The Best NHL Coaches of the Past Two Decades (part 2)

4. Mike Babcock

Playoff Record: 2008 Stanley Cup Champion, 2003, 2009 Conference Champion

All-Time Record: 408-205-19-78

Starting his head coaching in 2002-03, Mike Babcock led the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim to the Stanley Cup Finals and eventually lost in seven games to Pat Burns’ Devils.

He has enjoyed perennial success since taking over as head of the Detroit Red Wings. He led the team to 58-16-8 and finish his first season with 124 points – just eight shy of the all-time record. Thanks to his coaching, the team won in 2007-08 Stanley Cup finals and lost in Game 7 the following year.

Not having missed the playoffs since long before Babcock took over, the Red Wings seem to always be near the top of the standings and have won six of seven division titles since Babcock’s time. Although their success comes almost from their extremely skilled players, we need to admit that not every coach has the ability to lead a team to perform at such a high level every season.

Babcock also help the Wings to gain the longest active streak after having won at least one playoff series in each of the last five seasons.

5. Peter Laviolette

Playoff Record: 2006 Stanley Cup Champion, 2010 Conference Champion

All-Time Record: 349-247-25-57

After leading the Islanders to win two seasons (an achievement in and of itself), Peter Laviolette took over for the Carolina Hurricanes and won the Stanley Cup in 2006 – his first full season with the team.

Since then, he coached the Hurricanes and helped they have three more winning seasons before he decided to go on to Philadelphia. In his first year with the later, they together came to the Stanley Cup Finals.

In the two seasons after that, he has consistently led Philly to remain one of the best teams in the league, in spite of massive player turnover.