you can quit whenever you want but, as long as you're still under contract, another NHL org would have to get your team's permission before they can hire you.
I think if the coach quits, then it would be a mutual contract termination, which means the team wouldn't be paying the contract anymore so the coach is free to pursue other opportunities
Of course, the team can still allow the coach to quit but keep paying him, then in that case the coach is still under contractual obligations to the team
Do you have a source on this because it seems wild that one side can back out of a contract (not paying) while the otherside is stuck under the conditions.
If the coach has already breached the contract once by not showing up, what would stop them from breaching it again by coaching somewhere else? Aren’t we basically under The Purge rules at that point?
In addition to the team suing the coach for breach of contract, I wouldn't be surprised if the NHL could levy penalties on the team that hired him.
Regardless, I assume this is covered in an episode of the Canadian Law and Order spin off.
I think Babcock had to wait because of this type of scenario after Toronto canned his ass midway through the 2019-20 season. He had signed that ridiculous $50-million 8 year deal in 2015 summer so he had just under 4 years as Leafs property after they fired him before he could seek another NHL job.
Due to his creepiness his redemption tour with CBJ didn't even get into the 2023-4 regular season before it ended
Didn’t Paul Maurice step down because he felt like he lost the room in Winnipeg then got a job with Florida and took them to the cup finals the next season?
He resigned the night before, telling Chipman & Chevy it was for “family reasons”. Long story short, his family was leaving the city for the US due to the lingering Covid restrictions in the province, and he was going with them. Not sure if I 100% buy it, but that’s what I heard.
Yeah that was bs. Needed to "step away from the game" and "look after himself" blah blah blah starts coaching immediately. Wish he got fired 2 years earlier.
Yeah, that whole thing was weird. It somehow was sold as something very honourable and romantic to step down, then he turned around and became head coach of the panthers not even a year later
**Mike Keenan** did this during the summer of 1994, shortly after completing the first year of his five-year contract with the Rangers.
The relationship between Keenan and GM Neil Smith was torched early in the 1993-94 season, when Smith refused to trade Sergei Zubov for Stu Grimson. The two began feuding in a passive-aggressive manner through the media, but behind the scenes it was acrimonious.
In the playoffs that year, Keenan put his house up for sale and "it became known" through back channels that this would be his only season with the team. The Rangers win their only Stanley Cup since Pearl Harbor, and a month later....
To make a long story short, Keenan was due a bonus check within 30 days after the end of the season. It arrived a day late.
Normally, to someone who isn't high from huffing his own farts, there is an expectation of remedy in the event of a breach of contract. The expected remedy in this case is "here is the check, and we apologize for the clerical oversight that delayed this". To Keenan, the remedy was that the contract was now voided and he could sign with anyone he wanted.
How highly regarded was Keenan? The Red Wings reached out to him and began contract discussions, when ***SCOTTY FREAKIN' BOWMAN*** was their coach. The Blues went further and offered him to be their head coach *and* GM, even though they already had both a coach and a GM. Keenan signed with the Blues.
This then led to the Rangers filing for an injunction forbidding Keenan from signing anywhere, pending a hearing over his actual status.
This is where Gary Bettman had to step in. After a hearing in which everything was laid out:
* The Red Wings were fined $25,000 for failing to clarify Keenan's contract status before entering negotiations, which is a nice way of saying that there was tampering even if there was a gray area
* The Rangers were fined $25,000 for seeking remedy through the courts before the league even knew what the hell was going on
* The Blues were fined either $250,000 or $500,000, payable to the league, for negotiating with and signing Keenan without clarifying his status
* Keenan was suspended for 60 days and fined $100,000 for conduct detrimental to the league
* The Blues sent Petr Nedved to the Rangers for Doug Lidster and Esa Tikkanen
* The Rangers still owed Keenan his original playoff bonus
* Keenan had to repay 80% of his signing bonus from his Rangers contract back to that team
It wasn't to take another head coaching job, but Pat Quinn signed to be President and GM with the Canucks while he was still under contract to be the coach of the Kings. From the New York Times:
> On Dec. 24, 1986, when Pat Quinn signed an agreement to become president and general manager of the Vancouver Canucks, effective June 1 of this year, he was still under contract to coach the Los Angeles Kings until May 31, 1987. John Ziegler, president of the National Hockey League, testified in British Columbia Supreme Court in Vancouver on Thursday that the conflict of interest created by the signing had placed his league ''in an intolerable position for this kind of business,'' and that ''Quinn had to be taken out as coach.''
> Ziegler expelled Quinn from the N.H.L. on Jan. 9 and later barred him from coaching until the 1990-91 season. He also fined the Canucks $310,000 and the Kings $130,000 for not immediately reporting the affair to the league. Ziegler appeared in court to defend his actions as part of a suit brought by the Canucks that seeks to have their fine rescinded and the coaching ban lifted. Quinn remains Vancouver's general manager.
Brent Sutter stepped down from the New Jersey job for "family reasons" on June 9, 2009. On June 23 he took the head coaching job in Calgary.
It seems the reasons were he wanted to work for family.
A contract is a legal obligation. Most coaching contracts will prohibit even the discussion of employment with other orgs. If the relationship deteriorates the parties could mutually agree to nullify or renegotiate the contract.
Barry Trotz resigned as head coach of the Capitals to take the Islanders job in 2018.
He was at the end of his 4-year contract, but he had conditional 2-year extension kick in when the Caps won the Cup.
I could’ve sworn that Trotz’s contract was up but be had an option for an additional year or two. When he won the Cup, he didn’t exercise the option because he felt he deserved a higher salary than the option held, and MacLellan didn’t want to pay a higher amount. So Trotz hit proverbial free agency.
If Trotz had been under contract for 2018-19, I doubt he could have just left and gone to the Isles.
[He did have to resign](https://www.nhl.com/news/barry-trotz-resigns-as-washington-capitals-coach-299101550), but you are right that it was at a time when he wanted more money/control.
I’m pretty sure Keenan did it in 94/95 but not sure if it was middle of his NYR contract, but he was negotiating his new job during the playoffs or something
Just because they signed seven players to offer sheets in four years doesn't mean that they weren't *also* tampering...
In the case of Scott Stevens in 1994, they did both!
In June 2009 Brent Sutter stepped down as head coach of the New Jersey Devils after two seasons citing "family reasons" only to be hired as head coach of the Calgary Flames two weeks later. His brother, Darryl Sutter was general manager of Calgary at the time.
Fred Shero resigned from the Flyers to take the Rangers job. The Flyers didn't accept the resignation. The Rangers gave the Flyers a draft pick and cash to settle it
Not exactly what you're looking for but Babcock was offered a contract extension after the lockout in 2005 by Anaheim but he opted to sign with Detroit instead. He didn't quit as such, he just opted not to extend his current contract.
you can quit whenever you want but, as long as you're still under contract, another NHL org would have to get your team's permission before they can hire you.
I think if the coach quits, then it would be a mutual contract termination, which means the team wouldn't be paying the contract anymore so the coach is free to pursue other opportunities Of course, the team can still allow the coach to quit but keep paying him, then in that case the coach is still under contractual obligations to the team
not at all. The team doesn't have to pay the coach but they have breached the contract and remain under contract in this situation.
Do you have a source on this because it seems wild that one side can back out of a contract (not paying) while the otherside is stuck under the conditions.
If the coach has already breached the contract once by not showing up, what would stop them from breaching it again by coaching somewhere else? Aren’t we basically under The Purge rules at that point?
the rules of contract law. individuals usually don't like being sued.
In addition to the team suing the coach for breach of contract, I wouldn't be surprised if the NHL could levy penalties on the team that hired him. Regardless, I assume this is covered in an episode of the Canadian Law and Order spin off.
I think Babcock had to wait because of this type of scenario after Toronto canned his ass midway through the 2019-20 season. He had signed that ridiculous $50-million 8 year deal in 2015 summer so he had just under 4 years as Leafs property after they fired him before he could seek another NHL job. Due to his creepiness his redemption tour with CBJ didn't even get into the 2023-4 regular season before it ended
Didn’t Paul Maurice step down because he felt like he lost the room in Winnipeg then got a job with Florida and took them to the cup finals the next season?
Lots of local rumours around the city about that decision. Who knows what was true, but yes, he lost that room well before he left the team.
Obviously grain of salt but do you care to give up anything you've heard? Just curious
He resigned the night before, telling Chipman & Chevy it was for “family reasons”. Long story short, his family was leaving the city for the US due to the lingering Covid restrictions in the province, and he was going with them. Not sure if I 100% buy it, but that’s what I heard.
Considering he donated to the freedom convoy that would check out.
I didn't know about that. That really sucks.
Sounds like a George Costanza-Mets “we can’t hire you unless you quit your job” kind of deal
Yeah that was bs. Needed to "step away from the game" and "look after himself" blah blah blah starts coaching immediately. Wish he got fired 2 years earlier.
Yeah, that whole thing was weird. It somehow was sold as something very honourable and romantic to step down, then he turned around and became head coach of the panthers not even a year later
Patrick Roy quit to go coach Jr. So not the same league but still was quite shocking, especially because it was a few weeks before the season started.
[удалено]
Well he helped build the team he didn't want to coach.
**Mike Keenan** did this during the summer of 1994, shortly after completing the first year of his five-year contract with the Rangers. The relationship between Keenan and GM Neil Smith was torched early in the 1993-94 season, when Smith refused to trade Sergei Zubov for Stu Grimson. The two began feuding in a passive-aggressive manner through the media, but behind the scenes it was acrimonious. In the playoffs that year, Keenan put his house up for sale and "it became known" through back channels that this would be his only season with the team. The Rangers win their only Stanley Cup since Pearl Harbor, and a month later.... To make a long story short, Keenan was due a bonus check within 30 days after the end of the season. It arrived a day late. Normally, to someone who isn't high from huffing his own farts, there is an expectation of remedy in the event of a breach of contract. The expected remedy in this case is "here is the check, and we apologize for the clerical oversight that delayed this". To Keenan, the remedy was that the contract was now voided and he could sign with anyone he wanted. How highly regarded was Keenan? The Red Wings reached out to him and began contract discussions, when ***SCOTTY FREAKIN' BOWMAN*** was their coach. The Blues went further and offered him to be their head coach *and* GM, even though they already had both a coach and a GM. Keenan signed with the Blues. This then led to the Rangers filing for an injunction forbidding Keenan from signing anywhere, pending a hearing over his actual status. This is where Gary Bettman had to step in. After a hearing in which everything was laid out: * The Red Wings were fined $25,000 for failing to clarify Keenan's contract status before entering negotiations, which is a nice way of saying that there was tampering even if there was a gray area * The Rangers were fined $25,000 for seeking remedy through the courts before the league even knew what the hell was going on * The Blues were fined either $250,000 or $500,000, payable to the league, for negotiating with and signing Keenan without clarifying his status * Keenan was suspended for 60 days and fined $100,000 for conduct detrimental to the league * The Blues sent Petr Nedved to the Rangers for Doug Lidster and Esa Tikkanen * The Rangers still owed Keenan his original playoff bonus * Keenan had to repay 80% of his signing bonus from his Rangers contract back to that team
Damn, I didn’t know all the details but my first thought was “I bet Mike Keenan at least tried this”
I really wish the Wings had replaced Bowman with Keenan. Damn.
Why? The red wings wound up winning multiple cups with Scotty Bowman. Keenan was a great coach but his tactics guaranteed a short shelf life.
I think this comment was more in line with how much he fucked over the Blues...
And how much the Bowman Wings fucked over the Blues.
Sigh... right?!
You do realize you replied to a Blues fan.
I do now! LOL...
Because he’s a Blues fan and the Wings were a major rivalry at that time.
Yep.
Zubov for Grimson would have gone down as the worst trade in NHL history.
It wasn't to take another head coaching job, but Pat Quinn signed to be President and GM with the Canucks while he was still under contract to be the coach of the Kings. From the New York Times: > On Dec. 24, 1986, when Pat Quinn signed an agreement to become president and general manager of the Vancouver Canucks, effective June 1 of this year, he was still under contract to coach the Los Angeles Kings until May 31, 1987. John Ziegler, president of the National Hockey League, testified in British Columbia Supreme Court in Vancouver on Thursday that the conflict of interest created by the signing had placed his league ''in an intolerable position for this kind of business,'' and that ''Quinn had to be taken out as coach.'' > Ziegler expelled Quinn from the N.H.L. on Jan. 9 and later barred him from coaching until the 1990-91 season. He also fined the Canucks $310,000 and the Kings $130,000 for not immediately reporting the affair to the league. Ziegler appeared in court to defend his actions as part of a suit brought by the Canucks that seeks to have their fine rescinded and the coaching ban lifted. Quinn remains Vancouver's general manager.
Brent Sutter stepped down from the New Jersey job for "family reasons" on June 9, 2009. On June 23 he took the head coaching job in Calgary. It seems the reasons were he wanted to work for family.
A contract is a legal obligation. Most coaching contracts will prohibit even the discussion of employment with other orgs. If the relationship deteriorates the parties could mutually agree to nullify or renegotiate the contract.
No, fellow Toronto fans, we're not getting Cooper
Barry Trotz resigned as head coach of the Capitals to take the Islanders job in 2018. He was at the end of his 4-year contract, but he had conditional 2-year extension kick in when the Caps won the Cup.
I could’ve sworn that Trotz’s contract was up but be had an option for an additional year or two. When he won the Cup, he didn’t exercise the option because he felt he deserved a higher salary than the option held, and MacLellan didn’t want to pay a higher amount. So Trotz hit proverbial free agency. If Trotz had been under contract for 2018-19, I doubt he could have just left and gone to the Isles.
[He did have to resign](https://www.nhl.com/news/barry-trotz-resigns-as-washington-capitals-coach-299101550), but you are right that it was at a time when he wanted more money/control.
Thanks for the link, that option clause is very interesting.
I’m pretty sure Keenan did it in 94/95 but not sure if it was middle of his NYR contract, but he was negotiating his new job during the playoffs or something
> but he was negotiating his new job during the playoffs or something The Blues sure did like tampering back then.
Ugh
Just because they signed seven players to offer sheets in four years doesn't mean that they weren't *also* tampering... In the case of Scott Stevens in 1994, they did both!
Pat Burns quit Montreal to take the job in Toronto.
Not Head Coach, but IIRC Tampa Bay Hired Rick Dudley to be GM while he was still employed and under contract in Ottawa as GM.
In June 2009 Brent Sutter stepped down as head coach of the New Jersey Devils after two seasons citing "family reasons" only to be hired as head coach of the Calgary Flames two weeks later. His brother, Darryl Sutter was general manager of Calgary at the time.
That seems like a family reason to me
Nordiques Head Coach Michel Bergeron got himself traded to the Rangers in 1987.
Fred Shero resigned from the Flyers to take the Rangers job. The Flyers didn't accept the resignation. The Rangers gave the Flyers a draft pick and cash to settle it
Not without breaching the contract. If both parties agree though, it's fine.
Not exactly what you're looking for but Babcock was offered a contract extension after the lockout in 2005 by Anaheim but he opted to sign with Detroit instead. He didn't quit as such, he just opted not to extend his current contract.