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NHL Power Rankings: Who is the best head coach in the league?

By Dave Stevenson

Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; A general view of the NHL shield logo before the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; A general view of the NHL shield logo before the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports /

#28: Michel Therrien

Michel Therrien of the Montreal Canadiens has been given some extremely talented teams during his career. However, he has not had success with them like people would expect. Therrien was never the ideal coach for the Penguins despite getting the opportunity to coach two elite NHL centers in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. It’s telling that the duo have done far better without him as their head coach than they did with him. The same season that they fired him, his replacement rallied the Penguins to winning the Stanley Cup.

Therrien has not been able to have success with the Canadiens despite a talented roster. Part of that falls on their front office, but Therrien’s stubborn coaching style and refusal to make changes was largely masked by the play of arguably the best goalie in the NHL, Carey Price. When Price doesn’t play, Therrien’s flaws are quite obvious. He’s had a talented NHL roster with the Habs but has never been able to help his team take it to the next level.

Montreal claims that his job is safe (for now). However, should he be fired, it’s difficult to see any team hiring him to be their head coach because he has been exposed during his time with the Canadiens.

Next: #27: Dave Cameron

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