Ranking the most handsome coaches in the NHL

#32. Edmonton Oilers – Jay Woodcroft

Gulls fans will be familiar with Woodcroft via his stint with the Condors for the past few seasons. The Gambling.com article via the app ranked him the most handsome coach overall and the Oilers media absolutely ran with it because I guess its hard to find things to celebrate about in Edmonton.

In addition to being the youngest looking coach in the NHL he also has massive teachers pet energy and looks like the guy that sucks up to the boss or dobs you in for being late.

NOTE: I didn’t intentionally put Woodcroft at the bottom of my list because he came top of the Gambling.com list. It just worked out that way.

Handsome Rating: 7/10

Daddy Factor: 1/10

Overall: 8/20

Yes it was traffic again, none of your business Jay, go back to checking your crypto.

#31. Detroit Red Wings – Derek Lalonde

Lalonde didn’t have much of a playing career but has had a fairly successful if short coaching career thus far. Starting in the NCAA, then the USHL, the ECHL and the AHL with the Iowa Wild before perfectly timing landing a spot as an Assistant with the Lightning and winning two Stanley Cups before his old buddy Stevey Y nabbed him to start anew in Detroit.

The man is very white and very bald. Uncle Fester vibes? Or Kingpin? Mafia boss? Yeah I dunno, not for me.

Handsome Rating: 3/10

Daddy Factor: 6/10

Overall: 9/20

Please don’t put a hit out on me.

#30. Calgary Flames – Darryl Sutter

Not much needs to be said about Sutter. One of seven brothers – six of whom made the NHL. He sits firmly atop the “Old Boys Club” having coached with the Blackhawks, Sharks, Flames, Kings, Ducks and now the Flames again.

He makes super cute faces sometimes but has a tendency to mumble in an almost growl-like fashion, which I guess you could be into but I dunno I kind of like to hear what folks are saying clearly.

Handsome Rating: 3/10

Daddy Factor: 8/10

Overall: 11/20

He can talk dirty (tell me about leading the Kings to both Cup Championships) all he wants I still wont understand a word he says.

#29. Chicago Blackhawks – Luke Richardson

Richardson is another of those that feels too young or recently retired to be an NHL coach – having retired after playing 21 seasons in 2008. Richardson started with Ottawa and spent the majority of his time with the Sens farm team before moving on to Assistant roles with the Islanders and Canadiens. He was named head coach of the Blackhawks this past summer.

A very handsome man, he has the vintage Hollywood leading man look locked down and despite being in his 50s, still looks early 40s. Will see how that changes as he spends more time coaching in the NHL.

Handsome Rating: 9/10

Daddy Factor: 3/10

Overall: 12/20

Would probably spend the entire time wondering how his jaw line is so perfect.

#28. Arizona Coyotes – Andre Tourigny

The latest in a long list of coaches for the Coyotes, Tourigny has been an Assistant Coach at the NHL level with the Avalanche and Senators before going back to coach in the QMJHL and then the OHL for much of the last ten years. Joining the Coyotes in 2021 he has set about turning the misfortunes around for the desert dogs.

Not exactly my type – he seems a bit too intense and in this picture gives off huge stabby-stab vibes.

Handsome Rating: 5/10

Daddy Factor: 8/10

Overall: 13/20

French accent might help but I still don’t think I’d go there.

#27. Carolina Hurricanes – Rod Brind’Amour

It is really hard to fathom that Brind’Amour is in his 50s, it only feels like yesterday that he retired at the conclusion of the 2010 season. Possibly the best and only good thing to have ever happened to the Hurricanes franchise – Brind’Amour has successfully made hockey consistently relevant in the non-traditional south eastern hockey market.

Not exactly your clean edged handsome looker, more the rugged action hero Sylvester Stallone type – you cant really look past that huge nose and wonder things…

Handsome Rating: 6.5/10

Daddy Factor: 7/10

Overall: 13.5/20

Would still entertain his storm surge.

#26. Columbus Blue Jackets – Brad Larsen

You might be surprised to know that Larsen was a one-time Duck – acquired from Atlanta in the Schneider trade but as per the kind of luck that generally accompanies such things – he was sidelined by a hernia problem that took him out for the entire season. He started his coaching career in the AHL with the Springfield Falcons before moving on to become an Assistant Coach with the Blue Jackets and eventually named to be their Head Coach before last season.

Not traditionally handsome nor overly cute – he does kind of remind me of Jason Statham or like that guy that comes to look at the leak under your sink.

Handsome Rating: 6.5/10

Daddy Factor: 7/10

Overall: 13.5/20

Might check his builders crack as he looked under the sink.

#25. Nashville Predators – John Hynes

I guess you could say “bald white guy” coaches are so in this season.

Hynes is the same age as Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis and started his coaching career in the NCAA before moving onto Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the AHL and then the Devils in 2015. He was let go by the Devils in 2019 but was picked up by the Predators the very next month to replace Peter Laviolette.

He has big public defense lawyer energy and kind of weird eyebrows that also make him look like the real life version of the guy from the Hitman games.

Handsome Rating: 6.8/10

Daddy Factor: 7.8/10

Overall: 14.6/20

Do bald guys shine their heads? They always look so shiny in pictures. This isn’t a euphemism.

#24. Boston Bruins – Jim Montgomery

Montgomery retired in 2005 after a somewhat sporadic NHL career that began in the 90s. Since then he has made his way through the College coaching ranks before securing the head coach position with the Stars in 2018 – but was fired just over a year later for “inappropriate behavior”. He was brought on by the Blues as an Assistant last year and then the Bruins this year as Head Coach.

Handsome Rating: 7/10

Daddy Factor: 8/10

Overall: 15/20

I’d have a drink or two with him.

#23. Dallas Stars – Pete DeBoer

DeBoer feels like the hottest thing in retreads right now having been Head Coach of four different teams since 2011. He is probably best known for taking both the Devils and the Sharks to the Stanley Cup finals in his first year coaching them.

Has big disappointed-in-you Dad energy and also looks like every High School science teacher ever. Needs to smile more.

Handsome Rating: 7/10

Daddy Factor: 8.5/10

Overall: 15.5/20

Even with all of that said. He could still keep me after class.

#22. Ottawa Senators – DJ Smith

Smith is part of the new wave of NHL Coaches just starting out in their careers. He started out coaching in the OHL, helping the Windsor Spitfires to a Memorial Cup win in 2009 as an Assistant Coach before moving on to become Head Coach of the Oshawa Generals in 2012. He landed a position with the Leafs as an Assistant in 2015 helping to improve their record over a four year span before being snapped up by the Senators in 2019.

Smith has big used car salesman energy but also a touch of fun cute suburban Dad that makes for a kind of weird adorable mix.

Handsome Rating: 7.6/10

Daddy Factor: 7.9/10

Overall: 15.5/20

Yes…. Ha Ha Ha… YES!

#21. Los Angeles Kings – Todd McLellan

We as Ducks fans know this guy – having coached the Sharks for almost a decade before moving onto the Oilers for three years and now behind the bench for the Kings.

McLellan has big “coached almost every Ducks rival team ever” energy and thus by default doesn’t look that attractive to me as the face of mine enemies. But if I must put that aside he does kind of look like a guy I once briefly dated and is one of those men where facial hair suits them to the point where they look incredibly odd without it. Also kind of gives off slight BDSM vibes.

Handsome Rating: 7/10

Daddy Factor: 8.6/10

Overall: 15.6/20

Yes I know “three game series lead” is a weird choice for a safe word but just go with it.

#20. New York Rangers – Gerard Gallant

Gallant is probably most well known for being the inaugural coach of the Vegas Golden Knights and seeing them set all sorts of records by an expansion team en-route to a Stanley Cup Finals appearance in their debut season. Oh yeah he is also pretty well known for that Taxi thing after he was fired by the Panthers.

He has really intense but also super cute eyes and kind of gives me “Dad from American Beauty” vibes – no not Kevin Spacey the other one.

Handsome Rating: 7.2/10

Daddy Factor: 8.7/10

Overall: 15.9/20

I’d drive him home instead of making him wait for a Taxi.

#19. New Jersey Devils – Lindy Ruff

Ruff is probably best known for his time behind the Buffalo Sabres bench from 1997 to 2013 – reaching the Cup finals in 1999 where they lost to the Stars in what will now forever be known as “the skate in the crease” series. Since then he has done brief stints behind the Stars (yep), Rangers and now the Devils bench. He even played for the Gulls in 1992-1993 but you probably already knew that.

Ruff has been around so long its hard to really comment on his looks – he does have that signature semi adorable forlorn frown look locked down and can rock a mean mustache – goatee combo as well as being possibly the only coach (other than possibly Mike Babcock) to make the outdoor-classic bomber-jacket work.

Handsome Rating: 7.5/10

Daddy Factor: 8.5/10

Overall: 16/20

If I ever named a dog after an NHL coach it would be him.

#18. Anaheim Ducks – Dallas Eakins

Coming in at 18 is our nearest and dearest. There is no denying that the former Gulls coach is a handsome man. Often compared to David Tennant he brings not only a stern yet warm demeanor but a sometimes old-school mentality to an otherwise youthful appearance.

Ran out of Edmonton before being rescued by the Ducks via a stint in San Diego – the man is a gigantic fitness freak and seemingly hasn’t stopped running since.

We can all only hope to look like he does when we are in our mid-50s – what an absolute specimen!

Handsome Rating: 10/10

Daddy Factor: 6/10

Overall: 16/20

He can call me young man all he likes.

#17. Buffalo Sabres – Don Granato

Granato spent his playing career in the USHL and NCAA before moving on to coaching in the same leagues as well as in the ECHL. His first gig in the NHL came in the form of an Assistant role under Joel Quenneville for the Blackhawks before moving onto to an Assistant role for the Sabres then became their interim head coach after the firing of Ralph Krueger.

He gives off massive nerd Dad energy and kind of looks like the late Steve Jobs.

Handsome Rating: 8/10

Daddy Factor: 8/10

Overall: 16/20

I may or may not try to distract him during his iPhone presentation.

#16. Seattle Kraken – Dave Hakstol

Hakstol has had a somewhat rough start to his NHL coaching career, securing the head coaching position with the Flyers in 2015 but was fired after three seasons for failing to get them past the first round. He had been a successful coach in the NCAA – leading North Dakota to the Frozen Four seven times and was an eight-time finalist for national coach of the year. When he was named as the first Head Coach in history for the expansion Seattle Kraken many an eyebrow was raised but he has shown thus far in their second season that Seattle GM Ron Francis might have been onto something.

He has one of those “constantly surprised” faces and looks much much much better without facial hair. He is also another coach on this list that does not look his age – hell at the age of 56 he could have played Eamond Targaryen instead of that kid who looked thirty.

Handsome Rating: 8.3/10

Daddy Factor: 7.7/10

Overall: 16/20

Whats wrong? Oh nothing you just looked surprised by something.

#15. San Jose Sharks – David Quinn

Quinn is somehow 56 despite looking in his early 40s. He started his coaching career in the NCAA before moving onto the AHL and then moving up to the Colorado Avalanche as an Assistant Coach in 2012. He landed a Head Coaching position with the Rangers in 2018 but was fired in 2021 after they failed to make the playoffs. He then coached the US Mens team at the 2022 Olympics as a replacement for Mike Sullivan after the NHL pulled out due to Covid concerns. That same summer he was named Head Coach of the Sharks.

Quinn has massive Real Estate Agent energy with flawless boyish good looks that – as noted above – somehow do not diminish over time. Wouldn’t look out of place in a True Blood reboot.

Handsome Rating: 10/10

Daddy Factor: 6/10

Overall: 16/20

No I don’t want to sell my house please stop putting leaflets in my letter box – but you can “hold me accountable” all you want 😉

#14. Colorado Avalanche – Jared Bednar

Bednar made is way up through the coaching ranks starting in the ECHL then moving through the AHL and finally landing with the Avalanche in the NHL. He is the first and only coach to have won the Championship for all three leagues as a coach.

He kind of gives me no-nonsense Italian businessman vibes and in more recent pictures has gone full salt and pepper. Needs to keep his hair short though, not a fan of the long hair he has rocked in the past.

Handsome Rating: 8/10

Daddy Factor: 8.5/10

Overall: 16.5/20

Ooooh papà, tell me again how you took a 22-56-4 team to a Stanley Cup Championship in six seasons.

#13. Vegas Golden Knights – Bruce Cassidy

Cassidy had a brief playing career that saw 36 games with the Blackhawks through the 80s before retiring in the late 90s. He started coaching in the IHL – moving through a few teams before eventually jumping right into a head coaching role with the Capitals in 2002. From there he went to the Blackhawks as an Assistant, the OHL, the AHL, then to the Bruins in 2016 and landing with the Golden Knights this season.

Cassidy is one of those ageless types – with a face that looks ten years younger than his current age (57) and he kind of looks like he would be a dead ringer to play Stiflers Dad if American Pie had ever shown him on screen during the series of films.

Handsome Rating: 7.7/10

Daddy Factor: 8.8/10

Overall: 16.5/20

Would share a Pale Ale with him.

#12. Washington Capitals – Peter Laviolette

Laviolette started his coaching career in the ECHL, swiftly moving up to the AHL and was then promoted within the Bruins organization to an Assistant role. He got his first head coaching job with the Islanders in 2001, he then bounced around from the Hurricanes, Flyers, Predators and now the Capitals. He has coached 1,348 games and counting.

He kind of gives me Army General vibes and is definitely a no time-for-bullshit, take-charge type. At the same time he does have a soft face, that is rounded, with no obvious sharp jaw line that lends a sort of mysterious air to him. I bet he would absolutely croon some Sinatra at your best friends wedding.

Handsome Rating: 7.8/10

Daddy Factor: 8.8/10

Overall: 16.6/20

Fly me to the Moon Lavy

#11. New York Islanders – Lane Lambert

Apologies to all the Lanes out there but I can’t help but feel sorry for you that the word “Lame” is probably your least favorite word in the English language.

That aside – Lambert has the unfortunate coincidence of looking kind of like a former boss I once had that I now cannot stand the sight of. He rates high on the handsome rating but teeters dangerously on the edge of too-good-looking-for-his-own-good territory – and at 57 he has aged very well, looking at least ten years younger than his age to me. He carries big “judgmental Dad” energy – the kind whose daughter you were not good enough to date.

Handsome Rating: 9.5/10

Daddy Factor: 7.5/10

Overall: 17/20

Yes sir its a Toyota Corolla, no sir I don’t have comprehensive insurance, yes sir I will have her back by ten. Wait what?

#10. St. Louis Blues – Craig Berube

Berube had a reputation as bruiser during his playing days and that hasn’t changed a heck of a lot in the molding of his teams as a coach. He started his coaching career as a player-assistant coach for the Phantoms before being named their head coach prior to the 2006-2007 season. He quickly shot up within the organization to become the Flyers head coach in 2013. Over the next few years he moved between various head roles between the NHL and AHL before landing with the Blues as an Assistant and eventually being named interim head coach in 2018 en route to leading St Louis to their first Stanley Cup.

Sort of gives of Eastern European mob boss vibes and looks like any character from a Guy Ritchie film. Carries some big “Dom Daddy” energy though.

Handsome Rating: 7.7/10

Daddy Factor: 9.4/10

Overall: 17.1/20

You take sugar? No thank you, Turkish; I’m sweet enough.

#9. Vancouver Canucks – Bruce Boudreau

Everybody loves Bruce. He is possibly the most down to earth and self deprecating man behind the bench in the NHL. So much so that when it was raised with him by the Vancouver media that he finished 16th overall in the Betting.com handsome coach rankings he remarked “There must have been an awful lot of blind people doing that poll!”. Well you made the top ten on my list Bruce!

At 67 he is the oldest coach in the NHL and has made the rounds – getting his start with the Capitals before moving onto the Ducks, then Minnesota and now Vancouver. He had some great times in Anaheim but was eventually let go due to seemingly being unable to win a game seven.

Bruce has by far the most daddy energy of any of the other coaches on this list while also being the kindest and most gentle looking. He is that Dad that went on his kids school camp trips that all the other kids fell in love with and wished he was their Dad.

Handsome Rating: 7.2/10

Daddy Factor: 10/10

Overall: 17.2/20

I’m pretty sure the series wouldn’t even make it to seven games. 😉

#8. Philadelphia Flyers – John Tortorella

There probably isn’t a current coach in the NHL with a bigger reputation than “Torts”. Known as “no nonsense” and almost sadomasochistic in working his players to get results he has been head coach of the Lightning (taking them from cellar dwellers in 2000 to a Stanley Cup in 2005) the Rangers, Canucks, Blue Jackets and now the Flyers. Teams seem to view him as coach that can take an under-performing team and either turn them into a contender or potentially psychologically damage their prospects.

Love or hate him – he is a bit of a silver fox and a handsome man in his own right. I’m not so much into confrontation or constantly being belittled and yelled at though so I’ll pass.

Handsome Rating: 8.8/10

Daddy Factor: 8.6/10

Overall: 17.4/20

Please stop yelling at me I just want to know if I can change the channel.

#7. Pittsburgh Penguins – Mike Sullivan

Sullivan began his coaching career in the AHL with the Providence Bruins, making his way up through the organization to become Head Coach of the Boston Bruins in 2003. After being fired a few years later he then served in various assistant roles with the Lightning, Rangers and Canucks. He was then brought on as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins head coach in 2015 – moving up to Pittsburgh during that season after the firing of Mike Johnston and winning the Stanley Cup in back to back seasons in the process.

Sullivan has classic “perfectly aged jock” looks and seems like he would be super fun given how many pictures on google image search he is smiling in as compared to the other coaches in this ranking list.

Handsome Rating: 8.7/10

Daddy Factor: 9/10

Overall: 17.7/20

I don’t really have anything else to say here.

#6. Minnesota Wild – Dean Evason

Evason had a fairly lengthy playing career as a defensive forward before beginning his coaching tenure in the WHL. He got his NHL start with the Capitals as an Assistant in 2005 before getting a head coaching role in the AHL with Milwaukee – compiling the second most wins in team history over six seasons there. In 2018 he was brought into Minnesota as an Assistant before eventually becoming head coach after Bruce Boudreau was let go.

Ticks all the boxes as a handsome looking man and kind of looks like if Woody Harrelson still had hair. Also doesn’t hurt that he looks really good in a suit and tie.

Handsome Rating: 8.8/10

Daddy Factor: 9/10

Overall: 17.8/20

Would definitely let him double tap.

#5. Montreal Canadiens – Martin St. Louis

Can you believe Martin St. Louis is 47 years old?

Neither and it still doesn’t make sense in my head. It only feels like yesterday he was breaking the hearts of Calgary fans everywhere en-route to helping the Tampa Bay Lightning win their first Stanley Cup.

In 2017 he was offered the head coaching job of the Hartford Wolf Pack but turned it down due to his desire to focus on his son’s youth hockey teams. Then in February of this year he was named interim head coach of the Canadiens following the firing of Dominique Ducharme and has not looked back.

It feels wrong to comment on the looks of a player I used to love watching but the guy has aged very well and I guess that’s all I will say about that.

Handsome Rating: 9.4/10

Daddy Factor: 8.8/10

Overall: 18.2/20

Mr St. Louis? Can I please I have your autograph?

#4. Toronto Maple Leafs – Sheldon Keefe

Keefe is the current youngest coach in the NHL at age 42. He retired from playing in 2005 after making his NHL debut in 2000 with the Lightning. Swiftly making his way through the coaching ranks he started in the CCHL, moving to the CJHL then to the OHL and then the AHL with the Marlies. After winning a Calder Cup with the Marlies, Keefe was promoted to the Leafs in 2019 and moved right into the head coaching job after Mike Babcock was fired.

Keefe goes against the grain and looks a lot older than his age thanks in part to a great head of salt and pepper hair. I guess coaching in Toronto does age you ten years but this does benefit his Daddy Factor numbers. It took me a beat but I realised he reminds me a lot of Sean Astin.

Handsome Rating: 9.4/10

Daddy Factor: 8.9/10

Overall: 18.3/20

He can carry me to the pit of doom and lecture me on potatoes any time he wants.

#3. Tampa Bay Lightning – Jon Cooper

Cooper played hockey while studying and practicing law in Michigan before beginning his coaching career at a local High school. He has done his time and worked is way up through the High School leagues, then the NAHL, the USHL and finally getting into the NHL via the Lightnings AHL club. He became head coach of the Lightning in 2013 and lead them to their best season in franchise history for points and wins – after some setbacks and failed attempts he eventually led them to back to back Cups in 2020 and 2021.

Cooper is perhaps the most smiley coach among all of those ranked but I guess he has reason to be happy; having won two Stanley Cups and good job security in an organization that is one of the best in the league.

He carries some huge handsome sexy lawyer energy but could also pass as a Senator or Diplomat; would even fit the part of a disgraced married political candidate that got snagged in a sexting scandal or caught with a rent boy.

Handsome Rating: 9.4/10

Daddy Factor: 9.1/10

Overall: 18.5/20

Would allow him to approach my bench.

#2. Florida Panthers – Paul Maurice

Maurice currently holds the record for youngest coach to reach the 1,000 game mark and has spent time with the Hurricanes, Leafs, Hurricanes again, Metallurg in the KHL, the Jets and now the Panthers.

His look fits perfectly into my stern principal fantasy which is probably telling you way too much about me but needless to say he fits both the handsome factor and the Daddy criteria for me.

Handsome Rating: 9/10

Daddy Factor: 10/10

Overall: 19/20

Yes sir, I’m sorry sir, yes sir I will pull my socks up.

#1. Winnipeg Jets – Rick Bowness

Bowness has the distinction of being the only active NHL coach who also coached a team in the 80s, starting with the OG Winnipeg Jets. He then moved on to the Bruins for one season, then the Senators for the early 90s, the Islanders, the Coyotes, the Stars and now back to the new Winnipeg franchise. Guy gets around.

Looks sort of like Phil Collins if he had hair or the lead detective in every late 90s British Crime drama ever. Can absolutely rock a mullet. He has one of the least intimidating, most warm and friendly faces on this list with some deceptively strong daddy energy.

Handsome Rating: 9.5/10

Daddy Factor: 9.6/10

Overall: 19.1/20

Ok you got me, DCI Bowness, it was me. Please don’t arrest me, I’ll do anything….