Early Career
Bruce Boudreau, unsurprisingly as a Canadien, grew up playing hockey. He had a successful junior career before being taken 42nd overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1975. He wasn’t longed for the NHL but made a great career in the AHL as one of their best players ever. He still holds the third most points and is first in points per game among players that played at least 500 games.
Boudreau started coaching shortly after retiring in 1992. He worked his way up the ranks until he landed in Washington’s system where he had a very successful career coaching the Hershey Bears in the AHL.