Prior to the 2025-26 season beginning, THW put together lists of the top 10 players for each position, as well as coaches. It goes without saying that it is a very tough list to do, given how subjective it is, but nevertheless, we are here to do it once again.
Coaches don’t have stats outside of the team record, at least not the same way players do. There is a ton of different ways to measure a coach’s success, outside of how well the team is doing. Here is a list of the top 10 coaches in the NHL.
10. Craig Berube
After his first season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, it became clear that the more the team got comfortable with Craig Berube’s system, the better they played. Berube’s coaching style was a big part of the magical run that saw the St. Louis Blues winning the 2019 Stanley Cup.
Berube gets everything he can out of his players. Teams he coaches are typically gritty and defensively responsible. The offense comes naturally for the most part with the Maple Leafs, but it’s the combination they have with the system; there is plenty of reason to believe Berube is a top 10 coach in the league.
9. Scott Arniel
The Winnipeg Jets were one of the best teams in hockey last season, and while they have the best goalie in the world, Connor Hellebuyck, there was a lot more work to do to continue perfecting this team. Finding ways to get the most out of Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Gabriel Vilardi is a big task, but they have all had great seasons. Not only that, but on defense, Josh Morrissey has continued to play great, and Neal Pionk had an outstanding year by his standards.
Connor and Scheifele were two of the best offensive players in the league, and with the defensive system continuing to tighten up, they had a very strong season, and part of that is because of the way that Scott Arniel has made his impact.
8. Bruce Cassidey
When he was fired by the Boston Bruins after the 2021-22 season, most figured Bruce Cassidy wouldn’t remain without a job for very long. That was the case, as he was scooped up by the Vegas Golden Knights almost immediately afterward, and has continued to have tremendous success.
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In his first season with the Golden Knights, he led them to their first-ever Stanley Cup championship. While he is known to be hard on his players, he joined a team that was in some clear need of accountability after missing the playoffs the season prior, and was able to add just that. Last season, Vegas continued to be a very strong team, and while the second-round exit was disappointing, the Golden Knights are going to look for another dominant season.
7. Dean Evason
The Columbus Blue Jackets were one of the great stories of last season. It was an emotional season for the club, and they weren’t projected to come close to the playoffs, but the team took significant strides with the help of their bench boss, Dean Evason.
Evason has been a franchise-altering hiring. Players like Zach Werenski, Kirill Marchenko, and Sean Monahan all had phenomenal seasons, and the young players like Kent Johnson, Adam Fantilli, and Cole Sillinger have all taken big steps. Evason is an integral part of the development of this team, and it has been an excellent story to follow.
6. Kris Knoblauch
After making it to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, there is only one more coach in the league with more success lately. Kris Knoblauch took over for Jay Woodcroft and has one of the best winning percentages in league history since then.
Many will point to the top-end talent on the Oilers and say they must be easy to coach, though there is a whole team of players who need to be on the same page, regardless of talent levels. Knoblauch has the team playing tighter defensively and continuing to create offensive opportunities through their stars.
5. Jared Bednar
Jared Bednar has been blessed with an excellent roster, but that doesn’t change the fact that he is a phenomenal head coach. The 52-year-old has missed the playoffs just once in his eight seasons behind the bench of the Colorado Avalanche and had brought them to the playoffs again last season.
Related: Avalanche’s Jared Bednar Paves Own Path to NHL Success
The Avalanche certainly have their superstars, but they have also dealt with a significant amount of injuries and adversity. Bednar does an excellent job of keeping the players focused and playing winning hockey. It isn’t very often that a team deals with as many injuries as the Avalanche did early last season, but he and the team have recovered and stayed afloat, and made the playoffs.
4. Spencer Carbery
Spencer Carbery has elevated the Washington Capitals’ game significantly. With 91 wins over his first two seasons with the team, he has found success in a roster that looked to be aging and declining rapidly. After one season with the team and just squeaking into the playoffs, the Capitals took the league by storm, finishing second in the league in points.
Players who started to look like they were slowing down, such as Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson, and young players who are thriving with the team, like Aliaksei Protas and Connor McMicahel all look great. Carbery has brought the group together and created a true contender,
3. Rod Brind’Amour
The 55-year-old Rod Brind’Amour has done a phenomenal job of turning the Carolina Hurricanes into Stanley Cup contenders since being named as their head coach ahead of the 2018-19 season. Defensive accountability has been one of the biggest factors in the Hurricanes’ success, and though they can be hot and cold with their scoring touch, Brind’Amour finds a way to get the most out of the club.
The Hurricanes were expected to have a bit of a quick one-year retool season, but after a great start to the season, plans had to change. Brind’Amour coaches in such a particular way that even when the team isn’t as strong on paper, they still find great success.
2. Jon Cooper
Back-to-back Stanley Cups, a third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final cemented Jon Cooper as one of the best coaches in the NHL. He has had plenty of success in the NHL, as well as internationally.
Sure, having Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, and Andrei Vasilevskiy helps, but there is a reason he was named the coach and won gold with Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off. He is a brilliant coach and is always able to drive his team to victory.
1. Paul Maurice
Three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances, including two championships, and the Florida Panthers remain on top of the NHL. While there have certainly been some speed bumps along the way, Paul Maurice has kept the team playing incredible hockey, and they have developed an identity of being a pain to play against. Every player on the ice will play as physical, defensively-minded, or dominant offensively, depending on which way Maurice wags his finger. He has a great relationship with his team, and is still one of the best coaches in the game, even after coaching over 1900 games.
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