Mike Keenan's Lengthy NHL Coaching Career

He coached a total of eight NHL teams and had varying levels of success with each stop.
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[@MikeHutnan]

"Sue me if I'm wrong.... don't sue me, I don't have a lot of money." Same Shan, same. 😔

[@JeffKing310]

I love these career retrospectives!

[@sultanofswing44]

The season the was lost to a shootout. It was a time that lived in infamy. Every NHL player got together to play a best of 1000 shootout. It took 3 weeks and the players were passing out from exhaustion. The coaches started subbing in for the players around the 2nd week. It was a crises of epic proportions

[@dnasty312]

Mike Keenan: the NHL's ultimate *bridge-burner*

[@atulrich93]

"Don't sue me please, I don't have a lot of money" XD

[@WarReport.]

Brett Hull vs Keenan feud for sure. Love Hull calling him out as a rat

[@dnasty312]

How's there not a *Beef History* on those two yet?

[@devonwilliams9168]

Keenan was handed a tough hand in St. Louis and played it a lot better than folks think.

[@tymeryder7436]

@@devonwilliams9168 Yeah, being handed yet another stacked team was probably very hard on him.

[@devonwilliams9168]

@@tymeryder7436 stacked with aged players who didn't defend well

[@JakeMook]

Once again great video Shannon, would definitely love to see a video on Keenan’s trades in the future

[@bluesguy4251]

I loved mike keenan!!!! Winner all the way!!!

[@BewareofDarkness44]

You're sick in the head. What Keenan did to the Blues set that franchise back over a decade.

[@mosescuh3907]

Never had much respect for Keenan, lost it all the time I found out he benched Dale Hawerchuk the day his ill grandmother came to watch him play before she passed

[@KTSN94]

Moses Cuh are you serious? Wow

[@kevaninthe4135]

Damn that's messed up.

[@VirtualWillE]

i mean, he had to have had a reason.. right?

[@user-gw8kh1dx4c]

There's no way there was not a reason lmao.

[@allghilliedup21]

Yeah. IDC if he plays like shit, his grandmother deserved to watch her grandson play at least once. It wasn't about the game anymore. It was about community and Keenan completely forgot about that MO. Piece of shit.

[@tplcrown]

You were too kind . He was a first class jerk period exclamation point

[@CallittheBluesSection415]

"Iron" Mike belongs in the Hall of Fame! How many coaches in history are going to win a Stanley, Canada, and Gagarin Cup? He's a winner, if they have a hockey league on Pluto he'd win their championship!

[@1002l]

This is my favourite video of his, so good

[@carparthero]

@The Hockey Guy excellent expose on iron mike. greatly appreciated! cheers from southern ontario 🍁

[@alvalankerofficial]

He was great coach for the Rangers, he pushed all the right buttons, but even after winning a Stanley Cup in NYC in 1994, the players and management wanted nothing to do with him because he was so hard on the players.

[@RediscoveredTruths]

Keenan destroyed the Blues.

[@dnasty312]

@Jay Bryant In the long run, YES 📉

[@devonwilliams9168]

No. Caron traded them up and then down (Butcher trade, disastrous Stevens/Shanahan settlement).

[@flockawaka1017]

@@devonwilliams9168 kills me every time I think of it lmfao

[@robertjansson7968]

He also destroyed the Canucks and the Rangers. NYR did win the cup but Keenan traded away young players for veterans with just one final cup run in the them. The Devils, Avs, Red Wings were power house for years winning multiple cups. NYR could have done the same if Keenan hadn't destroyed the team.

[@patch8376]

I remember Keenan being pretty ubiquitous in the NHL when I was growing up. Whenever not behind a revolving door of team benches, he could be found behind a sports network desk seconds later talking hockey.

[@jmah1710]

The Detroit Red Wings prior to hiring Scotty Bowman as head coach had Al Arbour and Mike Keenan as candidates for head coach.

[@leafsfan1539]

Whatever he is he deserves to go into the hall I don’t know when the world became so hurt but there’s many men like mike in the hall

[@felixeur1276]

Keenan seems to me like John Tortorella on steroids

[@alvalankerofficial]

Great example! He is a meaner, grittier, less empathetic version of Torts.

[@eddixon2015]

Embryo yeah I agree, Torts is really angry and all, but I don’t think he’s malicious

[@leafsfan1539]

He’s mike Babcock

[@letthemeatboobs]

Keenan's tenure with the Flames was pretty good. Their squad in 08-09 was prime to do damage in the playoffs but their team was decimated by injuries. Also after that the team got significantly worse and didn't make the playoffs for 5 or so years. He definitely had a 'unique' style though that was really mixed results and some disasters that you noted. Cool video to go through these things thanks.

[@kulba21]

Pat Burns' time was up in Boston. I remember it being quite a shock they even kept him going into that 2000-01 season.

[@hqasunny6564]

U should do a series of interesting coaches and gms, ik u do plenty of these but an actual series would be awesome

[@HabsCanada1]

Iron Mike was and still is the man.

[@dnasty312]

Ditka?

[@canadiansoviet]

@@dnasty312 Ditka is my personal favorite.

[@connorrohead]

A fun topic you could do for some of your younger viewers is talk about infamous hits ex. bertuzzi, Rome, Simon, McSorley. Just an idea but you're great and don't forget it

[@djtrankilo231]

I still can't forgive Bertuzzi to this day.

[@GCBlues45]

He did everything to get Wayne Greskey,then when it was time to resign him he did not have nerve to keep him. We all loved Wayne when he was with the Blues,but when Keenan did not want him know more it showed who he really cared about. Then feud he had with Brett really got us in Stl fuming.

[@Alcaptan]

What about swedens coach for their world cup team Rikard Grönborg? Do you think any NHL team will pick him up after his success with Sweden since he joined?

[@Clutch28]

If a team in the NHL hires Keenan, they end up in a rebuild phase a couple years later. The guy destroys teams. He alienates players. So how is he a good coach exactly?

[@fernfreeman1729]

That sounds like the Montreal Canadiens

[@djtrankilo231]

@@fernfreeman1729 maybe they'll hire him as both coach and GM when they get tired of Julien and Bergevin.

[@iamhungey12345]

The guy is like steroids, good for a year or two before the body goes into a health break down due to side effects. Granted not all steroids are the same but Keenan would have been the classic example when it comes to how steroids were viewed in the 1990s.

[@pancyclosis]

So, how about those career of trades videos?

[@cityhawk]

The hockey version of Billy Martin. Highly volatile, vicious temper, great coach but never stayed at one stint for more than four consecutive seasons, and rubbed a lot of players the wrong way even with the success.

[@williambrecheen7366]

My favorite was pulling on the jersey of Balfour to get his attention after Balfour had told him off and was then ignoring him.

[@hollowmstr]

One of my sister's in-laws is a diehard Blues fan, even did a victory lap around the block when the won the cup. He hates Mike Keenan for what he did to the team.

[@peterolbrisch1653]

Mike Keenan for President.

[@alm-music3813]

Can you please do one on keenan's trades

[@SteeleZack]

There is a guy on Reddit who is a St.Louis Blues fan who uses the "Keenan get bent" as his username.

[@mikehayakawa7192]

No wonder they called him Adolph

[@kulba21]

Shannon, remember how surprising it was when Scott Walker was left exposed for Nasvhille in the expansion draft? In his book, Burke explained he wanted like hell to keep him but McCaw told him to let Keenan have his way on that one. Nuts. Kinda tells you the state of the franchise when Burke took over

[@robertbowles5156]

I'm from Rochester NY, he got us our last cup, haven't sniffed one since. But I'm also a Blues fan so this is a love hate relationship

[@fnafboy-fnafgirlssistercar685]

OH GOOD GOD

[@bluesguy4251]

This is first video ive ever watched (and ive watched a ton of yours) of yours shannon thatvi disagreed with ya way more than agreed with ya!!!

[@daledemanchuk7920]

iron mike would have been a villian on wrassling

[@daledemanchuk7920]

haha good one!

[@leafsfan1539]

Mike Babcock is gonna be known as a Mike Keenan

[@BewareofDarkness44]

If you want to know how hated a man Mike Keenan is in St. Louis, you need look no further than Brett Hull's jersey retirement ceremony. When Brett alluded to Mike during his speech, a fan yells out "I f**king hate Mike Keenan" to which everyone laughed and cheered. I think he's sports public enemy #2, right behind Stan Kronke, in St. Louis.

[@everybodyhatescriss]

Make a video of the Kevin Lowe era in edmonton

[@leafsfan1539]

The Kevin Lowe era lol you mean the Gretzky era featuring Kevin Lowe

[@TheAngryCanadian1109]

Leafs Fan he means when the oilers were run by clowns

[@ericmyers3561]

Destroyed the Canucks

[@josephgello955]

when he was with the bruins he tried to fire the TV guy dale Arnold. and the bruins wife's had a carnival planed for a Sunday he tried to cancel it the day before that went no where. the carnival was for childrens hospital. he did not want the locker room opened for tours that day for the fans to walk through. I don't think he had many friends with the team I would be around the garden a lot in those guys work and he would always be by himself after games.

[@ARMORALLL]

I was at a game in Toronto against the Canucks and Keenan pulled the goalie in the 2nd period. The Leafs won that game

[@rattlehead54321]

I get the guy was controversial but I think Keenan should be in the HOF, you take 3 different teams to the Stanley Cup and win 1. That's awesome.

[@HerbtasticHerbdaddy]

At this time, there is one dislike for this video. I'm guessing that was Mike Keenan!

[@toddleroux4745]

No, it was Messibum. Mark Messibum.

[@tymeryder7436]

He belongs in the HOF, which includes his '87 + '91 CC wins (omitted), but he mistreated so many players and NHL brass, as well as public opinion still being low, I don't think he will be admitted. On a side note (regarding '94 cup win), I felt bad for Mike Gartner. He played 4 full seasons with Rangers, only to be traded to Leaf's for Anderson just prior to playoffs (Messier-Keenan reunion team). Anderson was historically effective in playoffs, but trading a consistent 40 goal scorer (Gartner) for a 20 goal scorer (at the time) was indeed a statistical detriment to NY. Gartner scored an average of 0.82 ppg (incl playoffs) with '94 Leafs...whereas Anderson only scored 0.34 for NY. EDIT: It has become trendy to criticize stats, but points win games.

[@peterolbrisch8970]

I voted for him several times in the presidential election as a write in candidate before I learned he was born in Canada.

[@newjerseykiller]

Can we get that Mike Keenan Trade video :) sounds like a doozie

[@senorsoupe]

I think the dropoff in Keenan's success sort of parallels how the game was moving on from that style of coaching. The Professional arsehole type coaches were on the decline by the late 90's as modern coaching adopted more modern metheods

[@Gagne87Fixxer]

I think there were issues with Keenan as well during a certain Canada Cup. It was either in 1987 or 1991…or both. Lol

[@tomwilson3969]

They didn’t call him Iron Mike for nothing.

[@Peoplesrepublicoffortnite]

Damn he fucked shit up like everywhere except for like philly, chicago and to an extent ny

[@JoeyJordison97]

😊

[@merc340sr]

Keenan was known for putting his players down....

[@johnsobery]

I always thought that he was sgt. slaughter

[@ericmyers3561]

With only one Stanley Cup… with the stellar line ups of players he coached, other more reasonable coaches would have won multiple cups

[@shooter1973]

Keenan really seemed to enjoy messing with player's lives. The daily drama and team uncertainty was exhausting in Vancouver.

[@kylecopley5790]

I feel like he isn't in the hall of fame because of his reputation he was so brutal on his players but still he did find results even if he was a royal dick. a Stanley Cup Championship and a Gagarin cup speak for themselves. I would wonder if he would ever try and make a comeback in the NHL or if any team would give him a shot.

[@September2004]

Why would Messier want to hire the coach who drove Gretzky to the NY Rangers in the first place? Power.

[@bluesguy4251]

Didn't hurt fuhr wtf?? He was awesome, kypreos falls on him in 96 playoffs and we have to go to Casey and still are a goal away from beating 2nd best team ever in Detroit and their 62 win season!!! (77 montreal only better pts wise. )

[@BewareofDarkness44]

If Fuhr doesn't get hurt, he runs out of gas before they finish the job to win the Cup. You just can't play your goalie that much and expect good things to happen. That's hockey and how to use your goaltender 101. The '96 playoff run was the only "good" that came of Keenan's time here, and we got over a decade of hardship for the zero cups it got us.

[@BrettHornby]

On a serious note Mike Keenan recently revealed he's got prostate cancer and has been fighting it since May.

[@BrettHornby]

Would say it's more unlikely he'll get inducted as a builder given reputation and how his time suddenly with franchises. His career declined after the New York Rangers. Interesting when he was in Calgary, it was neither a success nor a failure. He came in quietly as at the time Jim Playfair was still the head coach after taking over Darryl Sutter when he stepped down to be general manager. He was criticized for his coaching style but wasn't fired. Found out Mike Keenan was going to be head coach of the Flames by coming off the bus for work in the morning and saw his face on the front page of the paper wondering why his face was on the front page of the paper.

[@sultanofswing44]

I was watching some of the nhl top 100 player videos the other day and I had to wonder how in the hell st Louis has never won a cup.

[@commenter6763]

They were a year or two away from it and then the Blues brought Keenan in who traded Hull, Joseph, and Shanahan waway. Bringing in Fuhr actually wasn't too bad of a move as he played fairly well, but he was at the end of his career and got injured. On paper Keenan's moves might make some sense, but it just didn't work out, and the chemistry the Blues had been building for years pre-Keenan was destroyed.

[@djtrankilo231]

Ownership didn't help, either. The Blues were just coming off of the effects of those dark, Ralston Purina days, only to continue having mediocre ownership for years on.

[@kevaninthe4135]

I loved Burns and hated Keenan in Boston.

[@adamieraci8256]

Maybe he could go to Dallas

[@Cyan.l0g]

Is Tortorella Mike Kenan 2.0?

[@djtrankilo231]

I don't remember hearing anybody from the Lightning, Rangers or the Canucks 3 ever hating on Torts, players or fans. Columbus seems to tolerate him, so I'd say no.

[@Swoop187OG187]

Damn Shannon, what an old video this is, lol.... At any rate I would call Keenan's "ethics" extremely questionable - but you cant question the results... Keenan's antics have to be some of the most questionable the game has ever seen - at least in our lifetimes... Either way Keenan really blurs the line.... He clearly enjoyed manipulating young guys and thats not cool man - but these same dudes he manipulated are grateful for it - it's really bizarre...

[@SteeleZack]

Why does he get get both the GM job and the HC job

[@lucrativelyrics8131]

how does a coach win the stanley cup, then get fired by the team? .. how does keenan win the KHL championship one year, then finish with a decent record the next (at least making the playoffs) only to get fired abruptly? .. how does he finish with a winning record in boston (as well as 2 in a row with calgary), then get fired by those teams immediately after? .. hmm, something's wrong here (*not a "people person", perhaps?..

[@kevincusick8221]

You really slighted him by very casually mentioning he brought a very average team to the Stanley Cup finals not once but twice.in Philly. It was because he was their coach that was a big reason they got there. And to blame him at all for leaving the Rangers right away is completely off base. If you knew how bad Neil Smith was as the Rangers GM you would’ve packed your bags as well. I am leaving was not on my keychain… That one is on Neil Smith

[@chriswoodsports]

Keenan could have had 700 wins, I don’t think he gets even close to 800 wins. Hall of famer? Maybe if he won more than 1 Stanley Cup

[@nortorioustxc4359]

Good for the short term and then it goes down hill after

[@rewing84]

does keenan belong in the hall of fame Nope

[@ryans413]

Omg Shannon I'm sorry but goes from Vancouver too Boston man you can't win

[@alvalankerofficial]

The ONLY guy he got aong with in New York was Mark Messier, He treated Brian Leetch, Mike Richter and Alex Kovalev like complete crap, also Glenn Healy. He purposely would embarrass and bench players.

[@v4v819]

Wouldn't have helped... Nothing could have helped the Leafs of the mid to late nineties... And definitely not a rapidly declining post-Kings Wayne Gretsky. He was but a league ambassador taking refuge in any major US city NHL team that would take him and pay his Sir fee...

[@richcerasale8909]

mike should be in the hockey hall of fame

[@johnwisniewski2042]

As a Flyers fan, I never liked him as a coach. However, 9th best all time is hard to argue with. He might be a bastard. But he got results. Still, hated his style.

[@mygirlpiper]

John Wisniewski also as a Flyers fan and remembering those " 84 to 87 Stanley Cup runs Mike Keenan squeezed every ounce out of this teams and they played above of what they actually were and over achieved only to lose to those Mighty Edmonton Oiler teams in the 85 and 87 Cup finals. That "84" team was so special because that Flyers The was the youngest team not only in the NHL at the time BUT the youngest team in North American sports at the time " amazing season ! - The 87" Finals The Flyers so riddled with injuries with Tim Kerr, Dave Poulin and Brad McCrimmon all injured for that final But yet that Flyers Rookie Hextall team took that Gretzky Oiler Team to a game 7 - and that 87" Oiler team was at there peak. So yes Iron Mike Keenan was brutal on his players to get maximum output as a fan that is none of my concerns because those Flyers were fun and special to watch in that decade under Keenan ! Great time to be a Flyers fan in Mike Keenan's run with the Philadelphia Flyers.

[@lakeeriesailor2852]

update: he is now 12th in number of NHL regular season wins....but still has 9th most NHL regular season losses.

[@yoholmes273]

As a DEVILS fan...we LOVE Pat Burns. While Keenan is a pure clown. 🤡

[@humanbeing2420]

Mark Messier won the Rangers' 1994 Stanley Cup, not Mike Keenan. Keenan helped get them there, but when it counted most, he tried to sabotage the team and worked on his deal with St. Louis during the conference finals. The guy is an ass.

[@grantthorpe802]

You forgot 2 Canada Cups (like Olympics for you Americans lol). HHOF waited for Pat Burns to die before they put him in(because of 86 WJHC). Keenan will get in, the ‘old boys’ of the NHL don’t like him but it doesn’t matter. Iron Mike was an awesome coach.

[@JustBob-sw4rf]

I despise Mike Keenan. He's one of the worst things that ever happened to the Blues. From what I've heard his coaching tactics consisted of telling players to "Go out there and play hard". (Yes, I know that's a gross exaggertion). As you point out, as a GM he would overpay for his favorites. Also, I think he was obsessed with making a team HIS creation, so some of his moves always consisted of getting rid of key players. Also, I think he suffers from ADHD as a GM. He was constantly making trades, often it appeared just for the sake of making trades. To add insult to injury the idiot Blue's management, I believe Jack Quinn, was found guilty of negotiating with Keenan before it was legal to do so. So, the league punished them by awarding the Rangers a Blues' first round draft choice and a top 6 forward, whose name I can't remember. As if having Keenan as your GM isn't punishment enough. Yes, Keenan got Pronger but that was for super star Shanahan, hardly a genius move. And, yes it was a bad situation because Shanahan stole Teammate Turgeon's wife. So, it's understood he had to be moved.

[@commenter6763]

Worked out for both Shanahan and Pronger in retrospect. Hull, too.

[@Wanderlust598]

Mike Keenan was a rodent that set the Blues back by trading all their young talent and bringing in washed up veterans. Ran Hull, Joseph and Wayne Gretzky out of St. Louis.

[@toddleroux4745]

He's creepy...Keenan...shudder.

[@user-hs7ps3egdkdkd]

Just a bad coach.

[@trichotillomaniac1959]

His record in 94-95 was 28-15-15. You have him at 49 games.

[@TheHockeyGuy]

It's a video from five years ago, not a big deal.