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Minnesota Wild: All-Time Head Coaches Ranked

By Cody Defoe

ST. LOUIS, MO - NOVEMBER 26: Minnesota Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau looks up at the scoreboard as assistant coach John Anderson talks to the team during a time out during a NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and the St. Louis Blues on November 26, 2016, at Scottrade Center in St. Louis, MO. The Blues won in a shootout 4-3. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO - NOVEMBER 26: Minnesota Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau looks up at the scoreboard as assistant coach John Anderson talks to the team during a time out during a NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and the St. Louis Blues on November 26, 2016, at Scottrade Center in St. Louis, MO. The Blues won in a shootout 4-3. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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ST. PAUL, MN – OCTOBER 14: Minnesota Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau looks on during the regular season game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild on October 14, 2017 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Blue Jackets defeated the Wild 5-4 in overtime. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN – OCTOBER 14: Minnesota Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau looks on during the regular season game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild on October 14, 2017 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Blue Jackets defeated the Wild 5-4 in overtime. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

#3 – Bruce Boudreau (2016-Present) (94-51-19)

In the summer of 2016, the Minnesota Wild and their fans were riding a wave of emotions following a turbulent season and heartbreaking playoff exit. General Manager Chuck Fletcher was left with a difficult decision, to bring back an interim coach with moderate success in a limited time or to find an experienced veteran NHL Coach.

There were a lot of options available in that offseason, including the likes of Randy Carlyle, Marc Crawford, and Ken Hitchcock. The name that stood out, as we all know now, was none other the Bruce Boudreau.

Boudreau was coming off of four consecutive division championships with the Anaheim Ducks, all of them ending in Game 7 losses. Despite 3 consecutive 100 point seasons, Boudreau was still shown the door in Anaheim due to his continuous playoff failures.

Chuck Fletcher and the Minnesota Wild management team decided that the regular season accomplishments of Boudreau outweighed his playoff failures and rewarded him with a 4 year deal to lead the State of Hockey into a new era.

In his first season behind the bench, Bruce led the Wild to numerous franchise records, including the longest winning streak in franchise history (12 games), highest goal differential in a season (+58), and the most wins in a season (49). He had the Minnesota faithful buying into what he was selling, and convinced as a true Cup contender.

That fan support was quickly diminished, though, when his Wild faltered in the Playoffs

The Wild were sent packing in 5 games by the St.Louis Blues despite home-ice advantage in the first-round. To be fair, Jake Allen stole the show in that series, but nonetheless a top team should have been able to find a way.

In season 2, it was a slight step back for the Boudreau led Wild. The team dealt with numerous major injuries including Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon, Nino Niederreiter, and Charlie Coyle. Devan Dubnyk even missed 7 consecutive games in December due to injury.

Despite all of that, Boudreau managed to keep the team composed for the entire season. They never finished a month with a record below .500 (per NHL.com). That in itself is quite the accomplishment.

When it came down to it, though, the team couldn’t withstand the injuries in crunch time. Ryan Suter went down late in the season, and missed all of the playoffs. Zach Parise went down in Game 3, and that was the end of any real hopes.

Halfway through his 4 year contract, Boudreau has clearly worked his magic on regular season consistency and stability. He has put up back to back years near the top of the division, with no signs of slowing that down.

If he manages to find a way to overcome the playoff struggles that have plagued him for his entire coaching career, Bruce could absolutely work his way up this list. For right now, he stays at number three based solely on his playoff shortcomings.

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