Bruce Boudreau is the perfect fit for the Wild, in more ways than one
Bruce Boudreau was an extra in the movie Slap Shot and played a starring role in the HBO 24/7 series as the lovable potty-mouthed coach of the Washington Capitals in 2010.
He also holds the distinction of being the fastest to reach 400 wins as an NHL coach.
If you believe the last fact is the only reason why the Minnesota Wild hired Boudreau to be their next coach, then you don’t understand the lure of Boudreau.
Boudreau is a perfect fit for the Wild because of all of the above. The Wild wanted Boudreau because he is a quality coach, but his charm will serve this franchise equally well. Boudreau is an endearing character, and the Wild have long needed someone with an engaging personality to expand their national footprint.
Nothing speaks to Boudreau’s value more than his employment history. Since Boudreau was named interim coach of the Capitals on Nov. 22, 2007, he has been without an NHL job for less than 11 days.
When the Capitals fired him on Nov. 28, 2011, he was hired two days later by the Anaheim Ducks. When the Ducks fired him April 29, 2016, he was out of work eight days before the Wild hired him.
Coaches are hired to be fired. But no one gets rehired as quickly as Boudreau because he has won wherever he's been. He has a 409-192-80 regular season record. He has eight division titles in nine seasons. He’s aguywho transforms teams into contenders.
Boudreau's strength is his ability to motivate. He inspires players to perform at a high level because they respect him and they don’t want to let him down. He plays the curmudgeon role for comedic impact. He’s 61, and yet he seems to relate to players better than many other coaches. Everyone likes talking to Boudreau.
“He cares about you, and not just as a hockey player,” Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler told Paste BN Sports earlier this season. “He asks about your family. He asks about your girlfriend. He asks about your injuries. He’s a guy who truly cares about his players.”
Boudreau’s first mission will be to improve a Wild offense that was ranked 18th this season. He will empower those who need a pat on the back and offer tough love to those who need a sterner approach.
The impression of the Wild, who lost in six games to the Dallas Stars in the first round of the playoffs, is that there has been dissension in the ranks. The locker room lacked harmony. Players disagreed on what should be done to improve. Boudreau will change that, and players will get along better.
The Wild are located in a hockey-crazed state, and they boast loyal and knowledgeable fans. But since entering the NHL as an expansion team in 2000-01, the Wild have never drawn national exposure. Boudreau will help them gain more attention.
Television cameras like Boudreau because people like Boudreau. Everyone enjoys his tales about playing in the minors for many years, with teams like the North American Hockey League’s Johnstown Jets or the Central Hockey League’s Cincinnati Tigers or the International Hockey League’s Fort Wayne Komets. He rode many buses in his day.
The only criticism against Boudreau is that he has not been able to win big games in the playoffs; despite his regular season success, he has never reached the Stanley Cup Final. He is 38-35 in the playoffs, and he is 1-7 in Game 7s. But those Game 7s look more like bad luck than bad coaching.
How good can the Wild be? Fans in Minnesota should be excited to find out.