CrashingTheGoalie

by Ron Spence

Only three men in NHL history have both played in, and coached 800 games. One has retired, one is between jobs, and another is a current NHL coach.

Only 15 coaches in NHL history have coached 700 games with the same franchise. Of these 15, three are still NHL coaches.

And of the last three, one has been with the same General Manager for 20 years.

Who are they?

Bob Pulford, Jacques Lemaire, and Joel Quennville have both played in and coached 800 NHL games.

Barry Trotz, Lindy Ruff and Paul Maurice have coached 700 games for the same franchise.

Barry Trotz and Nashville GM David Poile first worked together when Poile was the Capitals’ GM. Trotz coached Washington’s top minor-league team, and became the Pred’s coach when  Poile built the Nashville team in 1997.

Thus, they have been together for two decades.