Larry Robinson.
A Hall-of-Fame blueliner with a pair of Norris Trophies and eight Stanley Cup rings as a player, Robinson is one of the great defensemen in NHL history. Contrary to the old saying that “those who can’t do, teach,” however, “Big Bird” has been an effective bench boss, winning a Cup after taking over as head coach of the 1999-2000 Devils with just eight games remaining in the season and getting them back to the Finals a year later (he was also an assistant on Jersey’s 1995 championship team). And if you’re thinking that he must be all about defense, having been with the Devils organization as long as he has, think again – his 2000-01 team led the League in goals-scored.
Robinson’s last head-coaching gig ended after just 32 games, with the coach resigning due to health concerns. Most recently, Robinson was back in familiar territory, patrolling the bench in Newark alongside Pete DeBoer as an assistant for this year’s runners-up.
Does Robinson have another run (or more) in him as a head coach? Can he get it done in the post-lockout NHL? You’d like to find out, and perhaps the rest of us will as well.
Robinson’s coaching history (via hockeydb.com) :
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