John Stevens, Ken Holland named The Hockey News' coach, executive of the year
John Stevens led the Flyers to within one series of the Stanley Cup after finishing dead last the previous season. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Jason Kay
2008-07-21 17:33:54
Our NHL coach of the year is being recognized for what we believe is an underrated turnaround.
John Stevens’ Flyers went from last overall in the NHL in 2006-07, to sixth in their conference, posting a points improvement of 39.
The only coach who came close to matching the feat in 2007-08 was Washington’s Bruce Boudreau (plus-24). That the Flyers toppled the Capitals in the first round of the playoffs, then upset the No. 1-seeded Canadiens in Round 2, carried significant weight in our decision.
"There was a lot of pressure on John and his staff coming into this season," said chairman Ed Snider in a statement. "It's truly remarkable what he was able to accomplish, taking us from last place a season ago into the Eastern Conference Finals. Our entire organization is extremely proud of all that John and his team accomplished this year. It is great that The Hockey News has recognized John with this honor."
Stevens demonstrated a slick touch working with his youthful lineup, helping instill confidence and develop the talent he’d been handed.
"John did an exceptional job in his first full season as a head coach in the NHL and of our hockey club," said GM Paul Holmgren. "He and his staff worked well together and he is very deserving of this award."
A coach’s demeanor behind the bench can have a profound impact on the psyche of his players and Stevens’ calm countenance sent a loud message: panic, overreaction and complaining aren’t necessary.
"To me, this is more of an organizational award than a coaching award," said
Our executive of the year, Red Wings GM Ken Holland, is quick to reference some of his best decisions have been about team-building…in the front office.
He is surrounded by an elite staff of advisors, including assistant GM Jim Nill, vice-presidents Jimmy Devellano and Steve Yzerman, consultant Scotty Bowman, Euro super-scout Hakan Andersson and an exceptional coach in Mike Babcock.
And while our exec award takes into account both the regular season and playoffs, the roots of the honor snake down through several years of work; it’s not all about 2007-08.
What makes the Wings’ achievements more remarkable is they’ve done it without the aid of high draft picks and in spite of a cap system that is designed to discourage dominance.
Since the lockout ended, the Wings have amassed 352 regular season points, 36 more than the second-most successful club, Dallas.
They’ve punctuated that with six playoff round wins over the three-year stretch, tied with Anaheim for tops in the league.
Holland and company deserve kudos for landing Brian Rafalski as a free agent last off-season, but also for resisting temptation at the deadline to overpay for a hired gun.
Rather, they complemented their depth with Brad Stuart, rounding out an already superior defense corps.
Congratulations to both our winners.
Charles S Boone III (Posted 2008-08-05 17:42:34)
Hey wannbe's the Lords cup it has a D-town feel, you Philly fans ah..... never win butt act as you have , check the record book.... Chazbo.......
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-07-23 15:02:40)
Pat, "Fergie" (Sr.) was a fine hockey player, one of the toughest ever and with some skill to boot. However, he left a bit to be desired as a GM. Look at what he did with the Jets. Jimmy Mann as a first rounder? He was always entertaining, just not that good at the job. Jr. isn't entertaining, doesn't have the credibility from playing and just wasn't that good at the job. He's a yes mn to management. Surely you don't want him as an eventual GM of the Habs?
Pat (Posted 2008-07-23 11:25:58)
I think John Ferguson Jr. has what it takes to be executive of the year someday, he just needs the right scenario. The ownership was the problem in Toronto, not John. Since his dad played for my Habs, I could see him working for us someday. He'd make Gainey a fine assistant GM and then he could replace Gainey after we win a few cups in the next 5 years.
Flyerguy 16 (Posted 2008-07-23 10:41:53)
2 line pass- very insightfull. Do you understand the purpose of a chat room? It's for people who don't have any clout with their opinions.
Jordan (Posted 2008-07-23 10:39:31)
Who cares if our opinions have clout? We're here to discuss our opinions with others on the subject. We're commenting on the subject, hence the whole "leave a comment" feature this website, among many others have. You're statement is pretty irrelevent.
two line pass (Posted 2008-07-23 09:46:57)
if any of you had any clout with your opinions you would be doing something in a front office of the NHL rather than espousing here!
Troy (Posted 2008-07-22 23:33:57)
Ok...Detroit has been the top team for how long?? Holland should win every year than right?? Holmgren takes this team from the outhouse to conference final and gets no love. If the award is based on regular season stats the Wings havent changed there position in what 3 yrs? The fact the Flyers made the playoffs after their line-up has been flipped upside down proves not only how good Stevens was but how good a job Holmgren did getting the right players to play for him.
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-07-22 20:27:59)
Why waste space on idiots like "tiger Woods", "Homer Simpson", john clifford & Sean. Most of us read the articles and respond with our viewpoint. That said, has everyone forgotten the Flyers played most of the season without Gagne, Richards was hurt for a while, Lupul, etc. Stevens adjusted/juggled as required and got them to the final four. That's why THN named him coach of the year. Jessica, I don't care who you cheer for, recognize good teams like the Flyers when you see them. I don't like the Pengies (for instance), but recognize the skill of certain players.
Jordan (Posted 2008-07-22 15:43:42)
I'm a Pens fan and I wouldnt vote for Therrien. When Crosby and Fleury went down, Malkin and Conklin stepped upped and carried the team, Therrien didnt have much to do with those two getting hot. Then at the deadline he got Hossa and Gill and Crosby and Fleury returned from injury. The Pens were more talent driven then coach driven. Boudreau took a team that was toiling at the bottom of the conference, not even having a full season to work with the team and got them into the playoffs. He would definitely get my vote for that.
King Penguin (Posted 2008-07-22 14:24:00)
Pittsburgh plays for months without its best player - Sidney Crosby - and top goaltender - Marc-Andre Fleury - and still wins the division title. Then makes it the Stanley Cup finals with one of the youngest teams in the NHL. Michel Therrien is coach of the year. So sayeth King Penguin!
Flyerguy 16 (Posted 2008-07-22 11:43:42)
Jessica- any armchair quarterback can sit back and analyze why 29 teams didn't win the cup. Are you going to say that Pittsburgh was revealed to be a fraud by Detroit? Get real. Yes, a lot of things went right for the Flyers to get as far as they did including some bad opposition goal tending. You list all of the things the Flyers do poorly, still good enough to make it to the final four. Admit it Jessica, you hate the Flyers, always have always will. That's o.k, that's why sports is fun. But don't let your personal feelings get in the way of some basic hockey sense.The Flyers were quite good last year, not great, they have some issues to deal with (name a team that doesn't)that's it. It's only a award, nothing to get too bent out of shape about.You still haven't mentioned who you cheer for, give me an hour and I can easily pick them apart too.BTW, I've got nothing against the city of Nashville, just their hockey team.
Comic Book Guy (Posted 2008-07-22 11:03:44)
No, more like John...
John (Posted 2008-07-22 09:56:33)
You mean people like...... Homer Simpson?????
Homer Simpson (Posted 2008-07-22 09:48:19)
People who leave comments here have no life.
Tiger Woods (Posted 2008-07-22 09:36:45)
I don't think anyone watches hockey anymore...
Jessica (Posted 2008-07-22 09:34:19)
flyerguy is grasping--chosing to bash the city of Nashville etc rather than deal with reality. The reality is that that team couldn't defend, the number of shots allowed some nights was insane, and the inability to shut teams down lead to some of the highest scoring games in the playoffs. The flyers were the beneficiaries of poor goaltending by their opponents in both round 1 AND round 2. Huet is average at best, and Price melted down right before our eyes. You know it and so does everyone else. As soon as they played a team who could defend and score, the flyers were made to look like the frauds that they are. Trotz had 6 players stripped from him, including his goalie, and STILL made the playoffs. Stevens had how many? 9 new, good players to work with? By the way, I am not a Preds fans, in fact I can't stand them, but unlike you I am able to recognize the difference between a job well done and a job than anyone could have done.
Pat Stewart--Stevens took over the coaching job in Philly at game 9. He had much more than half of the season to work with. I agree, the executive of the year should have been Holmgren and the coach should have been Trotz, Carbo, Boudreau or even Babcock, definitely not Stevens.
Jordan (Posted 2008-07-22 08:49:52)
I agree with Sombrero Guy that it seems to be overlooked that this isnt a team who was mostly the same from the year before and Stevens got them to click; this was a totally revamped team wit a massive influx of talent, plus guys like Carter and Richards stepping up. I'm not saying he did a bad job or anything, but I would have given the nod to the three coaches who were nominated for the Jack Adams ahead of him easy. Plus, why are they using the playoffs as a measuring stick also? That gives and unfair advantage to sixteen coaches.
Pat Stewart (Posted 2008-07-22 07:55:00)
I think Stevens did an acceptable job as coach this season, but by no means was he coach of the year. Alot of stars aligned to get the Flyers to where they ended up this past season, and he really did benefit from the acquisitions his GM made in the off-season. Everyone is saying he coached this team from a last place finish, but noone is mentioning that he coached the team to half of that last place finish last year. He did much better this year, obviously, but that doesn't make him Coach of the Year. Carbonneau deserved it more until his coaching meltdown in the playoffs. Boudreau didn't coach the whole season, but his impact was certainly the greatest - and the impact is still being felt with the hirings in Atlanta, Ottawa and Florida. Trotz coached his ace off this year with that squad of also-rans. Babcock kept his team firing all season long, except for that 10 game skid they fought injuries through. Both are better choices. I love Kenny Holland as well, but this season, it really SHOULD have been Homer in Philly - the credit for their turnaround should lie on HIS shoulders, not Stevens'.
Flyer guy 16 (Posted 2008-07-22 01:06:51)
Oh yeah, it was Stevens first full season with the team. How many years has Trotz had with the Preds, not one playoff round victory. I guess you have a bunch of excuses at the ready about why that is. A lame hockey city, bad ownership, fire sale g.m. Nashville represents all that is wrong with hockey. Whoever decided this was the place for hockey (Bettman?) should give there head a shake. Any number of Canadian city's would be a lot better than that sorry mess(no offence to any genuine Preds fans)
Flyerguy 16 (Posted 2008-07-22 00:55:10)
You Stevens bashers are all coming off as having sour grapes. You could take any of the coach of the year candidates and make strong cases for all of them. You can also easily find fault with all of them (Babcock had a very strong team, Canadians are balanced,Trotz can't get past the first round) Jessica, how do you call the Flyers stacked? Sure, they signed some good(not great) players, they had some good talent to start with but stacked? He just stood behind the bench? the east is weaker than the west? easy competition? You've got it covered. Why not just fire Stevens, he clearly took the cup favourite and turned them into 3rd round failures! If anyone needs to look at reality it would be you. Stevens may not be a runaway clear cut choice but let's not make it out to be a travesty of justice. He took a team that finished dead last, added some new faces via free agency, some shrewd trades,some good young draft picks and guided them to the final four. Make all the lame excuses you want, I still have a lot more to feel optimistic about than a Preds fan. You likely won't even have a team to cheer for in a couple of years. Hope you like Kansas City.
Jessica Martin (Posted 2008-07-22 00:34:38)
You guys are right, Carbonneau deserves this distinction far ahead of John Stevens. How about Babcock? John Stevens didn't bring a team from last to the final 4. He brought a team that was struggling and sent them on 10 game losing streaks. He led that same team to DFL by a mile. Summer came and he then got handed a stacked deck and BARELY squeaked into the playoffs. Ask Holmgren how he was feeling about his 'coach of the year' around the game 75 mark? Stevens didn't do a darn thing that would warrant this kind of distinction over and above some of the other accomplishments that other coaches obtained. Stop looking at the big turnaround Hockey News, and start looking at reality.
Jessica Martin (Posted 2008-07-22 00:20:01)
Coach of the year? Get serious. He stood behind the bench while Holmgren provided him with a boatload of players to work with. The team couldn't defend, allowed a ton of shots every game, were undisciplined as heck and couldn't shut down any competition. The flyers were able to score goals and fortunately for them, they play in the east vs. opponents who couldn't defend either. Had the flyers played in the west, there is no way they get past the first round. They faced the easiest competition to the third round that I have seen in a long time. Their appearance was nothing more than smoke and mirrors. Trotz deserved coach of the year more than anyone including Boudreau. Stevens? What a joke.
MyNameIsJimmy (Posted 2008-07-21 23:43:56)
I think Holmgren AND Holland both deserve the title as best executive. I think THN decided that Holland should come on top for 2 reasons. 1) Detroit has had continued success. 2) While both teams have good rosters, Detroit has more cap space. But I still think both of them deserve it.
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-07-21 22:17:02)
Olivier, who do you think we could get for Briere (if he's trade-able)? How about if we throw in Hatcher?
Olivier (Posted 2008-07-21 22:09:51)
I don't completely disagree FlyerFan52 but I still think that goaltending is what can take the Flyers to the next level. The last time you had a legitimate chance to win the cup (exclude the loss to the Wings in 4), you had a top goalie to bring you there (Hextall). If I was Holmgren, I would be looking to move one of my assets at Center (Briere, Richards or Carter) for a top a goalie. Probably Carter...
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-07-21 21:51:46)
Olivier, I keep reading that the Wings don't have goal-tending. I think Marty is pretty good & Nitti is better than most teams starter. This team is SO close & just needs a little more experience. Of course, final 4 surprised me this year. It might not take 2 years.
Alexandre Bouchard (Posted 2008-07-21 21:32:30)
Guy Carbonneau deserve it more. He brings a team that was exclude of the series in 06-07 to the first place in the eastern. And with a team full of question mark. Kovalev , the young players , the defence. And anyway , i just hate the Flyers , maybe it's because of that too :D
Olivier Camet (Posted 2008-07-21 21:16:58)
The Flyers will not win the cup in the next two years. Why? No goaltending! Until the Flyers resolve that long-standing issue, they're going nowhere.
Sombrero Guy (Posted 2008-07-21 21:13:23)
Giving Stevens the award based on a point turn around from one year to the next? Really? Did you notice how different their rosters were from one year to the next? You don't think the obscene amount of money spent on new talent had anything to do with the turn around? Aren't we talking about the same John Stevens whose team almost collapsed on him in February?
The coach of the year is the guy who won the Jack Addams back in June. An award
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-07-21 20:56:48)
bostongm, much as I admire what Homer did for the Flyers, Holland resisted the temptation to make unnecessary charges. His team only needed tweaking. That's what the Islander & Oiler dynasties did & all the Wings needed. I'm not calling Detroit a dynasty (the Flyers take the Cup within the next 2 years) but it's hard to resist adding players that look great on paper but can upset team chemistry. Holland deserves it this year (sorry Homer).
bostongm (Posted 2008-07-21 20:26:58)
Holland is exec. of the year? COME ON!! He did TWO moves and he wins??!! Holmgren is/was clearly the best GM last season!!! Last place to 6th spot!!! Who did he bring in? He brought in more than 2 players!!! Holmgren got robbed!!! In fact.......they got it back-wards. Babcock deserves coach of the year and Holmgren deserves the exec. of the year awards. Another awards that goes to the wrong people. How lame.
Flyer guy 16 (Posted 2008-07-21 20:00:04)
Come on Tiger Woods, yes the team improved it's roster big time, but a great group of players who would have made the eastern final regardless of the coach? That's a stretch. Nobody picked my Flyers to even make the playoffs(too many new faces, no chemistry, defence too slow, ?'s in goal) I'm not saying he's the second coming of Scotty Bowman but give the guy a little bit of respect.
Olivier Kamienski (Posted 2008-07-21 19:52:02)
Bob, I respectfully disagree. Awards ARE based on expectations. Look at the Jack Adams Award. More often than not, it's awarded to the coach who improved his team's record the most. The Flyers added Briere, Lupul, Biron, Timonnen, Upshall, Smith and others during the 2007 off-season. No wonder they improved. Montreal added journey men like Hamrlik, Smolinski and Kostopoulos and still finished first.
Bob (Posted 2008-07-21 19:45:39)
Olivier, you don't base awards off of predictions...
Philadelphia DID finish last the season before and came all the way back. I'm sorry, but I don't think you know what hypocritical means, while they did get that prediciton way wrong, you don't base awards over your predictions, you base it on what actually happens...predictions are an educated guessing game.
maha (Posted 2008-07-21 19:44:38)
Stevens did an outstanding job. It takes a great coach to move a team from last to respectable. kudos. I love the habs but they looked lousy against Philly.
Olivier Kamienski (Posted 2008-07-21 19:37:43)
The Hockey News predicted that the Montreal Canadiens would finish near the bottom of the Eastern standings yet they finished first under Guy Carbonneau's guidance. Although John Stevens did a good job, I think this choice is hypocritical. Perhaps the Hockey News is trying to bury one of their worst predictions of all time...
Tiger Woods (Posted 2008-07-21 18:26:44)
C'mon. Stevens isn't special. He just happened to be coaching a great group of players, who could have gone to the East final with or without Stevens as coach.
Alicia (Posted 2008-07-21 18:20:39)
Stevens definitely deserves to be coach of the year. He took a team w/ a bunch of new players that never played together from worst in the league to Conference finals. And it wasn't always smooth sailing there were planty of bumps in the road like a 6 and 10 game losing streak that he had to pull the Flyers through.
Flyer guy 16 (Posted 2008-07-21 17:52:41)
Good call on the coach of the year. Although he had some decent talent to work with nobody expected a final four appearance. Next step, Craig Berube in the NHL as a head coach.
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