Ex-Vancouver Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau is getting an award named after him
Vancouver Canucks coaches have won awards before. But, there doesn’t appear to be any ex-coaches who’ve had an award named after them.
Enter, Bruce Boudreau.
A panel of AHL media recently announced the debut of the “Bruce Boudreau Award.”
This award will honour the most outstanding AHL player who is not playing on an NHL contract. The goal, according to Boudreau, is to acknowledge some of the unsung heroes of the AHL.
“They deserve recognition, because a lot of times it’s the American Hockey League player that makes the young NHL prospect a lot better,” Boudreau said in a press release.
“And, they do it in spite of the fact that they’re going to take their job eventually.”
Boudreau himself was once one of those AHL veterans. He currently ranks 12th in AHL history with 799 points in 634 games. The 70-year-old played just 141 regular-season NHL games across nine seasons, mostly with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Toronto native enjoyed more NHL success as a coach. After a decorated career as an AHL head coach, where he ranks 17th all-time in wins, Boudreau went on to coach four NHL teams across 15 seasons. His .626 all-time winning percentage ranks top-10 among NHL coaches with at least five years of experience.
While his NHL coaching career appears to be done, he’s stayed in the spotlight with regular appearances on TSN. Now, his legacy appears to be carried on through this new award.
The inaugural winner of the award was handed to Dominik Shine of the Grand Rapids Griffins. The 32-year-old played nearly 500 AHL games before the Detroit Red Wings signed him to an NHL deal in February. Shine then played his first nine NHL games to end the season.
“They teach the young prospects how to be pros, most of that is from the players and not
coaches,” Boudreau said in the press release. That’s what makes young players so good, it’s if they have that AHL pro leadership.
“The veterans are willing to take a backseat, and that can make winners out of young
players.”
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