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Twenty of 31 teams have a former NHL head coach as an assistant, and six have more than one. Here’s a look at the 27 coaches filling those jobs:
ANAHEIM DUCKS
Darryl Sutter: Coaching adviser won Stanley Cup in fourth head NHL job with Los Angeles in 2012 and 2014.
ARIZONA COYOTES
Phil Housley: Fresh off being fired by Sabres after two seasons in Buffalo.
John MacLean: In second assistant job since less than a half-season as Devils head coach.
BOSTON BRUINS
Joe Sacco: Spent four seasons as Colorado’s head coach from 2009-2013.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Marc Crawford: Has reinvented himself as assistant long after leading Colorado to Stanley Cup in 1996.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
Brad Shaw: A career-long assistant who was midseason replacement for Islanders in 1995-96.
Paul MacLean: Recent addition to John Tortorella’s staff spent three-plus seasons as Ottawa’s coach.
DALLAS STARS
John Stevens: Played with head coach Jim Montgomery in minors, won Cup as assistant with Los Angeles and ran show with Flyers and Kings.
Rick Bowness: Has become ultimate veteran assistant in past 15 years after five different stints as head coach.
Todd Nelson: In second season back as NHL assistant since being a midyear head coaching replacement with Edmonton in 2014-15.
DETROIT RED WINGS
Dan Bylsma: Won Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009 and missed playoffs in two seasons as Sabres coach.
EDMONTON OILERS
Jim Playfair: One-season Calgary coach rejoined Dave Tippett after six years as his right-hand man with Coyotes.
Glen Gulutzan: Spent two seasons as Stars coach and two as Flames coach.
FLORIDA PANTHERS
Mike Kitchen: Career-long assistant and Joel Quenneville’s guy coached St. Louis for parts of three seasons in early 2000s.
LOS ANGELES KINGS
Trent Yawney: Was fired early in second season as Blackhawks coach in 2006-07 and now with fifth team as assistant.
MONTREAL CANADIENS
Kirk Muller: Back as an assistant after parts of three seasons as Carolina coach during Hurricanes playoff drought.
NEW YORK RANGERS
Lindy Ruff: Veteran of 15 seasons in charge with Buffalo and four with Dallas is now on second New York coach in David Quinn.
OTTAWA SENATORS
Jack Capuano: On second team as assistant after parts of seven seasons as Islanders coach.
Davis Payne: Broke into NHL as head coach with St. Louis in 2009 and has previously been assistant with Kings and Sabres.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Michel Therrien: In first assistant job since junior hockey in early 1990s all because of connection to head coach Alain Vigneault.
Mike Yeo: After first head job with Wild, was fired by Blues early last season and St. Louis went on to win Stanley Cup.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Jacques Martin: Has been Penguins assistant for five seasons since head jobs with Montreal, Florida, Ottawa and St. Louis.
ST. LOUIS BLUES
Larry Robinson: Part-time assistant picked up another Cup ring last season after leading Devils to title in 2000 as late-season replacement.
SAN JOSE SHARKS
Bob Boughner: Back with Sharks after two years out of playoffs as Panthers coach.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Todd Richards: Coached Minnesota for two years and Columbus for parts of five seasons.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Dave Hakstol: Now working under new coach Sheldon Keefe a year after being fired midway into fourth season with Flyers.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Scott Arniel: Spent a season-plus as Columbus coach and was Rangers assistant before joining Capitals in the summer of 2018.
