| Scotty Bowman OC | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hockey Hall of Fame, 1991 (Builder) | |||
 Bowman in June 2006 | |||
| Born | (1933-09-18)September 18, 1933 (age 92) Verdun, Quebec, Canada | ||
| Coached for | St. Louis Blues Montreal Canadiens Buffalo Sabres Pittsburgh Penguins Detroit Red Wings | ||
| Coaching career | 1956–2002 | ||
William Scott BowmanOC (born September 18, 1933) is a Canadian former professional ice hockeyhead coach. He holds the record for most wins inNational Hockey League (NHL) history, with 1,244 wins in the regular season and 223 in theStanley Cup playoffs, and his 14Stanley Cup wins ranks second most of all time[a] for any player, coach or executive. He coached theSt. Louis Blues,Montreal Canadiens,Buffalo Sabres,Pittsburgh Penguins, andDetroit Red Wings. He was most recently the senior advisor of hockey operations for theChicago Blackhawks until he stepped down in July 2022. Bowman is often regarded as the greatest coach in NHL history.[1][2]
As head coach, Bowman has won a record nineStanley Cup championships; five with the Canadiens (1973,1976,1977,1978, and1979), one with the Penguins (1992) and three with the Red Wings (1997,1998, and2002). 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 the1991 Penguins, consultant with the2008 Detroit Red Wings, and senior advisor of hockey operations for the2010,2013, and2015 Chicago Blackhawks. Bowman is the only NHL coach to lead three teams to Stanley Cup victories.[3] Bowman won theJack Adams Award in1977 and1996. 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, until2023.[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 semifinals a record 16 times.
Bowman played junior league hockey with theMontreal Junior Canadiens until afractured skull, resulting fromrepeated intentional slashes byJean-Guy Talbot during the 1952 playoffs, ended his long term playing aspirations.[4][c]
Bowman started coaching, in 1956, as an assistant to head coachSam Pollock with theOttawa-Hull Canadiens in the Quebec Junior Hockey League. The following season, as head coach, Bowman's team won the 1958Memorial Cup.[5] Soon thereafter, he moved into a coaching job with thePeterborough Petes of theOntario Hockey League (OHA), the Montreal Canadiens' junior farm team.
Bowman moved into the NHL in1967 when he joined the expansion St. Louis Blues as an assistant coach under general manager and head coachLynn Patrick. However, Patrick resigned as coach after a slow start, and Bowman took over at age 34.[6] The Blues made it to theStanley 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 the1970–71 season but left due to a dispute with team ownership.[7]
Al MacNeil took over as head coach in of theMontreal Canadiens in December 1970 and led them to a Stanley Cup victory, but in the process alienated many fans when he benchedHenri Richard in the Cup finals.[8][9] A few weeks after winning the1971 Stanley Cup, MacNeil decided to resign as the head coach and become both the general manager and coach of the Canadiens' main farm team, theNova Scotia Voyageurs.[10] Bowman was hired the same day that MacNeil resigned and joined the Canadiens as head coach on June 10, 1971.[11] General managerSam Pollock hired Bowman, in part, because he was fluently bilingual in English and French.[12] 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 round both years, as thePhiladelphia Flyers won the Stanley Cup.
From 1976 to 1979, Bowman won four consecutive Stanley Cups with a talented Canadiens squad that includedGuy Lafleur,Steve Shutt,Larry Robinson, andKen 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.[13] The reason for the falling-out was the team's decision to pass him over as the new general manager of the club in September 1978, as they hiredIrving Grundman, a Pollockprotégé, instead.[14] 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, behindToe Blake in both categories.[15] 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.[16]
For the1979–80 season, Bowman moved to theBuffalo Sabres as coach and general manager.[17] He served as the team's general manager until 1987, doubling as coach on three separate occasions.[18][19][20][21][22] During this time, he missed the playoffs for the only time in his coaching career, in the1985–86 season. In his first year, he hired formerToronto Maple Leafs head coachRoger Neilson to be his associate coach.[23] For the 1980–81 season, Neilson became the head coach and Bowman focused on being the general manager. A dispute arose on how the team should be coached, forcing Neilson to part ways with the team in June 1981, and Bowman resumed being both coach and general manager.[24]
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 had coached in Montreal. Bowman resigned during the 1986–87 season and was replaced byGerry Meehan 12 games into the season.[25][26] He left the Sabres as coach with the most wins in their history; he has since been passed byLindy Ruff.[27] He then become the color commentator for theCBC'sHockey Night in Canada usually alongsideDon Wittman.[28]
He became the director of player personnel of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1990 and was inducted into theHockey Hall of Fame in 1991 as abuilder.[29][30][31]
In the summer,Bob Johnson, who had just won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins, was diagnosed withbrain cancer, forcing him to step down before he died on November 26, 1991. Bowman took over as the team's head coach[32][33][34] 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 thePatrick Division finals by theNew York Islanders coached byAl 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."[35][36]
In1993–94, Bowman became coach of theDetroit Red Wings,[37] and led them to a first-place finish in the Western Conference, but his Red Wings were ousted in the first round by theSan Jose Sharks. According to an apocryphal story, Bowman had difficulty in the maze-like tunnels of theSan Jose Arena, eventually having to be rescued after getting lost and twice locking himself into rooms.[38]
In 1995, the Red Wings made it to theStanley Cup Finals, their first finals appearance in29 years, but were swept by theNew Jersey Devils in four straight. In the1995–96 regular season, he won a record 62 games. However, they lost to theColorado Avalanche in the Western Conference finals.
In the 1997 playoffs, Bowman led the team to its first Stanley Cup in 42 years by sweeping thePhiladelphia Flyers 4–0. The Red Wings repeated the feat the following season (1998) by defeating theWashington Capitals in four games.
In 1999 and 2000, they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference semifinals, and in 2001 they were eliminated by theLos 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 theCarolina Hurricanes, four games to one. 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.[39][40] At the time of his retirement, he was second on the Red Wings' all-time wins list, behindJack Adams. He is now third, behind Adams andMike Babcock.
Bowman received theWayne Gretzky International Award in 2002.[41][42]
Bowman has coached theCanada men's national ice hockey team at the international level twice in his career. In the1976 Canada Cup his team won gold overCzechoslovakia and silver in the1981 Canada Cup against theSoviet Union.
| 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 inWest | 8 | 10 | .444 | Lost inStanley Cup Finals (MTL) |
| STL | 1968–69 | 76 | 37 | 25 | 14 | — | 88 | 1st in West | 8 | 4 | .667 | Lost inStanley Cup Finals (MTL) |
| STL | 1969–70 | 76 | 37 | 27 | 12 | — | 86 | 1st in West | 8 | 8 | .500 | Lost inStanley 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 inEast | 2 | 4 | .333 | Lost in quarterfinals (NYR) |
| MTL | 1972–73 | 78 | 52 | 10 | 16 | — | 120 | 1st in East | 12 | 5 | .706 | WonStanley 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 inNorris | 6 | 5 | .545 | Lost in semifinals (BUF) |
| MTL | 1975–76 | 80 | 58 | 11 | 11 | — | 127 | 1st in Norris | 12 | 1 | .923 | WonStanley Cup (PHI) |
| MTL | 1976–77 | 80 | 60 | 8 | 12 | — | 132 | 1st in Norris | 12 | 2 | .857 | WonStanley Cup (BOS) |
| MTL | 1977–78 | 80 | 59 | 10 | 11 | — | 129 | 1st in Norris | 12 | 3 | .800 | WonStanley Cup (BOS) |
| MTL | 1978–79 | 80 | 52 | 17 | 11 | — | 115 | 1st in Norris | 12 | 4 | .750 | WonStanley 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 inAdams | 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 inPatrick | 16 | 5 | .762 | WonStanley 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 inCentral | 3 | 4 | .429 | Lost in Conference quarterfinals (SJS) |
| DET | 1994–95 | 48 | 33 | 11 | 4 | — | 70 | 1st in Central | 12 | 6 | .667 | Lost inStanley 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 | WonStanley Cup (PHI) |
| DET | 1997–98 | 82 | 44 | 23 | 15 | — | 103 | 2nd in Central | 16 | 6 | .727 | WonStanley 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 | WonStanley 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 | ||
In 2003, Bowman was inducted intoCanada's Walk of Fame.[43]
Since his retirement as coach in 2002, Bowman worked as a special consultant to the Red Wings.[44] 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 onHockey Night in Canada on January 12, 2008, confirming that he was very close to taking the job only to be turned away byRichard Peddie, CEO ofMaple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. (MLSE).[45][46] In July 2008, he took a position as senior advisor of hockey operations for theChicago Blackhawks to work alongside his sonStan Bowman, who was the general manager.[47] The Blackhawks'Stanley Cup victory in 2010 gave Bowman his 12th Stanley Cup including coaching and team management, and the Blackhawks'2013, and2015 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 theOrder of Canada "for his contributions to hockey as a coach and mentor".[48]
On February 8, 2017, it was announced that Bowman would receiveOrder of Hockey in Canada award in a ceremony on June 19.[49][50]
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As of January 2018, Bowman was living inSarasota, Florida, attending all of theTampa Bay Lightning home games in his role as the senior advisor of hockey operations for theChicago Blackhawks, whose general manager was his sonStan Bowman until October 26, 2021, when Stan resigned from the Blackhawks organization.
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