:Scotty Bowman

Bowman played junior league hockey with the Montreal Junior Canadiens until a fractured skull, resulting from repeated intentional slashes by Jean-Guy Talbot during the 1951 playoffs, ended his long term playing aspirations.{{cite book|last=Dryden|first= Ken|author-link=Ken Dryden|date=2003|orig-date=1983|edition=20th Anniversary|title=The Game|publisher=Wiley|location=Toronto|page=[https://archive.org/details/game00kend/page/42/mode/2up?q=Talbot 42]|isbn=0-470-83355-6}}{{efn|Talbot was suspended for one year, though the suspension was rescinded in November 1951. He later played in the NHL, including three seasons with Bowman as his head coach.}}

Bowman started coaching, in 1956, as an assistant to head coach Sam Pollock with the Ottawa-Hull Canadiens in the Quebec Junior Hockey League. The following season, as head coach, Bowman's team won the 1958 Memorial Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid%5B%5D=528|title=William 'Scotty' Bowman Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com|website=www.hockeydb.com|accessdate=April 7, 2023}} Soon thereafter, he moved into a coaching job with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League (OHA), the Montreal Canadiens' junior farm team.

Bowman moved into the NHL in 1967 when he joined the expansion St. Louis Blues as an assistant coach under general manager and head coach Lynn Patrick. However, Patrick resigned as coach after a slow start, and Bowman took over at age 34.{{Cite web |last=Post-Dispatch|first=Wally Cross St Louis|date=2020-11-22|title=The day the Blues launched the career of an NHL coaching legend|url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/professional/nhl/blues/the-day-the-blues-launched-the-career-of-an-nhl-coaching-legend/article_4cf5963e-2cd4-11eb-b1b7-1be1035b8930.html|access-date=2023-09-19|website=STLtoday.com |language=en}} The Blues made it to the Stanley Cup finals in their first three years of existence as Western Conference (Expansion) champs. Bowman assumed general manager duties after Patrick gave up that job in the summer of 1968. Bowman remained in St. Louis until the end of the 1970–71 season but left due to a dispute with team ownership.{{cite web|title=Scotty Bowman: A coach for the ages|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/scotty-bowman-a-coach-for-the-ages-1.896046|website=CBC Sports|publisher=CBC|date=April 17, 2010}}

Al MacNeil, took over as head coach in of the Montreal Canadiens in December 1970 and lead them to a Stanley Cup victory, but in the process alienated many fans when he benched Henri Richard in the Cup finals.{{Cite news|last=Robertson|first= John|author-link=John Robertson (journalist)|title=An honest man is hurt as Richard leads revolt| work=Montreal Star|publisher=FP Publications|location=Montreal|issn= 0842-1331|date=14 May 1971|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montreal-star-an-honest-man-is-hurt/162470024/|accessdate=8 January 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|last=Robertson|first=John|title=Players have big opportunity to re-write Canadiens motto|work=Montreal Star|publisher=FP Publications|location=Montreal|issn= 0842-1331|date=8 June 1971|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montreal-star-players-have-big-oppor/162511870/|accessdate=8 January 2025|via= Newspapers.com}} A few weeks after winning the 1971 Stanley Cup, MacNeil decided to resign as the head coach and become both the general manager and coach of the Canadiens' main farm team, the Nova Scotia Voyageurs.{{Cite news|last=Fisher|first=Red|author-link=Red Fisher (journalist)|title=Bowman: Canadiens' coach MacNeil: Voyageurs' boss|work=Montreal Star|publisher=FP Publications|location=Montreal|issn=0842-1331|date=10 June 1971|page=33|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montreal-star-bowman-canadiens-coa/162511250/|access-date=8 January 2025|via=Newspapers.com}} Bowman was hired the same day that MacNeil resigned and joined the Canadiens as head coach on June 10, 1971.{{Cite news|author=UPI Staff|date=1971-06-11|title=Canadiens Name Bowman Coach|page=26|work=The New York Times|agency=United Press International|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/06/11/archives/canadiens-name-bowman-coach-macneil-resigns-and-takes-posts-in.html|access-date=2023-09-20|issn=0362-4331}} General manager Sam Pollock hired Bowman, in part, because he was fluently bilingual in English and French.{{Cite news|last=Burnett|first=Red|authorlink1=Red Burnett|title=Scotty Bowman takes over as coach of Habs|work= The Toronto Daily Star|publisher=Torstar|location=Toronto|issn=0319-0781|date=10 June 1971|page=16|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-scotty-bowman-takes-ove/162580380/|accessdate=8 January 2025|via=Newspapers.com}} His team lost in the first round of the playoffs in 1972 but won the Stanley Cup in 1973. The Canadiens would make the playoffs over the next two seasons but lost in the first and third rounds, as the Philadelphia Flyers won the Stanley Cup.

From 1976 to 1979, Bowman won four consecutive Stanley Cups with a talented Canadiens squad that included Guy Lafleur, Steve Shutt, Larry Robinson, and Ken Dryden. Bowman's team won at least 45 games in each of his eight seasons. However, after a falling-out with ownership, Bowman stepped down after the 1978–79 season.{{cite book|last=Jenish|first=D’Arcy|title=The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory|publisher=Doubleday Canada|location=Toronto|year=2008|page=236|isbn=978-0-385-66325-0}} The reason for the falling-out was the team's decision to pass him over as the new general manager of the club in September 1978, as they hired Irving Grundman, a Pollock protégé, instead.{{Cite news|last=Cole|first=Glenn|title= Canadiens' winning tradition is alive!|work=The Gazette|publisher=Southam Inc.|location=Montreal|issn=0384-1294|date=26 September 1978|page=49|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-canadiens-winning-tradition/162582371/|accessdate=8 January 2025|via=Newspapers.com}} The Canadiens' dynasty ended after Bowman and several key players left the team. Bowman remains second all-time in Canadiens history in both wins and winning percentage, behind Toe Blake in both categories.{{Cite news|date=1979-07-11|title=Canadiens 'Breakup|language=en-US|page=B6|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/07/11/archives/canadiens-breakup-sports-of-the-times-ferguson-spurns-job-drydens.html|accessdate=2023-09-20|issn=0362-4331}}

Not only did Bowman and general manager Sam Pollock preside together over a Canadiens dynasty, but also many of their players went on to have successful coaching and managing roles with their own teams.{{Cite web|last=Shaw|first=Warren|date=2018-09-15|title=The most successful GM in NHL history has stood the test of time|url=https://medium.com/@warrenshaw_6247/the-most-successful-gm-in-nhl-history-has-stood-the-test-of-time-aa734a835ab9|access-date=2023-09-19|website=Medium|language=en}}

For the 1979–80 season, Bowman moved to the Buffalo Sabres as coach and general manager.{{Cite news|last=McGowen|first=Deane|date=1979-06-12|title=Coach of Canadiens Becomes Buffalo's General Manager|language=en-US|page=C11|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/06/12/archives/coach-of-canadiens-becomes-buffalos-general-manager-coachs-job.html|accessdate=2023-09-20|issn=0362-4331}} He served as the team's general manager until 1987, doubling as coach on three separate occasions.{{Cite news|agency = United Press International|author=UPI Staff|date=1981-06-06|title=Bowman Rejoins Sabres|page=17|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/06/sports/bowman-rejoins-sabres.html|accessdate=2023-09-20|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |title=It was fitting that Buffalo Coach Scotty Bowman got... - UPI Archives|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/03/22/It-was-fitting-that-Buffalo-Coach-Scotty-Bowman-got/1508385621200/ |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=UPI |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=1982-04-13 |title=SPORTS PEOPLE; Bowman Moves Again|language=en-US|page=B6|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/13/sports/sports-people-bowman-moves-again.html|access-date=2023-09-20|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|last=Usiak|first=Dick|date=January 17, 1986|title=The Buffalo Sabres today fired Coach Jim Schoenfeld and... - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/01/17/The-Buffalo-Sabres-today-fired-Coach-Jim-Schoenfeld-and/5643506322000/ |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=UPI |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Hafner |first=Dan|date=1986-01-18|title=NHL Roundup : Bowman a Winner in First Game of Fourth Term, 5-4|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-01-18-sp-824-story.html|accessdate=2023-09-20|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}} During this time, he missed the playoffs for the only time in his coaching career, in the 1985–86 season. In his first year, he hired former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach, Roger Neilson to be his associate coach.{{Cite news|last=Johnston|first=Dick|title=Neilson Joining Sabres; To Be Head Coach in '80|work=Buffalo Evening News|publisher=Berkshire Hathaway|location=Buffalo, New York|issn=0745-2691|date=20 June 1979|page= 1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-neilson-joining-sabres/162586063/|accessdate=8 January 2025|via=Newspapers.com}} For the 1980–81 season, Neilson became the head coach and Bowman focused on being the general manager. A dispute arose on how the team should be coached, forcing Neilson to part ways with the team in June 1981, and Bowman resumed being both coach and general manager.{{cite news|last=Johnston|first=Dick|title=Bowman Back Behind Bench|work=Buffalo Evening News|publisher=Berkshire Hathaway|location=Buffalo, New York|issn=0745-2691|date=5 June 1981|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-bowman-back-behind-benc/162584664/|accessdate=8 January 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

Bowman joined the Sabres around the same time that their stars were growing old. While the Sabres remained competitive for much of his tenure, he was unable to build them into anything approaching the powerhouses he had coached in Montreal. Bowman resigned during the 1986–87 season and was replaced by Gerry Meehan 12 games into the season.{{cite news|date=1986-11-07|title=Sabres' Bowman Steps Down, Says He Will Coach No More|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-11-07-sp-15696-story.html|accessdate=January 30, 2025|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}{{cite news|date=1986-12-03|title=Scotty Bowman, who had removed himself as...|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-12-03-sp-370-story.html|access-date=2023-09-20|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}} He left the Sabres as coach with the most wins in their history; he has since been passed by Lindy Ruff.{{cite web|title=Buffalo Sabres Coaches |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BUF/coaches.html|website=Hockey Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|accessdate=2 January 2024}} He then become the color commentator for the CBC's Hockey Night in Canada usually alongside Don Wittman.{{cite web|last=Suhr|first=Jim|title=Bowman's 2,000th is a winner|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/bowman-s-2-000th-is-a-winner-1.231656|website=CBC|date=January 9, 2001}}

He became the director of player personnel of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1990 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991 as a builder.{{cite web|url=https://www.hhof.com/htmlinduct/ind03scottyb.shtml|title=Scotty Bowman Appointed To Selection Committee|website=hhof.com|accessdate=November 14, 2017|archive-date = June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624204859/https://www.hhof.com/htmlinduct/ind03scottyb.shtml|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|title=PENGUINS HIRE JOHNSON, BOWMAN|language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1990/06/13/penguins-hire-johnson-bowman/7e4d6ee1-dbce-4397-9857-3f48c46a17fc/|access-date=2023-09-20 |issn=0190-8286}}{{Cite news|date=1990-06-13|title=SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO HOCKEY; Penguins Employ Johnson and Bowman|language=en-US |page=D28 |work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/13/sports/sports-people-pro-hockey-penguins-employ-johnson-and-bowman.html|accessdate=2023-09-20|issn=0362-4331}}

In the summer, Bob Johnson, who had just won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins, was diagnosed with brain cancer, forcing him to step down before he died on November 26, 1991. Bowman took over as the team's head coach{{Cite web |title=Penguins name Bowman interim coach - UPI Archives|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/10/01/Penguins-name-Bowman-interim-coach/6515686289600/|access-date=2023-09-20|website=UPI|language=en}}{{Cite news|date=October 10, 1992|title=Penguins name Bowman interim coachWaiting until just...|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1991-10-02-1991275083-story.html|accessdate=January 30, 2025|newspaper=Baltimore Sun}}{{Cite news|last=Lapointe|first=Joe|date=1991-10-20|title=HOCKEY; A Familiar N.H.L. Voice Is Running the Penguins|language=en-US|page=4|work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/20/sports/hockey-a-familiar-nhl-voice-is-running-the-penguins.html|access-date=2023-09-20|issn=0362-4331}} where the Penguins repeated as Stanley Cup champions in a season dedicated to Johnson.

The next season, the Penguins had their first 100-point season in franchise history and finished with the league's best record. The 1992–93 Penguins under Bowman set the NHL record for consecutive wins in the regular season with 17. Their 119 points is still a franchise record. In the playoffs, the Penguins were upset in seven games in the Patrick Division finals by the New York Islanders coached by Al Arbour, a former Bowman player with the Blues.

After his two seasons as head coach in Pittsburgh, he was offered a long-term deal by the club. However, he indicated that he was not interested in their initial offer, which was not disclosed to the public, so they rescinded it. "We have to get somebody who wants to coach this team," Penguins owner Howard Baldwin said. "Scotty was clearly looking elsewhere."{{cite news|date=May 29, 1993|url=http://articles.philly.com/1993-05-29/sports/25963250_1_penguins-coach-bob-johnson-coach-on-opening-day-scotty-bowman|title=Bowman Spurns Offer From Penguins|website=Philly.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506181758/http://articles.philly.com/1993-05-29/sports/25963250_1_penguins-coach-bob-johnson-coach-on-opening-day-scotty-bowman|archive-date=May 6, 2014}}{{cite news|date=May 29, 1993|title=Bowman Decides Not to Return as Penguin Coach|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-05-29-sp-41135-story.html|accessdate=January 30, 2025}}

In 1993–94, Bowman became coach of the Detroit Red Wings,{{Cite news |date=1993-06-16 |title=SPORTS PEOPLE: HOCKEY; Scotty Bowman Gets His (Red) Wings |language=en-US |page=B8 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/06/16/sports/sports-people-hockey-scotty-bowman-gets-his-red-wings.html |access-date=2023-09-20 |issn=0362-4331}} and led them to a first-place finish in the Western Conference, but his Red Wings were ousted in the first round by the San Jose Sharks. According to an apocryphal story, Bowman had difficulty in the maze-like tunnels of the San Jose Arena, eventually having to be rescued after getting lost and twice locking himself into rooms.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/page2/s/list/chokes/hockey.html|title= Biggest Stanley Cup playoff chokes|publisher=ESPN Enterprises, Inc.|website=ESPN.com|accessdate=January 30, 2025}}

In 1995, the Red Wings made it to the Stanley Cup Finals, their first finals appearance in 29 years, but were swept by the New Jersey Devils in four straight. In the 1995–96 regular season, he won a record 62 games. However, they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference finals.

In the 1997 playoffs, Bowman led the team to its first Stanley Cup in 42 years by sweeping the Philadelphia Flyers 4–0. The Red Wings repeated the feat the following season (1998) by defeating the Washington Capitals in four games.

In 1999 and 2000, they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference semifinals, and in 2001 they were eliminated by the Los Angeles Kings in the first round.

Bowman decided in February 2002 that he would retire at the end of the season, and he went out as a winner as his Red Wings won the Stanley Cup by defeating the Carolina Hurricanes, four games to one. During the presentation of the Cup on the ice, Bowman put on an old pair of skates so he could take a lap with the Cup. He then publicly announced his retirement from coaching.{{cite web|author=Stubbs|first=Dave|date=November 5, 2017|title=Bowman kept coaching retirement secret until after Stanley Cup win|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/scotty-bowman-ninth-championship-greatest-nhl-moments/c-292537134|website=NHL.com}}{{Cite news|last=Lapointe|first=Joe|date=2002-06-15|title=ON HOCKEY; Bowman's Last Substitution? A Smile for a Scowl|language=en-US|page=D4|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/15/sports/on-hockey-bowman-s-last-substitution-a-smile-for-a-scowl.html|access-date=2023-09-20|issn=0362-4331}} At the time of his retirement, he was second on the Red Wings' all-time wins list, behind Jack Adams. He is now third, behind Adams and Mike Babcock.

Bowman received the Wayne Gretzky International Award in 2002.{{cite web|url=http://www.ahcahockey.com/news/0203/1014news.php|title=Off-Season News and Notes|date=2002-10-14|website=American Hockey Coaches Association|access-date=2018-03-19|archive-date=October 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025081134/http://www.ahcahockey.com/news/0203/1014news.php|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ushockeyhalloffame.com/page/show/809127-wayne-gretzky-international-award|title=Wayne Gretzky International Award|website=U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=2018-03-19}}

Bowman has coached the Canada men's national ice hockey team at the international level twice in his career. In the 1976 Canada Cup his team won gold over Czechoslovakia and silver in the 1981 Canada Cup against the Soviet Union.

In 2003, Bowman was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.{{Cite web|url=http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/inductees/03_scotty_bowman.xml.htm|title=Canada's Walk of Fame|accessdate=April 7, 2023}}

Since his retirement as coach in 2002, Bowman worked as a special consultant to the Red Wings.{{cite news| first=Jim| last=Kelley| title=Bowman keeps close ties to Cup| date=May 29, 2008| publisher=Cable News Network| url =http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jim_kelley/05/29/cup.0529/index.html| work =SI.com| access-date =January 17, 2024 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080601113603/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jim_kelley/05/29/cup.0529/index.html |archivedate=June 1, 2008}} On August 3, 2007, it was reported that Bowman was offered the position of President of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Bowman later appeared in an interview on Hockey Night in Canada on January 12, 2008, confirming that he was very close to taking the job only to be turned away by Richard Peddie, CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. (MLSE).{{cite news | author = CBC Staff | url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/scotty-bowman-says-leafs-turned-him-down-1.732317 | work=CBC News | title=Scotty Bowman says Leafs turned him down | date=January 13, 2008 | access-date = January 8, 2025 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150703092526/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/scotty-bowman-says-leafs-turned-him-down-1.732317 | archive-date = July 3, 2015 | url-status = live}}{{Cite web|url=http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=227215&hubname=|title=Bowman: Maple Leafs turned me down|publisher=The Sports Network|access-date=January 17, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116043838/http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=227215&hubname=|archivedate=January 16, 2008}} In July 2008, he took a position as senior advisor of hockey operations for the Chicago Blackhawks to work alongside his son Stan Bowman, who was the general manager.{{Cite web|url=http://blackhawks.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=379231|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080805064344/http://blackhawks.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=379231|url-status=dead|title=Chicago Blackhawks – News: Blackhawks To Host Major Press Conference Today – July 31, 2008|archive-date=August 5, 2008|access-date=April 7, 2023}} The Blackhawks' Stanley Cup victory in 2010 gave Bowman his 12th Stanley Cup including coaching and team management, and the Blackhawks' 2013, and 2015 Stanley Cup victories were Bowman's 13th and 14th respectively. Bowman stepped down from his advisory role in Chicago on July 1, 2022, saying that "it was time to move on."

In 2012, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada "for his contributions to hockey as a coach and mentor".{{Cite web|url=https://www.gg.ca/en|title=The Governor General of Canada|website=The Governor General of Canada|date=September 20, 2017 |access-date=April 7, 2023}}

On February 8, 2017, it was announced that Bowman would receive Order of Hockey in Canada award in a ceremony on June 19.{{cite web|title=2017 Distinguished Honourees of the Order of Hockey in Canada announced|url=https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/2017-order-of-hockey-in-canada-honourees-announced|website=www.hockeycanada.ca|access-date=February 8, 2017|date=February 8, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Scotty Bowman named to Order of Hockey in Canada|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/order-of-hockey-in-canada-honors-scotty-bowman/c-286558050|website=NHL.com|access-date=February 8, 2017|date=February 8, 2017}}

{{BLP unreferenced section|date=May 2024}}

As of January 2018, Bowman was living in Sarasota, Florida, attending all of the Tampa Bay Lightning home games in his role as the senior advisor of hockey operations for the Chicago Blackhawks, whose general manager was his son Stan Bowman until October 26, 2021, when Stan resigned from the Blackhawks organization.

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