Every current NHL franchise’s most beloved head coach

Calgary Flames: Bob Johnson

Known simply as Badger Bob, Bob Johnson laid the foundation for the future of the Calgary Flames before their Stanley Cup victory in 1989 and was a beloved figure that the hockey community will never forget.

Johnson was a college hockey legend when he was recruited to join the Calgary Flames organization in 1982 from the NCAA’s Wisconsin Badgers. The Flames gave him one job — turn a raw and inexperienced team into a powerhouse that would win multiple Stanley Cups.

Over the five seasons Johnson coached the Flames, Calgary never missed the postseason. They even made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final in 1986, beating their arch enemy the Edmonton Oilers along the way, before bowing out to the juggernaut Montreal Canadiens in five games.

The Flames would lose to the Winnipeg Jets in the first round next season, and Johnson would go on and join USA hockey as the president. The groundwork for the Flames was already set, so all the Flames had to do was call on their minor league coach Terry Crisp, and the rest would fall into place. Crisp finished Johnson’s work, winning back to back Presidents’ Trophies and the franchises first and only Stanley Cup in 1989.

After leaving the Flames organization, Johnson joined the Pittsburgh Penguins and coached them to their first Stanley Cup, putting the final touch on a hall of fame career. In a tragic turn of events, Johnson was diagnosed with brain cancer only a few months later and tragically passed away in November of the same year at 60 years old.