The Hockey News: Ken Campbell's blog: THN.com Blog: Hitchcock deserves more respect

Reach your Fundraising Goals with : The Hockey News - Click Here

THN.com Blog: Hitchcock deserves more respect

Ken Hitchcock is two wins away from reaching the 500 victory plateau. (Getty Images)

Ken Campbell
2009-02-18 13:40:00

Perhaps it’s because he coaches in one of the least sexy markets in the NHL.

Personally, I’m more inclined to think that even though he has shed hundreds of pounds from his junior coaching days, Ken Hitchcock still doesn’t get the love because he doesn’t cut the most svelte figure behind an NHL bench.

Whatever the case, why don’t more people talk about this guy as one of the greatest coaches of all-time? Why does Wayne Gretzky, whose coaching credentials aren’t even close to Hitchcock’s, have to take himself out of the running for the Canadian Olympic team, while Hitchcock works in the trenches for Hockey Canada without getting the same kind of treatment? (Players will tell you when the team went off the rails early in the 2002 Olympic tournament, it was Hitchcock, an assistant coach, who instilled the fundamentals that led to Canada winning the gold medal.)

Believe it or not, Hitchcock could win his 500th game as an NHL coach as early as Thursday night in Toronto. That would put him in a tie for 12th place on the all-time list with legendary Montreal Canadiens coach Toe Blake and one behind Pat Burns.

It’s a grand achievement for Hitchcock, who coached six seasons in the Western League and two in the minors before getting his chance with the Dallas Stars in 1996. A former compulsive overeater whose personal habits hit the skids when he lost his father during his teenage years, Hitchcock spent the bulk of his early coaching career enduring fat jokes.

After all, at one time he tipped the scales at north of 450 pounds. Opposing coaches in junior hockey used to arrange to have pizzas delivered to the Kamloops Blazers bench. Legendary coach Ernie “Punch” McLean once waved a hotdog at Hitchcock on the bench. (Hitch did manage to get back at him by covering one of his eyes. McLean is blind in one eye.)

Hitchcock undoubtedly has a couple hundred more wins in him before his coaching career ends, which will move him up several more notches on the all-time list. But what makes Hitchcock’s record more impressive is the fact that among the 12 other coaches with at least 500 wins, Hitchcock’s winning percentage is third, behind only Scotty Bowman and Blake.

Related Links

Hitchcock has only once been a runner-up for the Jack Adams Award as the league’s top coach, something that likely won’t change this season even if he manages to get the Columbus Blue Jackets into the playoffs. There just never seems to be a lot of buzz around Hitchcock, which is sad, because he’s one of the most innovative, intelligent and productive coaches in the game today.

Here’s how his record stacks up against others who have won 500 games. Coaches are listed in order of winning percentage:

Scotty Bowman 1244-574-323 (.656) – 9 Stanley Cups
Toe Blake 500-255-159 (.634) - 8 Stanley Cups
Ken Hitchcock 498-315-145 (.596) – 1 Stanley Cup
Pat Burns 501-353-165 (.573) – 1 Stanley Cup
Billy Reay 542-385-175 (.571) – 0 Stanley Cups
Pat Quinn 657-481-180 (.567) – 0 Stanley Cups
Al Arbour 782-577-248 (.563) – 4 Stanley Cups
Bryan Murray 620-465-154 (.562) – 0 Stanley Cups
Dick Irvin 692-527-230 (.557) – 4 Stanley Cups
Jacques Lemaire 528-405-171 (.556) – 1 Stanley Cup
Mike Keenan 659-519-183 (.551) – 1 Stanley Cup
Jacques Martin 517-406-175 (.551) – 0 Stanley Cups
Ron Wilson 539-452-157 (.538) – 0 Stanley Cups

Ken Campbell, author of the book Habs Heroes, is a senior writer for The Hockey News and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears Wednesday and Fridays and his column, Campbell's Cuts, appears Mondays.

For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, Subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.

COMMENTS (28)

Sort: Oldest | Newest Filter: All | Videos

Sheree Wisinger Posted
(2009-04-30 07:57:30)

Maybe you should look in the mirror when you say that Hitch doesn't get any recognition. The Jackets haven't been on the cover of your magazine in years. It is always the same teams. We have beaten all the top teams this year including shutting out Ovechkin and the Caps twice. You write a story about a guy and only talk about his weight!! We love Hitch here. I have been behind this team since day one and our time is coming. We ARE a hockey town!

bawston dude Posted
(2009-04-30 07:57:14)

Who says that he doesnt get any respect? I for one respect the man. Be he fat or skeletal. Maybe its YOU (Media people) guys that dont respect him. I hope he's coaching Team Canada next year in the Oly's. MY coaches for the Oly's: Hitchcock on D. Lindy Ruff on O. Babcock as the main guy. I have tremendous respect for these individuals. Maybe its time for everybody else to recognize.

bob ruth Posted
(2009-04-30 07:57:13)

As a rabid Blue Jackets fan, I admit I'm biased. But Ken hit the nail on the head. Hitchcock has been the Jackets' savior. He has a record of taking mediocre teams (Dallas, Philadelphia and Columbus) and getting them into the playoffs. He has performed a miracle in Columbus.

steve Posted
(2009-04-30 07:57:12)

hitches greatest attributes are that he is humble,and embraces a challenge.those attributes do not sell come voting time.

Jim Reinecke Posted
(2009-04-30 07:57:10)

Interesting premise, Ken. And Hitchcock is definitely under-rated (though I don't think this has the slightest connection with his being a lard-ass). But look at his career in the context of his time period. The era of a coach being able to demonstrate his knowledge of the game, his ability to motivate players and his adaptability to changes in the game seems to be long gone. We'll never see another Scotty Bowman and not only because a coach wouldn't be given the time to prove that he's in Bowman's class but, let's face it, Bowman didn't NEED a lot of time. When he came to a team, they played to their highest potential (Buffalo notwithstanding). But look at how fast coaches are sent to the guillotine in this day and age. We've had five walk the plank so far this season (and Tom Renney may be the sixth any day now) and two (Melrose and Hartsburg) were in their first season with their respective clubs. Three of the fired coaches have led teams to the Stanley Cup Finals (Melrose, Laviolette and Therrien) and Laviolette has won the ultimate prize. Did they suddenly submit to lobotomies and lose any ability to coach a major-league hockey team? With free agency being such a factor in today's game, player turnover can play havoc with a coach's system and his attempts to fit new personnel into that system. This is why I can respect GM's like Darcy Regier, David Poile and Doug Risebrough. They've kept coaches (Ruff, Trotz, Lemaire) on the job through thick and thin. Hitchcock, in the complicated terrain that an NHL coach must navigate these days, is one of the best in the business. . .right there with Mike Babcock.

Matt Lau Posted
(2009-04-30 07:57:03)

None

Jessie Posted
(2009-04-30 07:57:00)

I also just wanted to mention--the only coach to have a winning record against Scotty Bowman=Ken Hitchcock.

Jessie Posted
(2009-04-30 07:56:59)

THANK YOU!! Finally someone is willing to recognize the truth that exists! This man is one of the greatest hockey men in the game, and the fact that he flies under the radar (in the media world only mind you--REAL hockey people know how good he is) is unbelievable. Coaches like Lindy Ruff and Ted Nolan constantly get all kinds of props for winning NOTHING, yet Hitch quietly goes about his business turning average players into good ones and good players into great ones. The two best things to happen to the Blue Jackets recently were hiring Hitchcock and firing Maclean. Hitchcock and Howson have come in with a plan and they are slowly building a team to win for a long time. Anyone who claims that the jackets play boring hockey a. hasn't watched them play or b. has no appreciation for hard-nosed, efficient and responsible hockey. It is the difference between chess and checkers and Hitch is the Bobby Fisher of the hockey world.

Aussie Dave Posted
(2009-04-30 07:56:57)

I think Hitch is respected by the players, other coaches and GM's of the NHL. And at the end of that day, isn't that what counts? He's not a side show for other teams to laugh at. He turns teams into competitors. Is there a position that he can't improve? I think not. His goaltenders get better (see Eche, Mason, Belfour), makes forwards take the next step (see Modano, Primeau, Nash) and any defensive unit in the world be better off with him. Enough with the fat jokes, Hitch is the man. Hockey Canada knows it, the NHL knows it and maybe THN will write something a little more positive next time... (here's hoping!)