Why is Bruce Boudreau so popular?

[Strawberry Fields]

An overlooked Bruce moment because it was before his NHL career: in his first season coaching Hershey, the Bears won an intense Eastern Conference Finals series in overtime of game 7 to send them to the Cup Finals. Bruce dashed onto the ice with the rest of the team and joined the mob of players, jumping around and celebrating with them like he was one of the boys. He said in his autobiographical he had to tuck his shirt back in before entering the handshake line

 

[93LEAFS]

He's a great interview and has a pretty good career as a coach. Probably one of the best personalities in the league and comes across as very genuine. I don't think many NHL coaches would admit to still watching their childhood team and cheering for them unless they were facing the team he was coaching, or that he still can't convince their elderly mom to cheer for his team over the Leafs. Considering some of the terrible analysts TSN and Sportsnet employ right now, if whoever is casting these people isn't on the phone trying to get him in studio for the rest of the season they are failing at their job.

In a league of close-to-the-vest personalities, Boudreau is able to walk the fine line between being fun, but also not crazy or ridiculous generally. In hockey personalities, you generally get one or the other.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

In the big picture he is a good but not amazing coach, nor would he be my first pick. But all that aside, Bruce is only popular right now because he didn't deserve to get fired the way he did.

 

[ManofSteel55]

1. He got screwed over by his team.
2. He seems relatable. Maybe not likeable, but relatable.
3. The "Darn" meme.
4. For those in Southern and Central Alberta, Fan 960's "Dirty Bruce" segments were hilarious. I know that misses most people, but try to find those clips if you have never heard them.

 

[Michoulicious]

Tocchet's team just dominated Chicago's powerhouse.

Boudreau overrated.

 

[Terry Yake]

Teemu had no legs and no hands left. He was bringing his line down. The way he fired at Boudreau was just stupid.

Which tbh is something he's kept on doing ever since. Great guy but says the stupidest shit.

yeah he could barely even keep up anymore in his last season and was only useful on the PP. boudreau benching him in the playoffs was 100% warranted, but teemu's ego got the best of him when it came to those comments he made

and it was bob murray who made that decision anyways. plus, according to boudreau, selanne apologized to him once he found out the truth

 

[gritdash60]

Based on your responses in this thread, I'm quite certain that if Teemu told you ice cream was falling from the sky, you'd run outside with a bowl and spoon.

It seems quite obvious with his 1000+ games coached and his 600+ wins that he's a very capable coach, and that people find his attitude and mannerisms endearing, but I guess that means nothing because he slighted Teemu and Saku once.

100% would you are right, he is my hero! lol

 

[OrwellianNightmare]

Because HFBoards said so, so it must be true.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

He has a big teddy bear personality and rumor is, if you tickle him he will make sounds.

 

[I am toxic]

Tocchet's team just dominated Chicago's powerhouse.

Boudreau overrated.

View attachment 641175

Now do it for Seattle

 

[Quack Shot]

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?

I love Teemu but his last season he was cooked. He got upset when he was scratched in the playoffs and that was his final straw. Funny enough, Bruce didn’t make that call, Bob Murray told Bruce he had to scratch him which I expect Bob Murray also told Bruce to demote him to the third line as well.

Teemu has already apologized to Bruce after finding that out.

 

[Windy River]

I honestly think it’s mostly because of his look. People tend to love pudgy baby-faces, just a fact of life.

 

[ijuka]

Mostly because of gifs like
Most memeworthy coach in NHL.

 

[57special]

He seems honest, has a sense of humour, and is a good coach. Some guys just seem to be likable... he's one of them.

 

[Aurinko]

I honestly think it’s mostly because of his look. People tend to love pudgy baby-faces, just a fact of life.

It's a BIG plus, but I would assume the 50(?) year love for hockey also helps.

 

[gritdash60]

He seems honest, has a sense of humour, and is a good coach. Some guys just seem to be likable... he's one of them.

This is how i feel about him, i know i started the thread but i really like him as well.

 

[crump]

Lovable sweary man. Big lug.

 

[cyris]

Because he is LITERALLY one of the Hanson Brothers from the movie Slapshot. Seriously.

No he wasn’t. That was Dave Hanson and Jeff and Steve Carlson.
He was in the movie though and his actual apartment was used for the main character in the film

 

[MarkWheeler]

His cherubic face is very gifable

His cherub-like demeanour perhaps

 

[Garbageyuk]

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.

And now we know the real reason you made the thread lmao.

gritdash60: fighting any and all past injustice against Teemu Selanne and other Finnish hockey heros on HF since 2022.

Seriously, this is all this guy does on here.

 

[Bizzare]

People in this thread think im some Bruce hater, which is not the case, i just want to know why he is so loved.

Yes because Mike Green was good, that makes this clown coach good.

I dont get it, Bruce is the most liked coach while never won shit. it's incredible.

It feels like every post is rather some weird tangent, a contradictory remark or factually incorrect.

 

[Garbageyuk]

It feels like every post is rather some weird tangent, a contradictory remark or factually incorrect.

He’s mad because Bruce Boudreau put Teemu Selanne on the 4th line one time, that’s literally his reason for this whole thread lmao.

He’s in the other thread claiming Selanne is generational and lashing out at everyone who disagrees.

He’s from Finland and is mad people here don’t love Finnish hockey players enough I guess lol

 

[Jeffrey Pedler]

Like people have said, he is a players coach. Much better than Sutter in Calgary.

 

[Albatros]

I love Teemu but his last season he was cooked. He got upset when he was scratched in the playoffs and that was his final straw. Funny enough, Bruce didn’t make that call, Bob Murray told Bruce he had to scratch him which I expect Bob Murray also told Bruce to demote him to the third line as well.

Tells something about Boudreau though if he complied just because Murray told him to.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

He's one of the real good guys in hockey. He's so good at endearing himself to people. And his system, while definitely flawed, is fun to watch for fans. He's very good at maximizing his team's best offensive players.

This right here…..super likable guy and a good coach who gets out of the way and empowers his players do their thing and just go for it. If he could figure out how to translate that into a defensively responsible postseason strategy, he probably wins a Cup.