Patrick Roy is the newest head coach of the Colorado Avalanche, but he's hardly the first player to become a bench boss once his playing days are over. The NHL's history is littered with players-gone-coaches.
Of course, the degree of success varies widely. For evidence of that, one needn't look any father than Wayne Gretzky's tumultuous time with the Phoenix Coyotes.
If the best player in the history of the game can't translate well in a coaching gig, then who can? What makes a former player a good head coach?
There's no formula, but the success stories seem to share a few common threads.
The best coaches are those who think the game at a high level and are able to communicate their ideas clearly and concisely. While everyone has their own style, the coach needs to read the room and adjust his pitch accordingly.
Ex-captains (assistants included) and journeymen make excellent coaching options for a reason.
Understanding the various roles on the team—knowing what it's like to be demoted, to ride buses, to get benched and so on—is also a huge plus.
While it's hard to determine whether or no ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Franklin Steele
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August 1st, 2013 by Franklin Steele Leave a reply »
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