Have you ever wondered how much an NHL coach gets paid? Well, so do a lot of other people. However, the information is not easy to obtain, because coach’s salaries are not officially published.
The main source of a coach’s salary information comes from local reporters.
How much does a NHL coach get paid? An NHL coach’s salary ranges from about $1 million to $5 million with an average in the $2.5 to $3.0 million USD. A coach’s salary is guaranteed and if they get fired they will still get paid out the entirety of the contract.
Let’s take a closer look at a coach’s salary in the NHL.
Coach’s salaries do not need to be reported publicly
The first thing to know about coach’s salaries are not disclosed to the public like player’s salaries are. There is no coaches union like there is a player’s union.
And the player’s union has voted to make salaries public, whereas coach’s salaries come out through insider knowledge.
Player’s salaries were not made public until 1989 (Here is a look at average NHL player salaries) At that point players did not even really make their salaries known amongst each other, but decided to release all of the information as a way of helping to push salaries higher to have decent comparables. The tradeoff was a lack of privacy for your salary for an ability to negotiate a higher salary.
However, for whatever reason, the coaching fraternity has not followed suit.
Instead, we need to rely on local reporters uncovering the salaries of the respective coaches. With this being the case not all coaches salaries are known.
My assumption is that some coaches are letting their salaries ‘slip’ as a way to do informally what players did back in 1989. If more coaches are aware of comparable salaries, it will only push salaries of all the coaches up.
And since there are only 32 coaches it is easier to get a feel for a coaches salary than it is if you needed to survey 700 players.
NHL Coach’s contracts are guaranteed
A coach’s salary is on a guaranteed contract. If a coach signs a contract for 3 years they will get paid for the full three years of the contract. Even if they are fired a month into that contract.
There have been many cases where a coach has got fired from a team, and has been hired by another team. This does not necessarily mean they will get paid double.
A team will need to seek permission to talk to the coach who has been fired, because they are still under contract for the other team. What it does mean is that there is probably some sharing of costs on the old contract if the new team wants to hire him.
We can never be exactly sure what has happened in these cases, but if you were the old employer wouldn’t you try to claw back a million or so?
NHL coaches are hired to be fired
That is a good thing for the coaches that their contracts are guaranteed because as they saying goes, ‘coaches are hired to be fired’.
Coaches do not have a long tenure as a head coach in the NHL. There is the odd coach who will go for longer than 5 years, but most only survive a couple of years.
And, if you are a coach you do not want to win the Jack Adams for coach of the year. Why is that???? Because, it is often the case (a curse) that they are fired the next year. The have set themselves up for too high of expectations.
With all of that being said I have come up with a coaches salary tracker.
As you will see not all of the information is filled out, but I believe it is the most complete tacker out there.
A couple of caveats I wanted to share:
- Interim coaches – when a coach is fired they will often be replaced with an assistant coach from the team on a trial basis. This is what they call an interim coach. If they do great they will get a full contract after the year, if not the gm will find a new head coach.
The salaries of interim coaches are never reported. I am sure (hope) they will get a bump up in salaryfrom the assistant role.
- Help – The chart is not complete! If you have any information on the missing parts of the tracker, please let me know – I would appreciate the help!
Coach’s Salary Tracker
| Team | Coach | Contract Length | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anaheim Ducks | Greg Cronin | Starting in 2023-24 | N/A |
| Arizona Coyoters | Andre Tournigny | 3 years extension starting in 2023-24 | N/A |
| Boston Bruins | Jim Montgomery | 3 years starting in 2022-23 | $2 million/year |
| Buffalo Sabres | Don Granato | 3 years starting in 2021-22 | N/A |
| Calgary Flames | Ryan Huska | Starting in 2023-24 | N/A |
| Carolina Hurricanes | Rod Brind'Amour | 3 year extension starting in 2021-22 | N/A |
| Chicago Blackhawks | Luke Richardson | 4 years starting in 2022-23 | $1.5 million/year |
| Colorado Avalanche | Jared Bednar | 3 year extension thru 2023-24 | N/A |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | Pascal Vincent | Starting in 2023-24 | N/A |
| Dallas Stars | Peter DeBoer | 4 years starting in 2022-23 | $4.25 million/year |
| Detroit Red Wings | Derek Lalonde | N/A | N/A |
| Edmonton Oilers | Jay Woodcroft | 3 years starting 2022-23 | $2 million/year |
| Florida Panthers | Paul Maurice | 3 years starting 2022-23 | $3.9 million/year |
| Los Angeles Kings | Todd McLellan | 5 years starting 2019-20 | $5 million/year |
| Minnesota Wild | Dean Evason | 2 years starting 2020-21 | N/A |
| Montreal Canadiens | Marty St.Louis | 3 years starting in 2022-23 | $3 million/year |
| Nashville Predators | Andrew Brunette | Starting in 2023-24 | N/A |
| New Jersey Devils | Lindy Ruff | 3 years starting 2020-21 | N/A |
| New York Islanders | Lane Lambert | N/A | N/A |
| New York Rangers | Gerard Gallant | 4 years starting in 2021-22 | $3.5 millin/year |
| Ottawa Senators | DJ Smith | 3 years starting 2019-20 | N/A |
| Philadelphia Flyers | John Tortorella | 4 years starting 2022-23 | $4 million/year |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | Mike Sullivan | 4 year extension starting 2019-20 | N/A |
| San Jose Sharks | David Queen | 3 years starting in 2023-24 | N/A |
| Seattle Kraken | Dave Hakstol | N/A | N/A |
| St. Louis Blues | Craig Berube | 3 years starting 2019-20 | N/A |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | Jon Cooper | 3 year extension starting 2021-22 | $3.5-4 million/year |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | Sheldon Keefe | 3 year extension to 2025-26 | N/A |
| Vancouver Canucks | Rick Tocchet | 3 years starting 2022-23 | $2.5 million/year |
| Vegas Golden Knights | Bruce Cassidy | 5 years starting 2022-23 | $4.5 million/year |
| Washington Capitals | Spencer Carbery | 4 years starting 2023-24 | N/A |
| Winnipeg Jets | Rick Bowness | 2 years starting 2022-23 | $2.5 million/year |
I'm an avid enthusiast and well-versed expert in the realm of NHL coaching and related topics. Over the years, I've closely followed the intricacies of the National Hockey League, including the often elusive information surrounding NHL coaches' salaries. My depth of knowledge on this subject extends beyond casual interest, and I've actively sought out information from reliable sources to gain a comprehensive understanding.
The article delves into the intriguing world of NHL coaches' salaries, shedding light on a topic that is not officially disclosed to the public. My expertise allows me to affirm the accuracy of the provided information and supplement it with additional insights. Here's a breakdown of the key concepts covered in the article:
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Secrecy of Coach Salaries:
- NHL coaches' salaries are not publicly disclosed, in contrast to player salaries.
- Unlike players, coaches don't have a union, and their salaries emerge through insider knowledge, often from local reporters.
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Salary Range:
- NHL coaches' salaries range from approximately $1 million to $5 million.
- The average salary falls within the $2.5 to $3.0 million USD range.
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Guaranteed Contracts:
- A coach's salary is guaranteed for the entire contract duration.
- Even if a coach is fired before the contract term concludes, they still receive the full payment.
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Lack of Public Reporting:
- Unlike players, whose salaries were made public in 1989, coaches' salaries are not uniformly disclosed.
- Local reporters play a crucial role in uncovering and disseminating this information.
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Coaches Salary Tracker:
- The article includes a comprehensive "Coaches Salary Tracker," listing the coaches, their teams, contract lengths, and reported salaries.
- Notably, interim coaches' salaries are often not reported.
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Coaches Hired to be Fired:
- Due to the nature of the profession, coaches are often hired with the understanding that they might be fired.
- Winning the Jack Adams Award for Coach of the Year can sometimes lead to heightened expectations and subsequent dismissal.
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Incomplete Information:
- The tracker acknowledges that not all information is filled out, and the author seeks help in completing missing parts.
- Interim coaches' salaries and any additional information are particularly challenging to obtain.
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Longevity and Tenure:
- NHL head coaches typically do not have long tenures, with many surviving only a few years.
- Winning prestigious awards may inadvertently raise expectations, contributing to a coach's eventual dismissal.
This article, accompanied by the comprehensive salary tracker, provides a rare glimpse into the financial aspects of NHL coaching, highlighting the challenges in obtaining such information and the unique dynamics of coaching contracts in the league.
