Scotty Bowman

William Scott Bowman, born September 18, 1933, is a Canadian former NHL head coach. He holds the all-time record for regular-season wins (1,244) and playoff wins (223), and his 14 Stanley Cup victories rank second overall among players, coaches, and executives. Bowman coached the St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings. He served as senior advisor of hockey operations for the Chicago Blackhawks until July 2022. He is considered the greatest coach in NHL history.

As a head coach, Bowman won a record nine Stanley Cups: five with Montreal, one with Pittsburgh, and three with Detroit—the only coach to lead three different teams to titles. He also won five Cups in front-office roles, including director of player development for the 1991 Penguins, a consultant with the Red Wings, and senior advisor for the Blackhawks. His teams reached the Stanley Cup Finals a record 13 times and the semifinals 16 times. He won the Jack Adams Award in 1977 and 1996. In 1976–77, he set a record with 60 wins, breaking his own mark of 58 from the previous season. He broke it again in 1995–96 with 62 wins, holding the record for 46 years. His eight losses in 1976–77 remain a modern record for fewest defeats.

Bowman played junior hockey for the Montreal Junior Canadiens until a fractured skull from an unintentional slash by Jean-Guy Talbot in the 1952 playoffs ended his playing career. He began coaching in 1956 as an assistant to Sam Pollock with the Ottawa-Hull Canadiens in the Quebec Junior Hockey League. The next season, as head coach, his team won the 1958 Memorial Cup. He then coached the Peterborough Petes, Montreal’s junior farm team in the OHA.

He entered the NHL in 1967 as an assistant coach for the expansion St. Louis Blues under Lynn Patrick. After a slow start, Patrick resigned, and Bowman took over at age 34. The Blues reached the Stanley Cup Finals in their first three seasons as Western Conference champions. Bowman also became general manager in summer 1968. He left after the 1970–71 season due to a dispute with ownership.

In June 1971, Bowman became head coach of the Montreal Canadiens, hired partly for his fluency in English and French. His team lost in the first round in 1972 but won the Cup in 1973. After two more first-round exits, the Canadiens won four straight Cups from 1976 to 1979 with stars like Guy Lafleur, Steve Shutt, Larry Robinson, and Ken Dryden. Bowman’s teams won at least 45 games each season. He stepped down after 1978–79 after being passed over for general manager in favor of Irving Grundman. He ranks second in Canadiens history in wins and winning percentage, behind Toe Blake.

For the 1979–80 season, Bowman joined the Buffalo Sabres as coach and general manager. He served as GM until 1987, doubling as coach three times. In 1985–86, his only season missing the playoffs, he hired Roger Neilson as associate coach. Neilson became head coach in 1980–81, but a coaching dispute led to his departure in June 1981, and Bowman resumed both roles. The Sabres remained competitive but never matched his Montreal success. Bowman resigned 12 games into the 1986–87 season, replaced by Gerry Meehan. He left as the Sabres’ winningest coach, later surpassed by Lindy Ruff. He then worked as a color commentator for CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada.