The discussion began when the staff tried to rank the best coaches in the league. Babcock, Trotz, Julien? Quenneville, Vigneault, Boudreau? Laviolette, Cooper, Maurice? We debated on the exact order, but something became glaringly obvious - the coaches with the most recent success have had virtually no playing time at the NHL level.
We all know there are exceptions. Mike Milbury took the Bruins to a Stanley Cup Final in 1990. Darryl Sutter's coaching career can drive a car, and is almost old enough to buy cigarettes. But recently, the Gen Xers have started to see the players they grew up with are putting on a suit and tie and lining up behind the bench.