Ranking the most handsome coaches in the NHL again….

#29. Boston Bruins – Marco Sturm

The first German to have the honor of being ranked on my list, Sturm is visibly aging quicker than most Europeans at his age do – a known side effect of being an NHL coach.

Reminding me of vintage Tom Green but without the attention seeking wacky stunts he has some significant Daddy factor but doesn’t do much for me handsome wise.

Handsome Rating: 3/10

Daddy Factor: 8/10

Overall: 11/20

No Daddy I would not like some sausage. At least not from you…

#28. Utah Mammoth – Andre Tourigny

The latest in a long list of coaches for the Coyotes Mammoth, Tourigny has been an Assistant Coach at the NHL level with the Avalanche and Senators before going back to coach in the QMJHL and then the OHL for much of the last ten years. Joining the Coyotes in 2021 he has set about turning the misfortunes around for the desert dogs now extinct-shaggy-horned-creatures.

Not exactly my type – he seems a bit too intense and in this picture gives deliverance vibes (seriously – swap the suit out for some dungarees and its a dead ringer).

Handsome Rating: 5/10

Daddy Factor: 8/10

Overall: 13/20

French accent might help but I still don’t think I’d go there.

#27. Washington Capitals – Spencer Carbery

The newest addition to the BWD club Spencer Carbery is a feel good story new-blood coach who has earned his spot. He started in the ECHL, moved onto the OHL then got an Assistant Role in the AHL before sticking with the Capitals organization as their Head Coach in 2018. He paid his dues and was rewarded with the top role for the Capitals in 2023 after a successful tenure with Hershey and a brief stint in Toronto.

He kind of looks like he could lean either Bond villain or new look Professor X, I tend to favor the wise and composed leader. At 44 he again does not stray too far into Daddy Factor territory but the BWD membership slightly offsets that.

Handsome Rating: 7.4/10

Daddy Factor: 6/10

Overall: 13.4/20

Could still show me all that Cerebro can do

#26. Vancouver Canucks – Manny Maholtra

Going to delicately dance around the BWD reference here but Maholtra does join the very long list of bald coaches in the NHL.

He is a literal Daddy given his son was just selected by the Canucks at the most recent entry draft but at 46 he isn’t quite at peak Daddy Factor age. It is full circle that he returned to the club he suffered a major eye injury with in his first year as a player (and I remember when that happened too).

He won a Calder Cup with the Abbotsford Canucks in his first season as their coach in 2024-2025 and the parent club were quick to promote him for the upcoming season.

I want to see someone else but I cant stop seeing Common whenever I look at him, just without the beard. I loved him in Hell On Wheels but he isn’t really my cup of tea.

Handsome Rating: 7/10

Daddy Factor: 6.6/10

Overall: 13.6/20

The Dad as a coach with his son on the team is kind of a hot trope though.

#25. Philadelphia Flyers – Rick Tocchet

Most recently Tocchet would probably be best known for turning around the fortunes of the Canucks to see them finish top of the Pacific for the 2023-2024 season.

Since then he has returned to his roots – standing behind the bench of the club he was drafted by in 1983 and the last one he played with before retiring in 2002. He did well with the Flyers last season – guiding them to a playoff spot that ended with a loss to the eventual Stanley Cup Champions in the second round. How he fares this season without the star player his club was counting on buying because they cant draft any of their own will be a story to follow.

He is yet another member of the BWD club and has been compared to Mark Strong of Kingsman fame but I feel the goatee he sports lately makes him look more like Sir Ben Kingsley. Either way he doesn’t do a heck of a lot for me even though he is 62 and at the peak of his Daddy Factor.

Handsome Rating: 6/10

Daddy Factor: 8/10

Overall: 14/20

Still more handsome than Gritty though.

#24. Edmonton Oilers – Mike Babcock

The last time I did this list the Oilers came dead last with now Ducks assistant coach Jay Woodcroft as their head coach at the time. This time they have the very controversial Mike Babcock as their head coach as of writing this article*

The now 63 year old has not coached in the NHL since being fired by Toronto in 2019. He had a very brief stint in Columbus that ended in controversy and has not seen an NHL bench since.

Despite being the ideal age range I am not sure I could get past that smirk slash pseudo smug look that seems permanently ingrained in his face or the weird Blue Magnum thing he appears to be trying to do here.

Handsome Rating: 6/10

Daddy Factor: 8/10

Overall: 14/20

Why do you want my phone?

*probably gets fired two weeks into the season

#23. New York Islanders – Pete DeBoer

The last time I did this DeBoer came in at 23rd as the then coach of the Dallas Stars and funnily enough that’s where he lands on this list. He will still always be known for taking both the Devils and the Sharks to the Stanley Cup finals in his first year coaching them but since then has been unable to get past the Conference Finals in Dallas and then Vegas.

Now replacing the much hotter Patrick Roy on Long Island he still gives massive disappointed-in-you Dad energy while also seemingly looking like your high school physics teacher. He has since added to that resume by throwing his goaltenders under the bus for extra disappointed-in-you Dad points.

Handsome Rating: 6/10

Daddy Factor: 8.5/10

Overall: 14.5/20

Seriously, Patrick Roy is so hot now.

#22. Minnesota Wild – John Hynes

Last we saw Hynes he was in Nashville and I wrote last time that he gave big public defense lawyer energy.

I’d say since the new Superman movie has come out he gives more Nicholas Hoult playing Lex Luthor.

Can he provide the reverse kryptonite to get the Wild passed the second round?

Handsome Rating: 6.8/10

Daddy Factor: 7.8/10

Overall: 14.6/20

Do bald guys shine their heads? They always look so shiny in pictures. This isn’t a euphemism. The question is still relevant.

#21. Buffalo Sabres – Lindy Ruff

Because the NHL is in fact a procedural drama and can only introduce so many new characters a year; Lindy Ruff has somehow found himself back behind the Buffalo Sabres bench – the first NHL team he ever lead as a head coach.

Ruff was previously a favorite on my list – coming in at #19 when he was with the Devils owing to what I found as his semi adorable forlorn frown look. However the years since then have not helped and he has … started to come down the other side of the bell curve.

Where once he had that elder statesman James Bond type look – now he just looks like your everyday never satisfied always complaining super annoying neighbor.

Handsome Rating: 6/10

Daddy Factor: 9/10

Overall: 15/20

That said, if I ever named a dog after an NHL coach it would still be him.

#20. Anaheim Ducks – Joel Quenneville

This one is controversial; much like his hiring last summer. If you have possibly been living under a rock; Quenneville was implicated in the Chicago Blackhawks 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs sexual abuse scandal.

When the Ducks hired him last summer they pledged that they had done their due diligence on the matter and would provide support to sexual abuse victims where needed. Over the last season – where he took the Ducks from the cellar to the playoffs for the first time since 2018 – all of that was largely forgotten because playoffs baby!

Coach Q… there isn’t a heck of a lot I can say here without making this more super awkward than it already is….um the mustache looks like it could be fun?

Handsome Rating: 7/10

Daddy Factor: 8.2/10

Overall: 15.2/20

Probably loses points because he would be too focused on the Playoffs

#19. Vegas Golden Knights – Ryan Craig

Being the Head Coach of the seemingly never satisfied Golden Knights does not seem like the smartest choice in career stability. Craig has been with the organization since its exception and watched Coaches come and go with and without cabs being booked.

Now he is in the hot seat himself.

Craig is most definitely a handsome fella but at 44 years old does not quite qualify with top Daddy Factor honors.

Could most definitely make a name for himself as the new Ice Man in a Top Gun reboot or the lead in a goofy coming of age sports dramedy.

Handsome Rating: 9.8/10

Daddy Factor: 5.5/10

Overall: 15.3/20

You are still dangerous. But you can be my wingman any time

#18. Colorado Avalanche – Jared Bednar

Jared Bednar is somehow still the Coach of the Avalanche and has been since 2016. Not saying the team has been terrible over that time but NHL clubs are famously swapping out coaches like bored boomer couples at a Swingers party.

Put it this way, the UK has had six Prime Ministers during the time that Bednar has been with Colorado and the Golden Knights have gone through five coaches in that time.

He last placed on this list in 14th place while keeping it tight with a short side fade reminiscent of an Italian businessman. Since then he has gone back to long locks with a part that have drawn Peaky Blinder comparisons? To me it gives Denethor vibes and I am not a fan. At all.

Go back to the short hair please Jared.

Handsome Rating: 7.5/10

Daddy Factor: 8/10

Overall: 15.5/20

Listen to Pippin ya dick, Faramir aint dead.

#17. Chicago Blackhawks – Jeff Blashill

Adding to the ranks of bald white guys (BWGs) – Blashill at least does kind of come across as quite handsome in an unassuming naughty physics professor kind of way.

At 52 years old he sits firmly in the perfect Daddy age quadrant of Coaches on this list and ranks the second highest among the sub-genre of BWGs.

Handsome Rating: 7.5/10

Daddy Factor: 8.1/10

Overall: 15.6/20

Would not say no to hearing about his Large Hardon Colluder

#16. Seattle Kraken – Lane Lambert

The third coach in Kraken history is a bit of a chameleon. In some pictures he looks like the neighbor who you owe way too many favors to, in others a disinterested Wall Street broker and then in the one on the left he looks as though he is holding a press conference in order to declare the Avengers as enemies of the state.

Either way Lambert is an up and comer who many have compared to Brindámour in coaching style. He saw two seasons with the Islanders before getting the boot and started with the Kraken last season.

He is 61 so firmly in high Daddy Factor territory but I don’t love the look on the picture on the left here. There are others that redeem him so I will have to go with the benefit of the doubt.

Handsome Rating: 6.7/10

Daddy Factor: 9/10

Overall: 15.7/20

Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now? ‘Cause you can bet if I misplaced a couple of 30 megaton warheads, there’d be consequences.

#15. St. Louis Blues – Jim Montgomery

Last we checked in on Mr Montgomery he was with the Bruins but he was relieved of his coaching duties early into the 2024-25 season after his team went 8-9-3 to start. He resurfaced with the Blues, a return to the last bench he was behind for a two year tenure during the pandemic era.

For someone in a job as stressful and soul destroying as being an NHL coach is he sure does smile a lot which I find super endearing so that is why I have ranked him the highest of all the BWD’s (Bald White Daddies).

He kind of reminds me of Bill from King Of The Hill but he also bares a slightly unfortunate resemblance to my countries current prime minister.

Handsome Rating: 8/10

Daddy Factor: 8/10

Overall: 16/20

“Why do you keep calling me Bill? I’m Lenore!”

#14. Carolina Hurricanes – Rod Brind’Amour

It is really hard to fathom that Brind’Amour is in his 50s, it only feels like yesterday that he retired at the conclusion of the 2010 season. Possibly the best and only good thing to have ever happened to the Hurricanes franchise – Brind’Amour has successfully made hockey consistently relevant in the non-traditional south eastern hockey market. Bringing them back a Stanley Cup last season, his first as their coach.

Not exactly your clean edged handsome looker, more the rugged action hero Sylvester Stallone type – you cant really look past that huge nose and wonder things…

Handsome Rating: 7.2/10

Daddy Factor: 9/10

Overall: 16.2/20

Would gladly welcome his storm surge.

#13. Los Angeles Kings – Peter Laviolette

The Kings new coach this season is believe it or not – making his first appearance behind a West Coast bench despite coaching six teams before now. I guess the Predators count as West but you get the gist. The guy gets around.

Last time I did this he ranked 12th as then Coach of the Capitals and he has only aged in the right way since then but unfortunately was beat out by some handsome newcomers. He still has that takes-no-shit Army General look without the crew-cut but also that best-friends Dad that can unexpectedly make everybody swoon with some spot on Frank Sinatra. A few more years has now added a bit more fun to offset his overall seriousness and now I get a wise-cracking Brooklyn cop vibe.

It feels so wrong to rank him so high given he is the enemy’s coach but hotness knows no team-rivalry boundaries.

Handsome Rating: 8/10

Daddy Factor: 8.5/10

Overall: 16.5/20

Can book me anytime.

#12. Winnipeg Jets – Scott Arniel

Ok the picture here doesn’t quite do him justice – Arniel is a handsome man that somehow still looks younger than his age would suggest. At 63 he is right in the sweet spot of a high Daddy Factor and as a new entrant to this list I love how he reminds me of a hot high school principal or maybe just the Dad from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

I would be remiss if I did not insert that he once played for our Gulls when they were in the OHL – for two seasons in the early 90s.

He has struggled to hold down a Head Coching job in the NHL but was a finalist for the Jack Adams when he guided the Jets to a Presidents Trophy in his first year as their coach in 2024-2025. Last year was not such a great year and now they enter a season with a Diva goaltender that wants out.

Handsome Rating: 8/10

Daddy Factor: 8.8/10

Overall: 16.8/20

Can hold me in detention on a Saturday morning all he wants.

#11. Ottawa Senators – Travis Green

Somehow Green did not feature on this list last time I did this despite spending a good amount of time in Vancouver before a brief stop in New Jersey and is now back in Canada with the Senators.

He will always hold a soft spot for me due to his time with the Ducks in the late 90s during the Kariya-Sellane era and its for that reason that I refuse to believe that he is now 55. Perfect Daddy Factor age.

Of all the coaches on this list he has the most “constantly frustrated” face when he is not smiling and then looks like he could be Mark Ruffalos’ cousin when he is on the rare occasion flashing those pearly whites.

Handsome Rating: 8.3/10

Daddy Factor: 8.6/10

Overall: 16.9/20

Green smash!

#10. Dallas Stars – Glen Gulutzan

Gulutzan did not feature the last time I did this because he was too busy fronting the Queens Of The Stone Age.

But in all seriousness – Gulutzan has been a head coach for two teams now and since we saw him last in Calgary he has put on some years to significantly increase his Daddy factor. He now looks like the kind of handsome gentleman Realtor who would conveniently mishear your question regarding whether the home had any pest or weather tightness issues. Or the homophobic politician campaigning on a safer neighborhoods policy that you are absolutely sure you just saw come out of the local sauna.

Handsome Rating: 8.5/10

Daddy Factor: 8.5/10

Overall: 17/20

Free house evaluation? Sure. Hey man you look familiar… oh I know where I know you from….its ok man, No one knows…

#9. Detroit Red Wings – Todd McLellan

Todd McLellan was behind the Kings bench last time I did this and I took pains to bring up blowing three game series leads while also mentioning that he looks kind of like a guy I once dated.

Now with the Red Wings he has added a few more whites to that fine mane to increase his Daddy factor ranking.

Permanently looking like every “too old for this shit” cop trope from every police procedural ever made. It’s too bad Kung Fury 2 was never finished because he was great in it.

Handsome Rating: 8/10

Daddy Factor: 9.2/10

Overall: 17.2/20

But Sarge! I was stopping the bad guys while unintentionally causing millions of dollars in damage to the city. It wasn’t my fault!

#8. Florida Panthers – Paul Maurice

Maurice was in his first season with the Panthers the last time I did this list and much like the Panthers, he finished the runner up after an unexpected Cinderella run to the final two. Since then he has won back to back Stanley Cups and hit a bump last year when the Cats failed to make the playoffs.

I wrote back then that his looks played perfectly into my stern high school principal fantasy but looking at his recent pictures I’d say that ship has sailed. He is still only 59 but is losing hair at a rapid rate and competition is tough at the top this year! He definitely still fits the stern principal mold but I am afraid that I have been swayed by other Daddies in this years rankings.

Lately he gives me more of a “Man in the Horn-Rimmed Glasses” vibe – which if you look at the actors recent photos; isn’t too far off. RIP that show.

Handsome Rating: 8.2/10

Daddy Factor: 10/10

Overall: 18.2/20

Save the cheerleader.. save the world..

#7. Nashville Predators – Andrew Brunette

The full circle stories write themselves here. Brunette – after being selected by the Predators in the expansion draft; scored their first ever franchise goal. Now after spending a short stint in Florida, he stands behind their bench.

At 53 he is firmly in Daddy Factor territory and the cute dimple on his chin gives bonus points but also gives credence to his uncanny similarity to David S Pumpkins.

Might possibly have the best if not the second best hair on this list and he is handsome in that wise cracking Irish cop buddy comedy kind of way.

It feels icky to give Nashville anything good like this but Brunette does deserve to be near the top.

Handsome Rating: 9/10

Daddy Factor: 9.3/10

Overall: 18.3/20

Any questions???

#6. New Jersey Devils – Sheldon Keefe

Last we checked in on Keefe on this list he came in at number four thanks to his earlier than age diagnosis salt and pepper hair. He was 42 at the time and is now 45, edging closer to prime Daddy Factor age but given his accelerated aging and the fact I really cant resist that head of hair he gets higher points.

Keefe did remarkably well to stick with the Leafs for almost five years – much like gay time you double Toronto time so that is almost ten actual coaching years. He was let go after the Leafs lost in the first round of the 2023-2024 playoffs.

The Devils picked him up within the month and he has spent the last two seasons there, getting them to the playoffs in the first year but missing out on the postseason last year.

I said last time that he reminded me of Sean Astin and I still get that but now his hair is just perhaps the best head of hair on this list.

Handsome Rating: 9.8/10

Daddy Factor: 9.1/10

Overall: 18.4/20

He could still carry me to the pit of doom and lecture me on potatoes any time he wants.

#5. New York Rangers – Mike Sullivan

Holy shit this guys Daddy factor is off the charts. Last we dropped in on Coach Sullivan he was with the Penguins but he was let go at the end of the 2022-2023 season after the Pens failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2005-06.

I wrote then that he had perfectly aged jock looks and the years since then have only added more to that.

He kind of looks like the that hot High School English or PE teacher you had a crush on and saw naked in the changing that one time and still fantasize about what?

Handsome Rating: 8.5/10

Daddy Factor: 10/10

Overall: 18.5/20

Seriously he was “drying himself” in a very “playful” way.

#4. Tampa Bay Lightning – Jon Cooper

Another rare main stayer – Cooper last featured on this list in third place and its not hard to see why. Handsome with a winning smile and at 59 he still firmly in high digits Daddy Factor territory.

The longest tenured coach in the NHL right now he has been with the Lightning since 2012. Four Summer Olympic games have taken place whilst he has been behind the Lightning bench.

I wrote last time that he gave big sexy senior lawyer energy or could pass as a Senator or Diplomat but looking at his more recent pictures he is definitely still loving life and leaning more into the fun side of things. So much so that he reminds me of the late John Ritter or even John Cleese. Who doesn’t love a fun sexy Daddy?

Handsome Rating: 9.6/10

Daddy Factor: 9.6/10

Overall: 19.2/20

He knew what he was doing wearing that suit to the Summer Series. Oh Papi!

#3. Montreal Canadiens – Martin St. Louis

Further proof that the Canadiens management is doing everything right – Martin St. Louis is still their coach. The last time I did this list he ranked in the top five and I felt funny doing that because I still remembered watching him play. Now four years later he is firmly in Daddy Factor territory at age 51 and is aging like..how do you say? Magnifique!

The guy can do everything. I am pretty sure when he is done with coaching he could go into Politics and become Canada’s Prime Minister within three years.

I don’t feel as weird drooling over him as much now that its a few years later and I can safely say that this guy deserves to be near the top of this list.

Handsome Rating: 9.6/10

Daddy Factor: 9.7/10

Overall: 19.3/20

Papa sexy

#2. Columbus Blue Jackets – Rick Bowness

The Blue Jackets haven’t had a heck of a lot of success with coaches in recent years. Since their inaugural season they have had 12 over a now 26 year span.

Bowness returns to the Blue Jackets despite essentially calling his players a bunch of losers at the conclusion of last season after he was brought in as an interim coach at the midway point of last season.

He was the number one on this last last year and not much has changed since then really. The guy is apparently 71 but has perhaps the best Daddy hair in the league. Remember the bad guy coach from the Mighty Ducks movies? (RIP Jack Reilly) Yeah – big man in power energy.

Handsome Rating: 9.5/10

Daddy Factor: 10/10

Overall: 19.5/20

Can call me a loser all he wants.

#1. Toronto Maple Leafs – Jim Hiller

Helloooooo Daddy! It has been that long since I have done this list that this guy has been behind the bench of the Kings (blergh) for three seasons before getting the boot in March this year.

He ticks ALL the boxes. Perfectly aged at 57 and classic handsome businessman looks. He is an elder man rocket that is like the best friends dad that every adolescent ever had a crush on. He gives me Kurt Russell during the Miracle On Ice era vibes.

Handsome Rating: 9.8/10

Daddy Factor: 10/10

Overall: 19.8/20

Just a perfect specimen of a Daddy. No words.