Why is Bruce Boudreau so popular?

Recipe Unlimited

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Sep 1, 2019
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I mean I don't think anyone here is saying he's one of the greatest coaches of all time, but he has a very solid track record, but was never good enough to make any of his teams successful in the playoffs. He can still be a very good coach despite this.

And then, just because two players that you like were not treated well by him, doesn't mean he's a bad coach.

I bet you can find a handful of players that were dicked around by every top coach of all time.
 

Gurglesons

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Dec 18, 2009
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Do the stats count as "digging up some quotes of long-retired players" he hasn't won shit?


You gonna compare the man the myth the legend 3 cup winning Pat Maroon to some bum like Selänne? cmon man.

I just don't get what the issue is with him benching a player in the playoffs when he had better players.

Sucks for Selanne, but it happens to every aging star. You don't just get minutes because of the name on the jersey. Well unless you are Jeff Carter or Jack Johnson under Mike Sullivan..
 
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I Hate Blake Coleman

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Jul 22, 2008
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How has been succesful, he's won Calder at 2005 that's his biggest achievement if eliteprospects don't lie?
No offense but the thought process of "how can he be successful if he hasn't won" is kind of antithetical to discussion.

You're asking why people like him? They said he's a good coach and he's likeable.

You say he only won a Calder and that two entitled vets didn't get handed play time.

Why are you ignoring the Jack Adams?

Boudreau's coaching record shows great success, even without a Stanley Cup.
 

No Fun Shogun

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May 1, 2011
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I wouldn't say he's hugely popular per se, but rather people just feel bad for him being done dirty by the Canucks organization (at least seemingly).

Fans and media types don't really like obvious management moves to move on from a coach while he's still under contract, even though obviously nobody merely waits for an opening to start searching for an upgrade behind the bench. But Vancouver more or less outright said the quiet part out loud, so it reinforces a negative opinion on a management/ownership group and casts the coach as an obvious victim.

It's obviously inane to think that any competent organization wouldn't have the common sense to start looking early, but the appearance of common decency goes a long way as well.
 

Section 104

Registered User
Sep 12, 2021
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There is an open letter to Boudreau on the online edition of The Hockey News by Rachel Doerrie who is suing the Canucks for discrimination on her mental health , on how well Boudreau treats people. Everyday a brief how are you, asking if their are problems with moving, cracking a joke, inquiring about your family. It means a lot to people to do the little things.

Boudreau also has a couple interesting minor things. He can be seen in the movie “Slapshot“ wearing #7 for the Hyannis Port Presidents. He was also supposed to be on United Airlines Flight 715 on 9/11/2001 which was hijacked and crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center only
Kings head coach Andy Murray wanted him in Los Angeles earlier and changed the flight.

One problem he had in playoffs was was finding the right goaltender. Of course I remember Barry Trotz getting criticism for poor playoff performances in Nashville and Washington, they were down 0-2 against Columbus,mCam Atkinson hits the post in overtime and Washington wins and goes on to win the Cup.
 
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gritdash60

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So when a coach has enough wins, he is better than any minor's coach or european coach while never getting it done, got you boys. Wonder why the old boys club is still standing lol.

I think people like him because he's authentic. He says what he thinks and he doesn't have a filter.
This i can get behind, he seems so honest every time, no bullshit just truth.

You said his biggest accomplishment is the Calder. Now he hasn't won shit.

Which is it?
So winning a Calder 20 years ago trumps every european coaches record? Is that what ur saying?
 
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tarheelhockey

Offside Review Specialist
Feb 12, 2010
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He's an interesting character in the sport.

- When he first came into the league, he turned the Caps around in a way that seemed miraculous. That was the start of the Caps as a contender and it seemed very closely connected to his personal style.

- In the early 2010s he was a high-profile goofball. His appearance on HBO was a disaster in the best way. He was in the running with Jokinen and Kessel as the GIF king, mainly having to do with food and F-bombs. He seemed like some local barfly who managed to become an NHL coach.

- He was in the film Slap Shot and his real-life apartment features prominently in the movie.

- He's actually really successful and there's really not much you can do to shit on his career. He turned around the Caps, he turned around the Ducks, he turned around the Wild, for a brief time he even turned around the Canucks. He's likely to finish top-10 in all time wins. He's won championships in the ECHL and AHL, made an IHL final (back when that meant something). Really the only thing missing is a Cup ring.

- Fans hate coaches, but they don't like seeing people being treated badly by management. It's agreed across the board that Boudreau is being fired without good cause and in a wildly unprofessional manner.


tumblr_lvtjnrSjd01qckkxxo1_500.gif
 

Sasha Orlov

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Yes it was really kind of him to give Teemu 3 games to show his worth after Sochi, and after scoring 2+2 and being a first star in 2/3 games deciding he isn't a top player and putting him in the 4th line. Never experienced that kind of kindness in my life.
Teemu was like 60 at the time lmfao
 
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Gaylord Q Tinkledink

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Apr 29, 2018
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This is what I was going to post in his fired thread if the Nucks org didn't do him dirty.

esos-es-todo-amigos-porky.gif



He's an alright coach. He didn't get given his chance in the NHL. He paid his dues and he's a nice story to get up there and succeed and get some money for himself.

That's about it.

I'm fairly certain he wouldn't be the first choice for a team as coach for a lot of teams..
 

Jumptheshark

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Oct 12, 2003
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First of all, this is a serious question by a non-native english speaker. AND I would have Boudreau coaching my team over Tocchet always.

Why is Boudreau so popular in what it seems no matter the fanbase? I understand he is a likeable guy, and Canucks handled his firing the worst possible way ever.

But is this current thing about every hockey fan getting behind Bruce just about the way the Canucks owners handled this situation like a dumbasses or was Boudreau already this liked before? People have been saying "They fired a winning coach over a losing coach", is this about the W/L record in the NHL or what? Because only thing i see Boudreau has won as a coach is the Calder at 2005.

Now i know my knowledge isn't as deep as a lot of people here have, but i base a lot of my opinions on what i hear/read what finnish players say. For one example i know Teemu Selänne isn't a big fan of Bruce. In fact the story after Sochi Olympics when he said him he needs 3 games to prove his worth with Getzlaf and Perry on the first line, scored 4 points and was the first star twice, wasn't enough for Boudreau and got demoted to 3rd line and said "that's when i decided to retire" is something i hold over Boudreau. Or when Selänne was asked that "I guess you and Saku Koivu aren't members of the Boudreau fanclub, since you have talked shit about him". His answer was "Well i have never really talked shit about Bruce, but Saku should have." gives me reason to doubt all this hype.

So what am i missing here? The fact that he is a great coach for the players? How far does that really carry, Teemu said "I have even said to him, he should be harder on the players, sometimes it felt like a country club for the star players."

So i guess the thing im trying to ask is, on what merit has Bruce Boudreau become this cult coach that everyone from every team likes?


He was very professional the way he handled everything. He took everything like a pro--no matter what management tossed at him. I have beaten to death my view of the organization handled it
 
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gritdash60

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Teemu was like 60 at the time lmfao
Was the Sochi Olympics MVP and in case you missed it, said to Bruce "Give me 3 games to show im still a good player in the first line" scored 2+2 in those 3 games and got 2 first stars.

No, motherf***er, that's what YOU'RE saying.

Here's what I said: "Boudreau's coaching record shows great success, even without a Stanley Cup."
Oh yes it's a sick way to rank coaches with wins in the NHL, when you only have these 60yo+ dudes as head coaches every year. I could get 200 wins in couple of years, but im not old enough.

Do you now understand when people say "old boys club"?
 

johan f

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Jun 23, 2008
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It started 12 years ago when he starred in ”The road to NHL Winter Classic”, the tv series that aired prior to the new years day’s game. He went thru the tv screen as a harmless jovial man. In one episode he went out in a mall for his favorite ice cream, brought is mental challenged son as well. It started there. Then he dropped f bombs as few others.

 

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