Craig Custance - Behind the Bench: Inside the Minds of Hockeys Greatest Coaches

For Cassie

Contents

Foreword by Sidney Crosby

I dont usually make a point of going back and watching the biggest games of my career. I tend to hang on to the big moments. I dont necessarily remember every detail about every game.

But I do enjoy it when I catch them unexpectedly on television. Its fun when you turn on the TV in the summer and all of a sudden one of those games pops up on the screen. Its like catching your favorite movie halfway through and watching it all over again. It brings the emotions of those games rushing back.

As I watch, I start to remember exactly what I was thinking on the ice. You start to recall the small moments that changed the course of the game. You start to think about what might have been if things had gone differently.

Ill give you an example.

When we won Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Detroit Red Wings in 2009, there was a Niklas Kronwall shot late in the third period that could have changed the outcome if it had gone in.

I was sitting on the bench right behind Kronwall as he shot. I think it hit the crossbar or the post. I remember the feeling I had on the bench in that exact moment. Every time I watch, that exact feeling returns.

Its that feeling of uncertaintydid it go in or didnt it?

I remember being on the bench watching and feeling sick to my stomach.

The coaches in this book have all been through so many important moments like that, so many key situations. Playing in a few of those games for these guys, you learn a lot about what it takes to win. Chemistry is a big thing. Theres a trust and a belief in what you have to do to succeed. And building that chemistry always takes a bit of adversity. The best teams all have to go through it.

The best coaches help guide you through it.

In 2009, I remember Dan Bylsma joining the Penguins and bringing a lot of energy when he arrived. He made sure guys enjoyed coming to the rink. We had such a young team and there was a lot of pressure on us, especially having lost in the Stanley Cup Final the year before. Expectations were so high.

He came in and made sure we enjoyed the ride along the way. He emphasized that with his personality and how he handled everyone. That played such a big part in us being able to win.

From Mike Babcock with Team Canada, Ive learned what happens when a coach has absolute clarity in what hes trying to accomplish and is confident he can do it. Its so important to understand what is expected of you as a player and to be pushed. In the short-term events weve competed in together, he always made it clear what he expects from every single guy on the team. That allows you to head in the right direction right away. Everybody feeds off his confidence.

There are a lot of decisions you have to make as the Team Canada coach. There are a lot of line combinations. I remember him asking me about the forwards I was most comfortable playing with during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Just thinking through all the options was crazy. Look at that roster. It was unbelievable. I would have played with anybody. But I do remember talking a little about Eric Staal because he was so good at holding on to the puck down low and I like to play down there, too. So thats what we did.

Ultimately, a coach has got to have the right instincts and trust the decisions he makes. As a player, you can see Mike Babcock has that. You begin to trust it. You believe in it and then youre willing to do whatever it takes to win.

Playing for Todd McLellan in the World Championships was another a great experience. I was pretty sour about being eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs by the Rangers that year, and the experience in Prague ended up providing a big boost to my preparation for the next NHL season.

For the first meeting we had as a group with Hockey Canada, Todd McLellan gathered all the players and our families together. He made it clear that he wanted to make it feel as much like a family as possible. I was playing with a couple guys from Philly in Claude Giroux and Brayden Schenn who I had never played with before. We had competed in the playoffs a couple years prior and they were great battles. Todd made sure all of us were coming together as a team. We were there to win but he wanted us to enjoy the experience in Prague as well, which we did. That was a big part of our chemistry throughout the tournament. The whole experience was awesome.

And now, winning two Stanley Cups with Mike Sullivan has helped me truly appreciate him as a coach. Hes just so honest and consistent. Whether weve won three games in a row or lost three games in a row, hes looking for the exact same thing. He evaluates every situation the same way. He just wants guys to work. He wants guys to compete and play their roles to the best of their abilities. He has high expectations but hes fair, too. When guys are doing what theyre asked, what has been clearly explained to them, they get rewarded. As long as the message is clear and the expectations are fair, thats all you can ask for from a coach.

A lot goes into being a good leader but it starts with having a good group. All of those teams had great groups. Its about understanding that everyone can lead their own way. It doesnt have to be a rah-rah guy. It doesnt have to be a guy who spends 10 hours at the rink. Its about understanding the different personalities in the room and the importance of each guy. Its about understanding that guys are going to have different opinions but its still a team.

That takes a strong group. It takes a strong organization.

It takes a strong coach.

In the NHL, coaches are viewed by wins and losses. Thats just the business. But to me, the best coaches are the ones who get the best out of all of their players. If each individual guy feels good about his game and is playing to his peak abilities, everyone comes together and can do their thing. The best coaches are those who can get the most out of their players and have that mutual respect no matter their perspective.

The coaches in this book all have different perspectives. They see things in different ways. There are always going to be some things that are consistent and similar but ultimately each leader is his own person with his own personality.

Thats what makes each persons story so cool.

Sidney Crosby has captained the Pittsburgh Penguins to three Stanley Cup Final victories, in 2009, 2016, and 2017. He is a two-time winner of the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Conn Smythe Trophy, as well as two Olympic gold medals and a gold medal at the World Championships.

Preface

Theres a great perk that comes with being a hockey writer: after NHL coaches finish up their media responsibilities on the morning of games, they often stay behind to chat.

Thats when the real conversation happens. These guys love talking hockey. Theyre looking for an edge or any information you might have. Often, they want those around the game to have a better understanding of what goes on during games.

The recorders and cameras are shut off and its at this point when you get the real insight about players or a decision from the previous game. Or sometimes you just get great hockey stories.

I love those chats.

I have an affinity for coaches. Im passionate about the relentless effort it takes to win at the highest level.

To me, coaches are a little more relatable than the players. Ill never be able to duplicate the extra gear Connor McDavid finds on the ice or the sheer beauty of a one-timer from Alex Ovechkin or the way Sidney Crosby can absolutely will his team to a victory.