Scotty Bowman is perhaps the most recognizable name in the history of the NHL for his prowess as a coach. He is considered, by many, to be the greatest NHL coach of all time. The Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres, and Detroit Red Wings each credited him with at least one Stanley Cup title and many other successful playoff runs. Bowman holds the record for the most wins by any NHL coach, tallying 1,244 while in the league. He has been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as well as the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.
Bowman was born in Montreal in 1933 and played hockey in his home city before beginning his coaching career. He started small, coaching the Ottawa-Hull Junior Canadiens of the Quebec Junior Hockey League in 1956. His team won the Memorial Cup, bringing Bowman recognition and earning him the head coaching position for the Montreal Junior Canadiens in 1959.
Bowman’s move to the NHL happened in 1967 when he was named head coach for the St. Louis Blues. He was the first coach in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup with three different teams: The Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings. He also holds records for most wins in the regular season, having won nine division titles, five regular-season conference titles, and four Stanley Cup Finals.
Under his guidance, the Montreal Canadiens won five straight Stanley Cup Championships in 1976-1980, a feat that has yet to be replicated. The Canadiens gave him the nicknames “The Professor” and “The Master” for his innovative strategies and ability to elevate the players around him. Bowman was also known for his fiery temper, adding a bit of fuel to his Montreal Canadiens dressing room.
After Montreal, Bowman joined the Buffalo Sabres as head coach from 1979-1987. While with Buffalo, he accumulated winning records in most of the regular seasons and qualified for the postseason five times, leading his team to three division titles.
In 1990, Bowman moved to the Pittsburgh Penguins, leading them to a Stanley Cup championship in 1991. After leaving the Penguins, he rejoined the Red Wings to lead them to Stanley Cup victories in 1997 and 1998, as well as three Presidents’ Trophies successes.
Scotty Bowman holds the record for most career wins with 1,244 wins in the regular season and 223 playoff victories. He has won the Stanley Cup 14 times as a coach or team executive.
Scotty Bowman also coached at the international level. He guided the Canadian Men’s National Team twice with a 1976 Canada Cup gold medal against Czechoslovakia and a silver medal in 1981 against the Soviet Union.
After retiring in 2002 with the Red Wings, Bowman continued to stay involved in the sport, serving as a special consultant for the Chicago Blackhawks until stepping down in July, 2022 The NHL recognizes him as the greatest coach of all-time, and Bowman remains an integral part of the history of the league.
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