Scotty Bowman

In 1993, Bowman became head coach of the Detroit Red Wings, a team that had not won a championship since 1955. That would change. The Wings won back-to-back titles in 1997 and 1998—and Bowman tied Blake with eight Stanley Cups. The record-breaking ninth title would be elusive, however, as the Wings struggled for the next three years. For the 2001-02 season, the team signed veteran superstars Dominik Hasek, Brett Hull, and Luc Robataille to a roster that already included future Hall-of-Famers Steve Yzerman, Sergei Federov, Brendan Shanahan, and Chris Chelios. It was arguably the most talented hockey team ever assembled—and unquestionably the oldest with six players 35 or older. Bowman expertly blended these mammoth talents and led the Wings to their third cup in six years. "He has such a command of the game, and such a great command of his team that you are in awe," coach Paul Maurice said after Bowman beat his Carolina Hurricanes in the finals. Minutes after winning his ninth Stanley Cup and surpassing his old friend and teacher Toe Blake, Bowman announced his retirement.

Scotty Bowman was the first coach to use videotape to scout opposing teams. He was the first to demand his players track their plus-minus statistics to gauge their effectiveness on the ice. He was unsurpassed at mixing and matching his lineups. He made strategic changes at dizzying speed to keep the other team guessing. "Bowman's the best," Scott Andrea wrote for the Knight Ridder News Service, "because he was able to adapt his game to the different era, teams, players and styles so well." Brett Hull paid this tribute to Bowman: "It's like being coached by Red Auerbach or Bear Bryant. These are people who only came along once in a lifetime and to say he was your coach … it's hard to put into words."