Every NHL head coach has either played or coached at some level before becoming a “bench boss” in The Show. Maybe he was a solid NHL player. Or maybe he was a minor leaguer who grinded out a career. Or maybe he quit playing after junior hockey and got into coaching at a relatively young age.
Thus, almost every NHL head coach for the 2023-24 season had at least one hockey card issued during either their playing or coaching career. Here is each coach’s “rookie card” if they played in the NHL, or “first-ever” card if they played elsewhere. This list includes all the coaching changes made during the 2023-24 season.
Anaheim Ducks: Greg Cronin
Rookie Card: None!
Rarity: n/a
Age in Picture: n/a
Age Today: 60 years old.
Fun Facts: Greg Cronin has been either a head coach or an assistant coach for the past 35 years, yet he doesn’t have a single hockey card.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Anaheim Ducks (2023-24 to present).
Arizona Coyotes: André Tourigny
Rookie Card: 2020-21 By Cards Team Canada IIHF U20 World Championship #25
Rarity: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Age in Picture: 45 years old.
Age Today: 49 years old.
Fun Facts: Touringy is wearing a mask in the photo because the picture was taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many people wore masks to help reduce the spread of the virus.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Arizona Coyotes (2021-22 to present).
Boston Bruins: Jim Montgomery
Rookie Cards: 1993-94 Donruss #300, Fleer Power Play #431, Fleer Ultra #413, O-Pee-Chee Premier #488, Parkhurst #176, Pinnacle #438, Score American #621 (above), Score Canadian #621, Topps Premier #488 & Upper Deck #472
Rarity: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 24 years old.
Age Today: 54 years old.
Fun Fact: Montgomery had 10 different rookie cards issued during the 1993-94 season, which was his rookie year. He has the most rookie cards of any coach on this list. However, there are also parallel versions of his Topps, O-Pee-Chee, Score American, Score Canadian and Parkhurst cards, for a total of 15 different Montgomery RCs to collect.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Dallas Stars (2018-19 to 2019-20); Boston Bruins (2022-23 to present)
Buffalo Sabres: Don Granato
Second-Ever Card: 2000-01 Choice Worcester IceCats AHL #30. (I don’t have – and could not track down – Granato’s first-ever card, so his second-ever card will have to do here. Image courtesy of Center Ice Collectibles.)
Rarity: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: Around 34 years old.
Age Today: 55 years old.
Fun Fact: Don Granato is the younger brother of former NHLer Tony Granato and the older brother of former Olympian and Hockey Hall of Famer Cammi Granato.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Buffalo Sabres (midway through the 2020-21 season to present).
Calgary Flames: Ryan Huska
First Card: 1993-94 Kamloops Blazers (WHL) Team Issue #NNO (Image courtesy of Center Ice Collectibles.)
Rarity: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 18 years old.
Age Today: 48 years old.
Fun Fact: Ryan Huska played exactly one NHL game, with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1997-98, which was not enough to get him an official NHL rookie card. However, he did have a few cards from his junior and minor league days. Huska’s 1993-94 Kamloops Blazers card is his earliest hockey card.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Calgary Flames (2023-24 to present).
Carolina Hurricanes: Rod Brind’Amour
Rookie Cards: 1990-91 Bowman #23, O-Pee-Chee #332, Pro Set #259 (pictured), Score American #131, Score Canadian #131, Topps #332, Upper Deck #36 & Upper Deck French #36
Rarity: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 19 years old.
Age Today: 53 years old.
Fun Fact: Brind’Amour’s rookie cards came out during the 1990-91 season, and were so overproduced that they have virtually no value today.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Carolina Hurricanes (2019-20 to present).
Chicago Blackhawks: Luke Richardson
Rookie Card: 1988-89 O-Pee-Chee #245
Rarity: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 18 or 19 years old.
Age Today: 54 years old.
Fun Facts: Richardson played 21 years in the NHL. Out of all the head coaches on this list, Richardson has the second-most amount of regular season games played in the NHL (1,419) after Rod Brind’Amour (1,484).
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Chicago Blackhawks (2022-23 to present).
Colorado Avalanche: Jared Bednar
First-Ever Card: 1991-92 Seventh Inning Sketch WHL #11
Rarity: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 19 years old.
Age Today: 51 years old.
Fun Fact: Bednar grinded out a nine-year career playing minor league hockey, followed by another 14 years of coaching before getting a shot as an NHL coach. He played for three different teams – Spokane Chiefs, Medicine Hat Tigers and Prince Albert Raiders – during his final year of junior hockey.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Colorado Avalanche (2016-17 to present).
Columbus Blue Jackets: Pascal Vincent
First-Ever Card: 1990-91 7th Inning Sketch QMJHL #70
Rarity: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 19
Age Today: 52
Fun Facts: Vincent was first passed over for the role of head coach of the Blue Jackets, who opted to hire Mike Babcock instead. However, Babcock was fired before the start of the 2023-24 season, so Vincent was hired to replace a coach who never actually coached the team.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Columbus Blue Jackets (2023-24 to present).
Dallas Stars: Peter DeBoer
First-Ever Card: 1989-90 ProCards IHL #189
Rarity: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 21 years old.
Age Today: 55 years old.
Fun Facts: DeBoer was drafted by the Maple Leafs in 1988, and traded to the Canucks in 1989, but didn’t crack the lineup for either team. His earliest card pictures him with the Milwaukee Admirals of the old International Hockey League.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Florida Panthers (2008-09 to 2010-11); New Jersey Devils (2011-12 to 2014-15); San Jose Sharks (2015-16 to 2019-20); Vegas Golden Knights (2020-21 to 2021-22); Dallas Stars (2022-23 to present).
Detroit Red Wings: Derek Lalonde
First-Ever Card: 2014-15 Choice Marketing Toledo Walleye #20
Rarity: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 43 years old
Age Today: 50 years old.
Fun Fact: Lalonde has been involved in coaching over the past 20 years in various leagues. But he only had two cards, issued by the Toledo Walleye in 2014-15 and 2015-16.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Detroit Red Wings (2022-23 to present).
Edmonton Oilers: Kris Knoblauch
First-Ever Card: 1996-97 Red Deer Rebels (WHL) Team Issue #21
Rarity: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ – but only because *I* don’t have this card:) . It’s probably not that hard to find.
Age in Picture: 18 years old.
Age Today: 45 years old.
Fun Fact: Knoblauch was hired to replace Jay Woodcroft as the Oilers’ head coach midway through the 2023-24 season. He was the head coach of the OHL’s Erie Otters when McDavid played major junior hockey.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Edmonton Oilers (midway through the 2023-24 season to present).
Florida Panthers: Paul Maurice
First-Ever Card: 1993-94 Detroit Jr. Red Wings #23
Rarity: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 26 years old.
Age Today: 57 years old.
Fun Facts: Maurice wore two hats, as both the head coach and general manager of the OHL’s Detroit Jr. Red Wings.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Hartford Whalers (1995-96 & 1996-97); Carolina Hurricanes (1997-98 to 2003-04); Toronto Maple Leafs (2006-07 & 2007-08); Carolina Hurricanes (2008-09 to 2011-12); Winnipeg Jets (2013-14 to 2021-22); Florida Panthers (2022-23 to present).
Los Angeles Kings: Jim Hiller
Rookie Cards: 1992-93 3 Fleer Ultra #307 (pictured), O-Pee-Chee Premier #34, Parkhurst #70, Parkhurst #281, Pinnacle #399, Pinnacle Canadian #399 & Upper Deck #560.
Rarity: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 23 years old.
Age Today: 54 years old.
Fun Facts: Hiller was hired to replace Todd McLellan as Kings head coach midway through the 2023-24 season. He has served as an assistant coach in the NHL for nine-and-a-half seasons, two seasons as an assistant coach in junior hockey, and nine years as a head coach in junior hockey. So, his shot as an NHL head coach – even on an interim basis – was a long time coming. Also, it’ is kind of a nice coincidence that he broke into the NHL as a player and then as a coach with the Kings.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Los Angeles Kings (midway through the 2023-24 season to present).
Minnesota Wild: John Hynes
First-Ever Card: 2009-10 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins #28
Rarity: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 34 years old.
Age Today: 48 years old.
Fun Facts: When Hynes was hired by the Devils, he was, at the time, the youngest head coach in the NHL. He played college hockey at Boston University for four years, and participated in four straight Frozen Four tournaments.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: New Jersey Devils (2015-16 to 2019-20); Nashville Predators (2019-20 to 2022-23); Minnesota Wild (2023-24 to present).
Montreal Canadiens: Martin St-Louis
Rookie Cards: 1998-99 Pacific Crown Royale #20, 1998-99 Pacific Dynagon Ice #28, 1998-99 Pacific Omega #38, & 1998-99 Upper Deck #234 (pictured)
Rarity: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 23 years old.
Age Today: 48 years old.
Fun Fact: St. Louis had ZERO coaching experience at ANY level before he got hired by the Canadiens, though he was a special teams consultant with the Blue Jackets under John Tortorella.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Montreal Canadiens (midway through the 2021-22 season to present).
Nashville Predators: Andrew Brunette
Rookie Cards: 1996-97 Fleer #124 (pictured), Fleer Ultra #173, Skybox Impact #147 & Upper Deck #184.
Age in Picture: 22 years old.
Age Today: 50 years old.
Fun Facts: Andrew Brunette’s first shot at being an NHL head coach was when Joel Quenneville was fired from the Florida Panthers after the Kyle Beach sexual abuse scandal. He was an “associate coach” with the Devils in 2022-23 before getting another shot as a head coach this year.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Florida Panthers (2021-22); Nashville Predators (2023-24 to present).
New Jersey Devils: Lindy Ruff
Rookie Card: 1980-81 O-Pee-Chee #319
Rarity: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 19 or 20 years old
Age Today: 63 years old
Fun Facts: Even though Ruff was a regular in the NHL from 1979-80 to 1989-90, he only had mainstream hockey cards issued every other year during his career: 1980-81, 1982-83, 1984-85, 1986-87, 1988-89 and 1990-91. Ruff has coached in the NHL – either as an assistant or a head coach – every season since 1993-94.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Buffalo Sabres (1997-98 to 2012-13); Dallas Stars (2013-14 to 2016-17); New Jersey Devils (2020-21)
New York Islanders: Patrick Roy
Rookie Card: 1986-87 O-Pee-Chee #53 & Topps #53 (pictured)
Rarity: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 21 years old.
Age Today: 58 years old.
Fun Facts: Out of all the head coaches in the NHL, Patrick Roy has the most-valuable rookie card. He won the Jack Adams Award for being the top NHL coach for the 2013-14 season.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Colorado Avalanche (2013-14 to 2015-16); New York Islanders (midway through the 2023-24 season).
New York Rangers: Peter Laviolette
Rookie Cards: 1993-94 Fleer PowerPlay (pictured) #508 & Fleer Ultra #488
Rarity: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 29 years old.
Age Today: 59 years old.
Fun Fact: P-Lav played 12 games with the Rangers in 1988-89 – and then became the team’s head coach 35 years later! Although he played in 1988-89, he did not get a rookie card until the 1993-94 season. That year, he captained Team USA at the 1994 Winter Olympics. Card company Fleer included cards of players from Team USA and Team Canada in its PowerPlay and Fleer Ultra Sets. This is considered one of Laviolette’s two rookie cards, even though it came out five years after his stint in the NHL and doesn’t picture him with an NHL team.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: New York Islanders (2001-02 & 2002-03); Carolina Hurricanes (2003-04 to 2008-09); Philadelphia Flyers (2009-10 to 2013-14); Nashville Predators (2014-15 to 2019-20); Washington Capitals (2020-21 to 2022-23); New York Rangers (2023-24 to present).
Ottawa Senators: Jacques Martin
First-Ever Card: 1988-89 Chicago Blackhawks Team Issue #NNO
Rarity: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 37 years old.
Age Today: 71 years old.
Fun Fact: The 1988-89 Chicago Blackhawks team set included cards of all the coaches. This was Martin’s first-ever hockey card.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: St. Louis Blues (1986-87 to 1987-88); Ottawa Senators (1995-96 to 2003-04); Florida Panthers (2005-06 to 2007-08); Montreal Canadiens (2009-10 to 2011-12); Ottawa Senators (2023-24 to present).
Philadelphia Flyers: John Tortorella
First-Ever Card: 1988-89 ProCards New Haven Nighthawks #NNO
Rarity: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 30 years old.
Age Today: 65 years old.
Fun Facts: “Torts” only played pro in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League – a league known more for its fighting than issuing trading cards. Thus, his first card is from the awesome 1988-89 ProCards AHL/IHL set, when he was an assistant coach with the New Haven Nighthawks. The back of the card offers absolutely no information whatsoever.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: New York Rangers (1999-2000, as an interim head coach); Tampa Bay Lightning (2000-01 to 2007-08); New York Rangers (2008-09 to 2012-13); Vancouver Canucks (2013-14); Columbus Blue Jackets (2015-16 to 2020-21); Philadelphia Flyers (2022-23 to present).
Pittsburgh Penguins: Mike Sullivan
Rookie Card: 1991-92 Parkhurst #383
Rarity: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 23 or 24 years old.
Age Today: 55 years old.
Fun Facts: Despite playing in 64 games with the San Jose Sharks in 1991-92 – 6th most on the team – only Parkhurst bothered to make a card of Sullivan that year. The back of the card states that Sullivan “appears to be on his way towards a solid NHL career.” That turned out to be true, since he played in 709 NHL games; but even more so if you consider his back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships as the Penguins’ head coach.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Boston Bruins (2003-04 & 2005-06); Pittsburgh Penguins (2015-16 to present).
San Jose Sharks: David Quinn
First-Ever Card: 1992-93 Cleveland Lumberjacks #9
Rarity: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 26 years old.
Age Today: 57 years old.
Fun Fact: In three years of playing college, two years of playing minor pro and 19 years of coaching at the various ranks, this is actually the only trading card of Quinn ever made.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: New York Rangers (2018-19 to 2020-21); San Jose Sharks (2022-23 to present).
Seattle Kraken: Dave Hakstol
First-Ever Card: 1992-93 Indianapolis Ice Team Issue Set #NNO
Rarity: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Age in Picture: 24 years old.
Age Today: 55 years old.
Fun Facts: Hakstol was a head coach in the USHL for four seasons and in the WCHA for 11 seasons.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Philadelphia Flyers (2015-16 to 2018-19); Seattle Kraken (2021-22 to present).
St. Louis Blues: Drew Bannister
Rookie Card: 1993-94 Pinnacle #460, Pinnacle Canadian #460 (pictured).
Rarity: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 19 years old.
Age Today: 49 years old.
Fun Facts: Bannister played in 164 regular season games and 12 playoff games in the NHL with four different teams across parts of six seasons. However, his official rookie card pictures him with Team Canada at the 1993 World Junior Championships.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: St. Louis Blues (midway through the 2023-24 season to present).
Tampa Bay Lightning: Jon Cooper
First-Ever Card: 2010-11 Norfolk Admirals #10
Rarity: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 43 years old.
Age Today: 56 years old
Fun Fact: Cooper has exactly two hockey cards to his name – and he is striking the same pose on both of his cards. You know, arms crossed, with a serious look on his face.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Tampa Bay Lightning (2012-13 to present)
Toronto Maple Leafs: Sheldon Keefe
Rookie Cards: 1999-2000 Black Diamond #96, MVP Stanley Cup Edition #195, Ovation #64, SP Authentic #123, Topps #264 (pictured), Upper Deck #309, Ultimate Victory #107 & Victory #361
Rarity: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 19 years old.
Age Today: 43 years old.
Fun Fact: Even though Keefe is pictured with his junior team, the Barrie Colts, this is considered his “NHL Rookie Card” because it was a part of a licensed set of NHL trading cards. Confusing? Yes, yes it is.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Toronto Maple Leafs (2019-20 to present)
Vancouver Canucks: Rick Tocchet
Rookie Card: 1987-88 Topps #2 (above) & O-Pee-Chee #2
Rarity: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: Around 23 years old.
Age Today: 59 years old.
Fun Fact: It took Tocchet three full seasons in the NHL (and 751 penalty minutes) before the card companies noticed him and deemed him worthy of a trading card.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Tampa Bay Lightning (2008-09 & 2009-10); Arizona Coyotes (2017-18 to 2020-21); Vancouver Canucks (midway through the 2022-23 season to present).
Vegas Golden Knights: Bruce Cassidy
First NHL Card: 1985-86 Chicago Blackhawks Team Issue Set
Rarity: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Age in Picture: Around 20 years old.
Age Today: 58 years old.
Fun Facts: Cassidy never had a mainstream rookie card (Topps, O-Pee-Chee or otherwise) during his NHL career, but he was included in the 1985-86 Blackhawks team-issued set, despite playing just one game for the ‘Hawks in 1983-84 and then spending the entire 1984-85 season in junior. This particular card is tough to find.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Washington Capitals (2002-03 & 2003-04); Boston Bruins (2016-17 to 2021-22); Vegas Golden Knights (2022-23 to present).
Washington Capitals: Spencer Carbery
First Card: 2007-08 Fresno Falcons (ECHL) Team Issue Set #12
Rarity: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (I don’t have it and I can’t find a picture of it!)
Age in Picture: About 26 years old – I guess! Like I said, I don’t have this card, nor have I ever seen it.
Age Today: 42 years old.
Fun Fact: Carbery had only one card issued during his four years as a minor league player and 14 years as a coach.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Washington Capitals (2023-24 to present).
Winnipeg Jets: Rick Bowness
Rookie Card: 1977-78 O-Pee-Chee #265
Rarity: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Age in Picture: 21 or 22 years old.
Age Today: 68
Fun Fact: Bowness was traded from the Atlanta Flames to the Detroit Red Wings prior to the start of the 1977-78 season, so O-Pee-Chee added the text “Now with Red Wings” on Bowness’ first-ever card. It sucks when you are “traded” on your own rookie card.
NHL Head Coaching Experience: Winnipeg Jets (1988-89); Boston Bruins (1991-92); Ottawa Senators (1992-93 to 1995-96); New York Islanders (1996-97 to 1997-98); Phoenix Coyotes (2003-04); Dallas Stars (2019-20 to 2021-22); Winnipeg Jets (2022-23 to present).
Which rookie card from this list do you like the best? Leave a comment and let me know.
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