Which coaches have had the biggest impact on their new teams?

Coaching impact is always tough to evaluate, as it’s hard to differentiate between when a team is improving due to roster improvements and good fortune, or if they’re improving because the coach has good systems in place and is working well with the players. It’s why some great coaches have yet to win the Jack Adams Award.

But which coaches hired over the summer have already made an impact on their new team? Steve Peters joined Daily Faceoff Live to talk about Jeff Blashill and Rick Tocchet’s impacts on their respective teams in the Film Room.

Steve Peters: I think the Philadelphia Flyers and the Chicago Blackhawks are the two teams that I think their coach has had the biggest influence on changing the structure/culture of what’s going on in those cities.

The Chicago Blackhawks ended up with [Anders] Sorenson behind the bench to end the season, and everybody knew he was a lame duck coach and he was on his way out. I don’t know if that was the perfect way to start building that culture. Blashill comes from Tampa Bay where he’s been for several years now, and I think he’s been able to instill this “we’re all in this together” mentality.

You see this Chicago Blackhawks team really coming together now. And I think they understand, “this is the coach, this is the way we’re going to play, we’re going to defend as well as we can, but we are going to use our team speed to play the other side of the ice”. So I think Blashill has really put his identity on this team in Chicago.

When you look at Rick Tocchet and what they’ve done in Philadelphia. I know they’re way ahead of where they were a year ago, but I think over time, you’re starting to see these players play a little bit more free.

I really like John Tortorella, I think he’s an outstanding coach, but Tocchet’s approach to this team is a little different. Tocchet is a one-on-one coach who wants to spend more time with players and help them get to their best, and it’s through positivity. I think you’ve seen it in Trevor Zegras’ game. I think he’s starting to play better. [Matvei] Michkov will come along I think, but you’re seeing guys like Noah Cates and Bobby Brink are playing so much better in Philadelphia.

Although I don’t think either one’s a playoff team this year, I do think you’re seeing these coaching staffs help these teams be better and take steps forward through their rebuilds.

You can watch the full episode here…