the bench. Nolan let him go. Quote
SDS Posted November 9, 2015 Report Posted November 9, 2015 Nolan let him go. Badge of honor or badge of shame? Quote
woods-racer Posted November 9, 2015 Report Posted November 9, 2015 Badge of honor or badge of shame? Honor for Teppo. Thought he would be a good coach for the way Risto, Pysyk and McCabe play. Quote
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