“In North America, we practice pretty and play ugly. If we want to improve our game, let’s practice chaos.”
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In episode #254 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we're joined by Barry Smith, a seven-time Stanley Cup Champion and someone who is woven into the fabric of some of the best NHL teams of all-time.
Smith spent 18 years behind an NHL bench, capturing back-to-back championships with the Pittsburgh Penguins as an Assistant Coach, three Cups riding shotgun with Scotty Bowman in Detroit, and two more with the Chicago Blackhawks as their Director of Player Evaluation.
His resume also includes time coaching in Sweden, Russia, and the NCAA; Smith got his NHL start with his hometown Buffalo Sabres and was even an Assistant Coach to Wayne Gretzky in Phoenix.
Smith will be sharing his wealth of knowledge this June at TCS Live.
Listen as he shares his philosphy on developing hockey sense, working with coaching legend Scotty Bowman, and what it takes to win hockey's ultimate prize.
VIDEO TIMESTAMPS:
- 0:00 Difference between winning and losing
- 2:40 Building a winning roster
- 7:25 Leadership roles
- 9:15 It's hard to win
- 13:50 Being prepared for the playoffs
- 17:50 Start of his coaching career
- 20:40 Learning from Russian coaches
- 25:40 Gaining knowledge as a young coach
- 31:00 Learning from Scotty Bowman/Bob Johnson
- 34:00 Not overcoaching
- 37:15 Coaching in Pittsburgh/Lemieux
- 42:05 Year after winning Cup with Pens
- 45:20 Planning against other coaching tactics
- 48:00 Improving hockey sense in youth players
- 55:45 Practicing chaos
- 1:01:00 Multiple pucks/Evaluating a player's hockey sense
- 1:05:30 Changing practice structure
- 1:10:10 North America vs Europe player development
- 1:17:00 Importance of organization alignment
- 1:20:45 Playing for Jim Butterfield
- 1:23:20 Knowing when to step back and let kids play
- 1:25:15 Key lessons for other coaches
- 1:34:45 Presenting at TCS Live
