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Scotty Bowman

This article is about the retired NHL coach. For former NHL defenseman Ralph "Scotty" Bowman, see Ralph Bowman. For the Michigan politician, see Scott Boman. For the Australian academic, see Scott Bowman (academic). For the Welsh musician, see The Beef Seeds.

William Scott Bowman OC (born September 18, 1933) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey head coach. He holds the record for most wins in National Hockey League (NHL) history, with 1,244 wins in the regular season and 223 in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and his 14 Stanley Cup wins ranks second most of all time[a] for any player, coach or executive. He coached the St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings. He was most recently the senior advisor of hockey operations for the Chicago Blackhawks, until stepping down in July 2022. Bowman is often regarded as the greatest coach in NHL history.[1][2][3]

Scotty Bowman
OC
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1991 (Builder)
Bowman in June 2006
Born (1933-09-18) September 18, 1933 (age 91)
Verdun, Quebec, Canada
Coached for St. Louis Blues
Montreal Canadiens
Buffalo Sabres
Pittsburgh Penguins
Detroit Red Wings
Coaching career 1956–2002

As head coach, Bowman has won a record nine Stanley Cup championships; five with the Canadiens (1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979), one with the Penguins (1992) and three with the Red Wings (1997, 1998, and 2002). He has also won the Stanley Cup five times as a member of an organization's front office. He was director of player development for the 1991 Penguins, Consultant with the 2008 Detroit Red Wings, and senior advisor of hockey operations for the 2010, 2013, and 2015 Chicago Blackhawks. Bowman is the only NHL coach to lead three teams to Stanley Cup victories.[4] Bowman won the Jack Adams Award in 1977 and 1996. In the 1976–77 season, he won a record 60 games, breaking his own record of 58 wins the year before. He broke his own record again in the 1995–1996 season, with 62 wins; overall, he held the record for 46 years, until 2023.[b] His eight losses in 1976–77 are a modern record for the fewest defeats incurred. His teams also made it to the Stanley Cup Finals a record 13 times and the semi-finals a record 16 times.

Career

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Bowman played junior league hockey with the Montreal Junior Canadiens until a fractured skull, resulting from repeated intentional slashes by Jean-Guy Talbot during the 1951 playoffs, ended his long term playing aspirations.[5][c]

Bowman started coaching, in 1956, as an assistant to head coach Sam Pollock with the Ottawa-Hull Canadiens in the Quebec Junior Hockey League. The following season, as head coach, Bowman's team won the 1958 Memorial Cup.[6] Soon thereafter, he moved into a coaching job with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League (OHA), the Montreal Canadiens' junior farm team.

St. Louis Blues

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Bowman moved into the NHL in 1967 when he joined the expansion St. Louis Blues as an assistant coach under general manager and head coach Lynn Patrick. However, Patrick resigned as coach after a slow start, and Bowman took over at age 34.[7] The Blues made it to the Stanley Cup finals in their first three years of existence as Western Conference (Expansion) champs. Bowman assumed general manager duties after Patrick gave up that job in the summer of 1968. Bowman remained in St. Louis until the end of the 1970–71 season but left due to a dispute with team ownership.[8]

Montreal Canadiens

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Bowman then joined the Montreal Canadiens as head coach.[9] Though the Canadiens were the defending champions, Al MacNeil had been fired as head coach due to accusations of favoritism toward the team's anglophone players. Bowman was hired in part because he is fluently bilingual in English and French. His team lost in the first round of the playoffs in 1972 but won the Stanley Cup in 1973. The Canadiens would make the playoffs over the next two seasons but lost in the first and third rounds, as the rival Philadelphia Flyers won the Stanley Cup.

From 1976 to 1979, Bowman won four consecutive Stanley Cups with a talented Canadiens squad that included Guy Lafleur, Steve Shutt, Larry Robinson, and Ken Dryden. Bowman's team won at least 45 games in each of his eight seasons. However, after a falling-out with ownership, Bowman stepped down after the 1978–79 season. The reason for the falling-out was the team's decision to pass him over as the new general manager of the club in 1978 after Sam Pollock's retirement, as they hired Irving Grundman instead.[10] The Canadiens' dynasty ended after Bowman and several key players left the team. Bowman remains second all-time in Canadiens history in both wins and winning percentage, behind Toe Blake in both categories.[11]

Not only did Bowman and general manager Sam Pollock preside together over a Canadiens dynasty, but also many of their players went on to have successful coaching and managing roles with their own teams.[12]

Buffalo Sabres

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For the 1979–80 season, Bowman moved to the Buffalo Sabres as coach and general manager.[13] He served as the team's general manager until 1987, doubling as coach on three separate occasions.[14][15][16][17][18] During this time, he missed the playoffs for the only time in his coaching career, in the 1985–86 season. He left the Sabres as coach with the most wins in their history; he has since been passed by Lindy Ruff.[19]

Bowman joined the Sabres around the same time that their stars were growing old. While the Sabres remained competitive for much of his tenure, he was unable to build them into anything approaching the powerhouses he'd coached in Montreal. Bowman resigned during the 1986–87 season and was replaced by Gerry Meehan 12 games into the season.[20][21] He then become the color commentator for the CBC's Hockey Night in Canada usually alongside Don Wittman.[22]

Pittsburgh Penguins

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He became the director of player personnel of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1990 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991 as a builder.[23][24][25]

In the summer, Bob Johnson, who had just won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins, was diagnosed with brain cancer, forcing him to step down before he died on November 26, 1991. Bowman took over as the team's head coach[26][27][28] where the Penguins repeated as Stanley Cup champions in a season dedicated to Johnson.

The next season, the Penguins had their first 100-point season in franchise history and finished with the league's best record. The 1992–93 Penguins under Bowman set the NHL record for consecutive wins in the regular season with 17. Their 119 points is still a franchise record. In the playoffs, the Penguins were upset in seven games in the Patrick Division finals by the New York Islanders coached by Al Arbour, a former Bowman player with the Blues.

After his two seasons as head coach in Pittsburgh, he was offered a long-term deal by the club. However, he indicated that he was not interested in their initial offer, which was not disclosed to the public, so they rescinded it. "We have to get somebody who wants to coach this team," Penguins owner Howard Baldwin said. "Scotty was clearly looking elsewhere."[29][30]

Detroit Red Wings

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In 1993–94, Bowman became coach of the Detroit Red Wings,[31] and led them to a first-place finish in the Western Conference, but his Red Wings were ousted in the first round by the young San Jose Sharks. According to an apocryphal story, Bowman had difficulty in the maze-like tunnels of the San Jose Arena, eventually having to be rescued after getting lost and twice locking himself into rooms.[32]

In 1995, the Red Wings made it to the Stanley Cup Finals, their first finals appearance in 29 years, but were swept by the New Jersey Devils in four straight. In the 1995–96 regular season, he won a record 62 games. However, they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Finals.

In the 1997 playoffs, Bowman led the team to its first Stanley Cup in 42 years by sweeping the Philadelphia Flyers 4–0. The Red Wings repeated the feat the following season (1998) by defeating the Washington Capitals in 4 games.

In 1999 and 2000, they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Semi-Finals, and in 2001 they were eliminated by the Los Angeles Kings in the first round.

Bowman decided in February 2002 that he would retire at the end of the season, and he went out as a winner as his Red Wings won the Stanley Cup by defeating the Carolina Hurricanes, 4 games to 1. During the presentation of the Cup on the ice, Bowman put on an old pair of skates so he could take a lap with the Cup. He then publicly announced his retirement from coaching.[33][34] At the time of his retirement, he was second on the Red Wings' all-time wins list, behind Jack Adams. He is now third, behind Adams and Mike Babcock.

Bowman received the Wayne Gretzky International Award in 2002.[35][36]

Team Canada

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Bowman has coached the Canada men's national ice hockey team at the international level twice in his career. In the 1976 Canada Cup his team won gold over Czechoslovakia and silver in the 1981 Canada Cup against the Soviet Union.

Coaching record

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Team Year Regular season Postseason
G W L T OTL Pts Finish W L Win % Result
STL 1967–68 58 23 21 14 — 70 3rd in West 8 10 .444 Lost in Stanley Cup Finals (MTL)
STL 1968–69 76 37 25 14 — 88 1st in West 8 4 .667 Lost in Stanley Cup Finals (MTL)
STL 1969–70 76 37 27 12 — 86 1st in West 8 8 .500 Lost in Stanley Cup Finals (BOS)
STL 1970–71 28 13 10 5 — (31) (resigned) — — — —
STL total 238 110 83 45 — 265 24 22 .522 4 playoff appearances
MTL 1971–72 78 46 16 16 — 108 3rd in East 2 4 .333 Lost in quarterfinals (NYR)
MTL 1972–73 78 52 10 16 — 120 1st in East 12 5 .706 Won Stanley Cup (CHI)
MTL 1973–74 78 45 24 9 — 99 2nd in East 2 4 .333 Lost in quarterfinals (NYR)
MTL 1974–75 80 47 14 19 — 113 1st in Norris 6 5 .545 Lost in semifinals (BUF)
MTL 1975–76 80 58 11 11 — 127 1st in Norris 12 1 .923 Won Stanley Cup (PHI)
MTL 1976–77 80 60 8 12 — 132 1st in Norris 12 2 .857 Won Stanley Cup (BOS)
MTL 1977–78 80 59 10 11 — 129 1st in Norris 12 3 .800 Won Stanley Cup (BOS)
MTL 1978–79 80 52 17 11 — 115 1st in Norris 12 4 .750 Won Stanley Cup (NYR)
MTL total 634 419 110 105 — 943 70 28 .714 8 playoff appearances
5 Stanley Cup titles
BUF 1979–80 80 47 17 16 — 110 1st in Adams 9 5 .643 Lost in semifinals (NYI)
BUF 1981–82 35 18 10 7 — 43 3rd in Adams 1 3 .250 Lost in Division semifinals (BOS)
BUF 1982–83 80 38 29 13 — 89 3rd in Adams 6 4 .600 Lost in Division finals (BOS)
BUF 1983–84 80 48 25 7 — 103 2nd in Adams 0 3 .000 Lost in Division semifinals (QUE)
BUF 1984–85 80 38 28 14 — 90 3rd in Adams 2 3 .400 Lost in Division semifinals (QUE)
BUF 1985–86 37 18 18 1 — 37 5th in Adams — — — Missed playoffs
BUF 1986–87 12 3 7 2 — 8 (fired) — — — —
BUF total 404 210 134 60 — 480 18 18 .500 5 playoff appearances
PIT 1991–92 80 39 32 9 — 87 3rd in Patrick 16 5 .762 Won Stanley Cup (CHI)
PIT 1992–93 84 56 21 7 — 119 1st in Patrick 7 5 .583 Lost in Division finals (NYI)
PIT total 164 95 53 16 — 206 23 10 .697 2 playoff appearances
1 Stanley Cup title
DET 1993–94 84 46 30 8 — 100 1st in Central 3 4 .429 Lost in Conference quarterfinals (SJS)
DET 1994–95 48 33 11 4 — 70 1st in Central 12 6 .667 Lost in Stanley Cup Finals (NJD)
DET 1995–96 82 62 13 7 — 131 1st in Central 10 9 .526 Lost in Conference finals (COL)
DET 1996–97 82 38 26 18 — 94 2nd in Central 16 4 .800 Won Stanley Cup (PHI)
DET 1997–98 82 44 23 15 — 103 2nd in Central 16 6 .727 Won Stanley Cup (WSH)
DET 1998–99 82 43 32 7 — 93 1st in Central 6 4 .600 Lost in Conference semifinals (COL)
DET 1999–2000 82 48 22 10 2 108 2nd in Central 5 4 .556 Lost in Conference semifinals (COL)
DET 2000–01 82 49 20 9 4 111 1st in Central 2 4 .333 Lost in Conference quarterfinals (LAK)
DET 2001–02 82 51 17 10 4 116 1st in Central 16 7 .696 Won Stanley Cup (CAR)
DET total 701 410 193 88 10 920 86 48 .642 9 playoff appearances
3 Stanley Cup titles
Total 2,141 1,244 573 314 10 2,814 223 130 .632 28 playoff appearances
9 Stanley Cup titles

Retirement

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In 2003, Bowman was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.[37]

Since his retirement as coach in 2002, Bowman worked as a special consultant to the Red Wings.[38] On August 3, 2007, it was reported that Bowman was offered the position of President of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Bowman later appeared in an interview on Hockey Night in Canada on January 12, 2008, confirming that he was very close to taking the job only to be turned away by Richard Peddie, CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. (MLSE).[39][40] In July 2008, he took a position as senior advisor of hockey operations for the Chicago Blackhawks to work alongside his son Stan Bowman, who was the general manager.[41] The Blackhawks' Stanley Cup victory in 2010 gave Bowman his 12th Stanley Cup including coaching and team management, and the Blackhawks' 2013, and 2015 Stanley Cup victories were Bowman's 13th and 14th respectively. Bowman stepped down from his advisory role in Chicago on July 1, 2022, saying that "it was time to move on."

In 2012, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada "for his contributions to hockey as a coach and mentor".[42]

On February 8, 2017, it was announced that Bowman would receive Order of Hockey in Canada award in a ceremony on June 19.[43][44]

Personal life

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As of January 2018, Bowman was living in Sarasota, Florida, attending all of the Tampa Bay Lightning home games in his role as the senior advisor of hockey operations for the Chicago Blackhawks, which were managed by his son Stan Bowman until October 26, 2021, when Stan resigned from the Blackhawks organization.

Notes

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  1. ^ Bowman is second to Jean Béliveau's 17 Stanley Cup wins.
  2. ^ The 2022–23 Boston Bruins set a new record, with 65 wins.
  3. ^ Talbot was suspended for one year, though the suspension was rescinded in November 1951. He later played in the NHL, including three seasons with Bowman as his head coach.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Stubbs, Dave (September 18, 2023). "Bowman remains connected to NHL on 90th birthday | NHL.com". www.nhl.com. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  2. ^ Khan, Ansar (September 17, 2023). "Scotty Bowman's passion for hockey still strong at 90". mlive. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  3. ^ Archives, T. H. W. (September 18, 2023). "Scotty Bowman: A Coach's Life". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  4. ^ "Bowman, Scotty | Encyclopedia.com".
  5. ^ a b Dryden, Ken (2003) [1983]. The Game (20th Anniversary ed.). Toronto: Wiley. p. 42. ISBN 0-470-83355-6.
  6. ^ "William 'Scotty' Bowman Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  7. ^ Post-Dispatch, Wally Cross St Louis (November 22, 2020). "The day the Blues launched the career of an NHL coaching legend". STLtoday.com. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  8. ^ "Scotty Bowman: A coach for the ages". CBC Sports. CBC. April 17, 2010.
  9. ^ "CANADIENS NAME BOWMAN COACH". The New York Times. June 11, 1971. p. 26. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  10. ^ The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D’Arcy Jenish, p.236, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0
  11. ^ "Canadiens 'Breakup". The New York Times. July 11, 1979. p. B6. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  12. ^ Shaw, Warren (September 15, 2018). "The most successful GM in NHL history has stood the test of time". Medium. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  13. ^ McGowen, Deane (June 12, 1979). "Coach of Canadiens Becomes Buffalo's General Manager". The New York Times. p. C11. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  14. ^ Press International, United (June 6, 1981). "Bowman Rejoins Sabres". The New York Times. p. 17. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  15. ^ "It was fitting that Buffalo Coach Scotty Bowman got... - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  16. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE; Bowman Moves Again". The New York Times. April 13, 1982. p. B6. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  17. ^ Usiak, Dick (January 17, 1986). "The Buffalo Sabres today fired Coach Jim Schoenfeld and... - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  18. ^ Hafner, Dan (January 18, 1986). "NHL Roundup : Bowman a Winner in First Game of Fourth Term, 5-4". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  19. ^ "Buffalo Sabres Coaches". Hockey Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  20. ^ Archives, L. A. Times (November 7, 1986). "Sabres' Bowman Steps Down, Says He Will Coach No More". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  21. ^ Archives, L. A. Times (December 3, 1986). "Scotty Bowman, who had removed himself as..." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  22. ^ Suhr, Jim (January 9, 2001). "Bowman's 2,000th is a winner". CBC.
  23. ^ "Scotty Bowman Appointed To Selection Committee". hhof.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  24. ^ "PENGUINS HIRE JOHNSON, BOWMAN". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  25. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO HOCKEY; Penguins Employ Johnson and Bowman". The New York Times. June 13, 1990. p. D28. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  26. ^ "Penguins name Bowman interim coach - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  27. ^ "Penguins name Bowman interim coachWaiting until just..." Baltimore Sun. October 2, 1991. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  28. ^ Lapointe, Joe (October 20, 1991). "HOCKEY; A Familiar N.H.L. Voice Is Running the Penguins". The New York Times. p. 4. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  29. ^ "Bowman Spurns Offer From Penguins". Philly.com. May 29, 1993. Archived from the original on May 6, 2014.
  30. ^ Archives, L.A. Times (May 29, 1993). "Bowman Decides Not to Return as Penguin Coach". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  31. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: HOCKEY; Scotty Bowman Gets His (Red) Wings". The New York Times. June 16, 1993. p. B8. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  32. ^ Biggest Stanley Cup playoff chokes – ESPN.com Page 2. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  33. ^ Stubbs, Dave (November 5, 2017). "Bowman kept coaching retirement secret until after Stanley Cup win". NHL.com.
  34. ^ Lapointe, Joe (June 15, 2002). "ON HOCKEY; Bowman's Last Substitution? A Smile for a Scowl". The New York Times. p. D4. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  35. ^ "Off-Season News and Notes". American Hockey Coaches Association. October 14, 2002. Archived from the original on October 25, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  36. ^ "Wayne Gretzky International Award". U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  37. ^ "Canada's Walk of Fame". Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  38. ^ Kelley, Jim (May 29, 2008). "Bowman keeps close ties to Cup". SI.com. Cable News Network. Archived from the original on June 1, 2008. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  39. ^ "Scotty Bowman says Leafs turned him down". CBC News. January 13, 2008.
  40. ^ "Bowman: Maple Leafs turned me down". The Sports Network. Archived from the original on January 16, 2008. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  41. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks – News: Blackhawks To Host Major Press Conference Today – July 31, 2008". Archived from the original on August 5, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  42. ^ "The Governor General of Canada". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  43. ^ "2017 Distinguished Honourees of the Order of Hockey in Canada announced". www.hockeycanada.ca. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  44. ^ "Scotty Bowman named to Order of Hockey in Canada". NHL.com. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
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