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Scotty: A Hockey Life Like No Other
NATIONAL BESTSELLER
A hockey life like no other.
A hockey book like no other.
Scotty Bowman is recognized as the best coach in hockey history, and one of the greatest coaches in all of sports. He won more games and more Stanley Cups than anyone else. Remarkably, despite all the changes in hockey, he coached at the very top for more than four decades, his first Cup win and his last an astonishing thirty-nine years apart. Yet perhaps most uniquely, different from anyone else who has ever lived or ever will again, he has experienced the best of hockey continuously since he was fourteen years old. With his precious standing room pass to the Montreal Forum, he saw "Rocket" Richard play at his peak every Saturday night. He saw Gordie Howe as a seventeen-year-old just starting out. He scouted Bobby Orr as a thirteen-year-old in Parry Sound, Ontario. He coached Guy Lafleur and Mario Lemieux. He coached against Wayne Gretzky. For the past decade, as an advisor for the Chicago Blackhawks, he has watched Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, and Connor McDavid. He has seen it all up close.
Ken Dryden was a Hall-of-Fame goaltender with the Montreal Canadiens. His critically acclaimed and bestselling books have shaped the way we read and think about hockey.
Now the player and coach who won five Stanley Cups together team up once again.
In Scotty, Dryden has given his coach a new test: Tell us about all these players and teams you've seen, but imagine yourself as their coach. Tell us about their weaknesses, not just their strengths. Tell us how you would coach them and coach against them. And then choose the top eight teams of all time, match them up against one another in a playoff series, and, separating the near-great from the great, tell us who would win. And why.
This book is about a life--a hockey life, a Canadian life, a life of achievement. It is Scotty Bowman in his natural element, behind the bench one more time.
A hockey life like no other.
A hockey book like no other.
Scotty Bowman is recognized as the best coach in hockey history, and one of the greatest coaches in all of sports. He won more games and more Stanley Cups than anyone else. Remarkably, despite all the changes in hockey, he coached at the very top for more than four decades, his first Cup win and his last an astonishing thirty-nine years apart. Yet perhaps most uniquely, different from anyone else who has ever lived or ever will again, he has experienced the best of hockey continuously since he was fourteen years old. With his precious standing room pass to the Montreal Forum, he saw "Rocket" Richard play at his peak every Saturday night. He saw Gordie Howe as a seventeen-year-old just starting out. He scouted Bobby Orr as a thirteen-year-old in Parry Sound, Ontario. He coached Guy Lafleur and Mario Lemieux. He coached against Wayne Gretzky. For the past decade, as an advisor for the Chicago Blackhawks, he has watched Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, and Connor McDavid. He has seen it all up close.
Ken Dryden was a Hall-of-Fame goaltender with the Montreal Canadiens. His critically acclaimed and bestselling books have shaped the way we read and think about hockey.
Now the player and coach who won five Stanley Cups together team up once again.
In Scotty, Dryden has given his coach a new test: Tell us about all these players and teams you've seen, but imagine yourself as their coach. Tell us about their weaknesses, not just their strengths. Tell us how you would coach them and coach against them. And then choose the top eight teams of all time, match them up against one another in a playoff series, and, separating the near-great from the great, tell us who would win. And why.
This book is about a life--a hockey life, a Canadian life, a life of achievement. It is Scotty Bowman in his natural element, behind the bench one more time.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published October 29, 2019
100 people are currently reading
711 people want to read
About the author
Ken Dryden
19 books92 followersKenneth Wayne "Ken" Dryden is a Canadian politician, lawyer, businessman, author, and former NHL goaltender. He is an officer of the Order of Canada and a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Dryden was a Liberal Member of Parliament from 2004, also serving as a cabinet minister from 2004 to 2006, until losing his seat in the 2011 Canadian federal elections to Conservative Mark Adler.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
February 22, 2020
A great read with insights into hockey history, along with a bio of Scotty Bowman. The book includes perhaps the most biographic detail available on Sam Pollock as well. The structure of the book weaves Bowman's biography in with his insights on the 8 best teams he has seen during his life. It makes for a few redundancies and there is a Habs-heavy tilt to the book that cannot be denied and, frankly, ought to be embraced given the history and relationship between author and subject. It is an ideal pairing, however, and it is an endearing read that gives the occasional chill when the reminiscence is familiar, such as when Dryden recalls the retirement of Bernie Geoffrion's number 5. Ultimately, Dryden has proven himself again to be one of sport's best chroniclers and he adds to his towering reputation among hockey writers.
December 28, 2021
Scotty Bowman is considered to be one of the all-time great coaches in all of team sports, with his teams winning nine Stanley Cups spanning a time frame of 29 years between the first (Montreal Canadiens, 1973) and the last (Detroit Red Wings, 2002). He amassed over 1400 regular season wins during his remarkable career and his goalie for five of those championships, Ken Dryden, has written a book on Bowman's hockey life as a player, scout, coach and other duties.
"Other duties" include his current status as a special guest of the Tampa Bay Lightning to their home games. He still attends as many games as he can, goes to his seat in the press box and still takes diligent notes on each game with the chance that he might be able to pass along information to the Lightning staff. That is typical Bowman – always looking for anything that can help a hockey team improve. It is the impression a reader or listener will get after enjoying this book.
Dryden and Bowman will take the reader through decades of hockey history and the name dropping is impressive – Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky for starters as players he saw but did not coach. As for those he coached on his championship teams in Montreal and Detroit, there are plenty of stories and observations of them, from Guy Lafluer to Mario Lemieux (even though he was the coach for Pittsburgh when they won the Cup in 1992, Bowman doesn't talk a lot about that team, only obtaining the job due to the death of Bob Johnson, so he calls them Johnson's team) to Steve Yzerman.
The book isn't limited to Bowman's championships as he talks about his life before coaching when he was working for Sam Pollack with the Canadiens – later they would become a very successful coach-general manager tandem. He also talks about his time coaching the St. Louis Blues as a brand new expansion team as well as the Buffalo Sabres, who were a talented team under Bowman who could never get over the hump.
One other feature of the book is a "tournament" in which Bowman selects the eight greatest teams he has seen in his lifetime and he breaks each one of them down to Dryden and then eliminates them one by one until there is one team left. No spoilers here as one will have to read or listen to the book in order to find out which team that will be.
Dryden is an established hockey author and his work shines here. At times, there is great detail and I believe that the audio version that I listened to will work better for those who both read physical books and listen to audio books. But whichever version is chosen, one will enjoy this biography of a legendary hockey coach.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
"Other duties" include his current status as a special guest of the Tampa Bay Lightning to their home games. He still attends as many games as he can, goes to his seat in the press box and still takes diligent notes on each game with the chance that he might be able to pass along information to the Lightning staff. That is typical Bowman – always looking for anything that can help a hockey team improve. It is the impression a reader or listener will get after enjoying this book.
Dryden and Bowman will take the reader through decades of hockey history and the name dropping is impressive – Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky for starters as players he saw but did not coach. As for those he coached on his championship teams in Montreal and Detroit, there are plenty of stories and observations of them, from Guy Lafluer to Mario Lemieux (even though he was the coach for Pittsburgh when they won the Cup in 1992, Bowman doesn't talk a lot about that team, only obtaining the job due to the death of Bob Johnson, so he calls them Johnson's team) to Steve Yzerman.
The book isn't limited to Bowman's championships as he talks about his life before coaching when he was working for Sam Pollack with the Canadiens – later they would become a very successful coach-general manager tandem. He also talks about his time coaching the St. Louis Blues as a brand new expansion team as well as the Buffalo Sabres, who were a talented team under Bowman who could never get over the hump.
One other feature of the book is a "tournament" in which Bowman selects the eight greatest teams he has seen in his lifetime and he breaks each one of them down to Dryden and then eliminates them one by one until there is one team left. No spoilers here as one will have to read or listen to the book in order to find out which team that will be.
Dryden is an established hockey author and his work shines here. At times, there is great detail and I believe that the audio version that I listened to will work better for those who both read physical books and listen to audio books. But whichever version is chosen, one will enjoy this biography of a legendary hockey coach.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
January 4, 2020
Very interesting book, especially for hockey fans who remember NHL hockey since the 1950s. Dryden and Bowman do a great job describing Stanley Cup teams through the years and allow you to relive many great teams and players.
August 9, 2023
Ken Dryden brings much of his hockey experience to this book, crafting a biography of the great NHL coach Scotty Bowman. In a book rich with anecdotes and personal commentary, Dryden breathes life into one of the best men who stood behind the bench. Bowman is a stunning man, whose simple style could be accepted by many, even if he was not appreciated all the time. The Dryden-Bowman banter throughout is key and helps keep the reader enthralled from the opening pages until the final paragraph. A winner for all who love the NHL and hockey in all its facets.
While Scotty Bowman grew up outside Montreal, he was not always enthralled by the beloved Canadiens. Bowman remembers listening to radio broadcasts—albeit full of static—of his Boston Bruins, having his father fill in the gaps after it was time to go to bed. Bowman loved hockey from an early age and would put all his time and effort into following the game and perfecting his own play. As he rose through the ranks of the hockey systems offered in the Montreal area, Bowman was sure he had found his niche.
Needing a livelihood after a freak hockey accident, Bowman began his career as a paint salesman, but was still enthralled with the game. The author recounts how Bowman would cater his sales calls around being able to capture the Montreal Canadiens’ practice at the Forum, where he could watch the greats at the time, idolising their moves and grittiness. Bowman wanted nothing more than to be involved with the club, shedding his past dedication to the Bruins in order to get a taste for NHL action. He was soon rewarded with a scouting position within the organisation and saw himself recognised by many in the field.
This led to a number of smaller coaching positions before Bowman was handed the reins to assist the expansion St. Louis Blues for their inaugural season in 1967-68. Bowman was forced to see the NHL’s transformation at that time, pulling on talent that had been deemed ‘too soft’ or ‘too old’ in order to cobble together teams that spanned the North American continent. For reasons of team placement, Bowman was able to take the Blues to the Stanley Cup Finals for their first three seasons, though their hopes were dashed each time.
Bowman left St. Louis on a losing note before he was scooped up by the Montreal Canadiens, where it is said he had his most illustrious years. Bowman coached some of the greats from the team, but was also pressured by the past greatness the Canadiens had come to expect. The author was the first-string goalie under Bowman, able to speak about his style and coaching expectations. Bowman took the team from good to complete greatness and created a dynasty that dominated the 1970s, surrounded by a new and grittier way of playing. Montreal earned multiple Cups and remained contenders for many of the other Cup finals, proving that Scotty had what it took to craft a winning team.
Wanting more, Bowman left for Buffalo and created a new team that could dominate during the regular season, but fell flat during the march to the Cup. Scotty loved his time with the Sabres, but could never find the glory he had been expected to find. A new and emerging NHL created the need for a new and different coaching styles, as well as front office staff whose interests differed from what Bowman might do.
With two more stops on his coaching journey, Pittsburgh and Detroit, Bowman was able to eke out Cup winners in both, adding to his legacy and proving that he had what it took. Bowman’s passion for the game could never be disputed, though he was getting older and learning that the flash of the League might not match his style. Bowman turned to consulting and assisting others, including his son, Stan, who took over as General Manager of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Throughout the book, Bowman speaks not only of his life in hockey, but the great teams. Dryden and Bowman created a ‘top 8 of all times’ and the latter would craft his reasons before pitting them against one another in an epic ‘best of Stanley Cup playoffs’. Bowman would explain how one team would fare against another and who might become victorious, playing things out until the last two teams would meet and battle it out for the ultimate prize, ‘the greatest team of all time’. Bowman’s knowledge made this not a game of picking favourites, but assessing talent and seriously analysing what might take place.
While I have long respected the coaching of Scotty Bowman and writing style of Ken Dryden, this book took on a new level of greatness for me. I was able to feed my love of history and douse it with hockey, creating the best of both worlds. Bowman’s climb to the top and how he resonated with many of the players he guided help to better explain how he found ways to win. Dryden explores the thought processes and determination that Bowman offered throughout, using chapters not only to explore the coach’s life, but how various teams rose through the ranks to become part of that top 8. Well-paced writing envelops the reader as they learn, discover, and explore life in the NHL, a time when change was the only constant. I remain enthralled by all I read and can only hope that there will one day be more to explore, so I can add to my knowledge, while feeding my passions for hockey and history. Dryden was on his game here and I cannot thank him enough for this piece of writing.
Kudos, Mr. Dryden, for bringing a true legend to life in his simple and unassuming way.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
While Scotty Bowman grew up outside Montreal, he was not always enthralled by the beloved Canadiens. Bowman remembers listening to radio broadcasts—albeit full of static—of his Boston Bruins, having his father fill in the gaps after it was time to go to bed. Bowman loved hockey from an early age and would put all his time and effort into following the game and perfecting his own play. As he rose through the ranks of the hockey systems offered in the Montreal area, Bowman was sure he had found his niche.
Needing a livelihood after a freak hockey accident, Bowman began his career as a paint salesman, but was still enthralled with the game. The author recounts how Bowman would cater his sales calls around being able to capture the Montreal Canadiens’ practice at the Forum, where he could watch the greats at the time, idolising their moves and grittiness. Bowman wanted nothing more than to be involved with the club, shedding his past dedication to the Bruins in order to get a taste for NHL action. He was soon rewarded with a scouting position within the organisation and saw himself recognised by many in the field.
This led to a number of smaller coaching positions before Bowman was handed the reins to assist the expansion St. Louis Blues for their inaugural season in 1967-68. Bowman was forced to see the NHL’s transformation at that time, pulling on talent that had been deemed ‘too soft’ or ‘too old’ in order to cobble together teams that spanned the North American continent. For reasons of team placement, Bowman was able to take the Blues to the Stanley Cup Finals for their first three seasons, though their hopes were dashed each time.
Bowman left St. Louis on a losing note before he was scooped up by the Montreal Canadiens, where it is said he had his most illustrious years. Bowman coached some of the greats from the team, but was also pressured by the past greatness the Canadiens had come to expect. The author was the first-string goalie under Bowman, able to speak about his style and coaching expectations. Bowman took the team from good to complete greatness and created a dynasty that dominated the 1970s, surrounded by a new and grittier way of playing. Montreal earned multiple Cups and remained contenders for many of the other Cup finals, proving that Scotty had what it took to craft a winning team.
Wanting more, Bowman left for Buffalo and created a new team that could dominate during the regular season, but fell flat during the march to the Cup. Scotty loved his time with the Sabres, but could never find the glory he had been expected to find. A new and emerging NHL created the need for a new and different coaching styles, as well as front office staff whose interests differed from what Bowman might do.
With two more stops on his coaching journey, Pittsburgh and Detroit, Bowman was able to eke out Cup winners in both, adding to his legacy and proving that he had what it took. Bowman’s passion for the game could never be disputed, though he was getting older and learning that the flash of the League might not match his style. Bowman turned to consulting and assisting others, including his son, Stan, who took over as General Manager of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Throughout the book, Bowman speaks not only of his life in hockey, but the great teams. Dryden and Bowman created a ‘top 8 of all times’ and the latter would craft his reasons before pitting them against one another in an epic ‘best of Stanley Cup playoffs’. Bowman would explain how one team would fare against another and who might become victorious, playing things out until the last two teams would meet and battle it out for the ultimate prize, ‘the greatest team of all time’. Bowman’s knowledge made this not a game of picking favourites, but assessing talent and seriously analysing what might take place.
While I have long respected the coaching of Scotty Bowman and writing style of Ken Dryden, this book took on a new level of greatness for me. I was able to feed my love of history and douse it with hockey, creating the best of both worlds. Bowman’s climb to the top and how he resonated with many of the players he guided help to better explain how he found ways to win. Dryden explores the thought processes and determination that Bowman offered throughout, using chapters not only to explore the coach’s life, but how various teams rose through the ranks to become part of that top 8. Well-paced writing envelops the reader as they learn, discover, and explore life in the NHL, a time when change was the only constant. I remain enthralled by all I read and can only hope that there will one day be more to explore, so I can add to my knowledge, while feeding my passions for hockey and history. Dryden was on his game here and I cannot thank him enough for this piece of writing.
Kudos, Mr. Dryden, for bringing a true legend to life in his simple and unassuming way.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
June 13, 2024
Five stars
What a life!!!
I knew his later accomplishments
But all of it was amazing!!
A must read for Hockey 🏒 🥅 Lovers !!
What a life!!!
I knew his later accomplishments
But all of it was amazing!!
A must read for Hockey 🏒 🥅 Lovers !!
December 4, 2022
This book is a mess in terms of its structure, but it's one of the most valuable historical hockey documents that I have ever encountered. If you are looking for a compelling biography that tugs on the heartstrings, steer clear. If you want to obsess over super detailed roster breakdowns of old Hockey teams, and you find yourself wondering things like "I wonder what the dynamic was like between Punch Imlach and Carl Brewer on the 1963 Maple Leafs", then you're in luck!
For maximum enjoyment, I strongly recommend skimming (if not skipping) most chapters about Bowman's life and just reading the write-ups about each of the 8 greatest teams of all time. The table of contents is your friend, use it!
In these team write-ups, Scotty Bowman offers incredible insights and detailed observations about most of the greatest players from the last 60-70 years. Scotty's memory for the game at his advanced age is incredible, his perspective is vast, and he has an almost limitless personal history to draw from.
If you really love hockey and want to intimately understand the greatest players, architects, and teams in its history, then this book will be a real treat for you. Be patient, skip chapters liberally, and Scotty will reward you. However, and I can not stress this enough, if you're hoping for a rich account of Scotty's life story, this ain't it, dear reader.
For maximum enjoyment, I strongly recommend skimming (if not skipping) most chapters about Bowman's life and just reading the write-ups about each of the 8 greatest teams of all time. The table of contents is your friend, use it!
In these team write-ups, Scotty Bowman offers incredible insights and detailed observations about most of the greatest players from the last 60-70 years. Scotty's memory for the game at his advanced age is incredible, his perspective is vast, and he has an almost limitless personal history to draw from.
If you really love hockey and want to intimately understand the greatest players, architects, and teams in its history, then this book will be a real treat for you. Be patient, skip chapters liberally, and Scotty will reward you. However, and I can not stress this enough, if you're hoping for a rich account of Scotty's life story, this ain't it, dear reader.
January 5, 2020
As a lifelong Habs fan who came of age when les Canadiens were at the height of their powers, this book is a nostalgic look back at the glory days of hockey in Montreal. Ken Dryden, the former star goalie, traces the illustrious career of Scotty Bowman, the Verdun native who went on to coach nine a Stanley a Cup winners in Montreal, Pittsburgh and Detroit. Scotty Bowman has been a passionate student of the game from the 1940s to the present. Almost all of the greats—from the Rocket to Gretzky, from Gordie Howie to Mario Lemieux and Steve Yzerman, are covered in this book. Including, of course, the great Habs team of the late 1970s, that included Lafleur, Lemaire, the Big Three defensemen, and, of course, the author himself. I especially enjoyed Dryden’s recreation of Bowman’s modest origins, the son of Scottish immigrants, growing up in Verdun in the ‘30s and ‘40s. The book also discusses how teams put together the necessary nucleus of players to chase after the championship, lessons the current Habs team could learn from. Less successful was the gimmick at the end of the book, where Scotty identifies the eight greatest teams he saw and has a virtual playoff to determine the greatest team ever. With all the changes over time, I found the comparisons of a team from the ‘50s with a modern team unconvincing.
But in the end, it is Scotty Bowman’s obsession with the game, still watching games at all levels, taking notes, telling stories, that shines through. He is a true encyclopedia of the game.
But in the end, it is Scotty Bowman’s obsession with the game, still watching games at all levels, taking notes, telling stories, that shines through. He is a true encyclopedia of the game.
April 5, 2020
Okay, I’m not going to pretend I’m an impartial reviewer here. I am in awe. A book based on a year of interviews with the greatest coach in NHL history, the man who coached those awesome Montréal Canadians teams that won four straight Stanley Cups in the late 1970s as told to the man who was the goalie for those teams, Ken Dryden, who is himself one of the most thoughtful, intelligent, and articulate guys ever to play the game. What’s not to love?
This is not just a biography of Scotty Bowman, this is seventy years of National Hockey League history as seen through his eyes. And what he saw! He holds the record for most wins by a coach in league history, with 1,248 in the regular season and 223 in the playoffs. Teams he coached went to the Stanley Cup Finals thirteen times and won nine. From boyhood to the present he saw all the great players come and go. Not many people can say they watched Maurice (Rocket) Richard, Gordie Howe, Jean Béliveau, Guy Lafleur, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, and Connor McDavid all in their prime. He didn’t just watch these guys he thought deeply about it all and it shows.
If you love hockey, this is the book for you. If you want to learn about the history of hockey, the fastest, most dynamic team sport in the world, this book is an important addition to your reading list.
This is not just a biography of Scotty Bowman, this is seventy years of National Hockey League history as seen through his eyes. And what he saw! He holds the record for most wins by a coach in league history, with 1,248 in the regular season and 223 in the playoffs. Teams he coached went to the Stanley Cup Finals thirteen times and won nine. From boyhood to the present he saw all the great players come and go. Not many people can say they watched Maurice (Rocket) Richard, Gordie Howe, Jean Béliveau, Guy Lafleur, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, and Connor McDavid all in their prime. He didn’t just watch these guys he thought deeply about it all and it shows.
If you love hockey, this is the book for you. If you want to learn about the history of hockey, the fastest, most dynamic team sport in the world, this book is an important addition to your reading list.
April 18, 2020
Scotty Bowman is one of the greatest hockey coaches, and one of the greatest coaches of any sport in North America, of all time. His success spanned across numerous decades and numerous teams. His spot at the top for wins in the NHL for a coach seem insurmountable at 1,244; over 400 more than anybody behind him. And his 14 Stanley Cup rings make him a legend.
These are the stats and plain facts that represent Bowman's greatness, but a good biography would have to expand and explore beyond them to really define a person. Ken Dryden knew that in order to do justice to one of the greatest hockey figures of all time, and somebody who meant so much to him personally, his biography would have to really explore what made him great.
Dryden started talking to Bowman in 2015 about writing a biography about him which Bowman was initially wary of since he figured it would take too much of his time. But Dryden came up with the idea of only talking over the phone for a couple hours a week. What would they talk about? It's all well and good to get biographical details, which are nicely detailed in this book, about Bowman's upbringing, family history, and eventual rise in the hockey world. But how could Dryden really explore Bowman's true character and what really made him so great?
Well, his greatness of course came from his passion, dedication, curiosity, and desire for continual learning; and how he was able to apply all of these philosophies to the game of hockey. So, Dryden developed the idea of asking Bowman to apply his philosophy and intimate knowledge of the game to deciding who he figured were the greatest hockey teams of all time. And then pitting each of these teams against each other in a great thought experiment showdown. 8 teams were chosen and analyzed in great detail through Bowman's inimitably experienced and knowledgable mind. Through hearing how Bowman thought about each of these teams we get a window into exactly how his mind ticks, deeply and expansively.
After nicely written biographical details of the Bowman family's history in Scotland to its journey West to the avenues in Verdun, Quebec, we follow young Scotty Bowman. Living in the crowded plexes which mashed mutliple small houses into and on top of each other with thin walls and tiny living spaces, Bowman was basically forced to live most of his life outdoors doing recreational things. Hockey, baseball, whatever the weather called for. When he started playing minor league hockey his prospect of a playing career was cut short after Jean-Guy Talbot, who Bowman would coach later in his career, slashed him across the head and fractured his skull. It was a vicous incident that Bowman seems to have put behind him.
With his prospects of a playing career over with, Bowman eventually started coaching amatuer league baseball and hockey, winning championships in both sports. Eventually, getting a coaching gig with a team affiliated with the Montreal Canadiens. Once in the system, he wasn't long getting the attention of Montreal Canadiens legendary coach Toe Blake. Blake and Sam Pollock both started grooming Bowman in their system because they saw something special in him. After a bit of a bumpy road from jobs as a pro-scout and junior coach, Bowman eventually broke through and became a coach of the St. Louis Blues in their first year in the NHL, making the Stanley Cup finals but never winning the cup. But Montreal, who were doing some rearranging in their system, made room for Bowman as their coach. He won 5 Stanley Cups with their historically good team in the 1970s and that was just the beginning of his coaching career.
Since Bowman's first-hand experience with NHL teams started in the 1950s, his knowledge of the game is immense and still growing. In this book he and Dryden analyze teams from the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings of the 1950s all the way to the Chicago Black Hawks team of 2014-15. A span of over 60 years of a league constantly evolving. Expansion, unionization, salary caps, rink alterations, player conditioning, team history, and fanbases are all factors in how individuals and how teams perform on the ice. And Scotty Bowman, with his stat sheets and now iPad in hand, has had his discerning eye on all of it, and is still watching today.
This book is a fine overview of the history of the NHL and its historically good teams. We see how different teams developed and built themselves, how players evolved, and how the game itself has evolved over the last 60+ years. But most importantly, Dryden has provided us a window into the mind and life of one of the greatest hockey and sport personalities of all time.
These are the stats and plain facts that represent Bowman's greatness, but a good biography would have to expand and explore beyond them to really define a person. Ken Dryden knew that in order to do justice to one of the greatest hockey figures of all time, and somebody who meant so much to him personally, his biography would have to really explore what made him great.
Dryden started talking to Bowman in 2015 about writing a biography about him which Bowman was initially wary of since he figured it would take too much of his time. But Dryden came up with the idea of only talking over the phone for a couple hours a week. What would they talk about? It's all well and good to get biographical details, which are nicely detailed in this book, about Bowman's upbringing, family history, and eventual rise in the hockey world. But how could Dryden really explore Bowman's true character and what really made him so great?
Well, his greatness of course came from his passion, dedication, curiosity, and desire for continual learning; and how he was able to apply all of these philosophies to the game of hockey. So, Dryden developed the idea of asking Bowman to apply his philosophy and intimate knowledge of the game to deciding who he figured were the greatest hockey teams of all time. And then pitting each of these teams against each other in a great thought experiment showdown. 8 teams were chosen and analyzed in great detail through Bowman's inimitably experienced and knowledgable mind. Through hearing how Bowman thought about each of these teams we get a window into exactly how his mind ticks, deeply and expansively.
After nicely written biographical details of the Bowman family's history in Scotland to its journey West to the avenues in Verdun, Quebec, we follow young Scotty Bowman. Living in the crowded plexes which mashed mutliple small houses into and on top of each other with thin walls and tiny living spaces, Bowman was basically forced to live most of his life outdoors doing recreational things. Hockey, baseball, whatever the weather called for. When he started playing minor league hockey his prospect of a playing career was cut short after Jean-Guy Talbot, who Bowman would coach later in his career, slashed him across the head and fractured his skull. It was a vicous incident that Bowman seems to have put behind him.
With his prospects of a playing career over with, Bowman eventually started coaching amatuer league baseball and hockey, winning championships in both sports. Eventually, getting a coaching gig with a team affiliated with the Montreal Canadiens. Once in the system, he wasn't long getting the attention of Montreal Canadiens legendary coach Toe Blake. Blake and Sam Pollock both started grooming Bowman in their system because they saw something special in him. After a bit of a bumpy road from jobs as a pro-scout and junior coach, Bowman eventually broke through and became a coach of the St. Louis Blues in their first year in the NHL, making the Stanley Cup finals but never winning the cup. But Montreal, who were doing some rearranging in their system, made room for Bowman as their coach. He won 5 Stanley Cups with their historically good team in the 1970s and that was just the beginning of his coaching career.
Since Bowman's first-hand experience with NHL teams started in the 1950s, his knowledge of the game is immense and still growing. In this book he and Dryden analyze teams from the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings of the 1950s all the way to the Chicago Black Hawks team of 2014-15. A span of over 60 years of a league constantly evolving. Expansion, unionization, salary caps, rink alterations, player conditioning, team history, and fanbases are all factors in how individuals and how teams perform on the ice. And Scotty Bowman, with his stat sheets and now iPad in hand, has had his discerning eye on all of it, and is still watching today.
This book is a fine overview of the history of the NHL and its historically good teams. We see how different teams developed and built themselves, how players evolved, and how the game itself has evolved over the last 60+ years. But most importantly, Dryden has provided us a window into the mind and life of one of the greatest hockey and sport personalities of all time.
October 2, 2020
In this interview, I had the tremendous honor of interviewing Scotty Bowman, the greatest hockey coach of all time. Scotty holds the all-time record for most wins as an NHL coach, and from numerous stories, novels, and articles, including Scotty, written by former NHL goaltender, Ken Dryden, the public knows that Scotty was an outstanding mentor, with an unusual style of coaching. Mr. Bowman shares his thoughts and stories about his time in the NHL, and also shares many interesting theories he gathered while observing the NHL through the years.
My name is Doug Rocco, a reporter at NHL Network. Today I had the opportunity to interview Scotty Bowman, a former NHL coach. My job in this interview is to inquire more knowledge about this incredible man and to try to bust some secrets out of the most successful coach in the history of hockey.
Reporter - Who are you?
Scotty Bowman - My name is Scotty Bowman, I was born on September 18, 1933, In Montreal, Quebec, Canada. I grew up playing hockey all of my life and dreamed, like most, to be an NHL star. Sadly, my career was cut short when I sustained a serious head injury playing Junior B hockey. From there, I took to the world of coaching, starting with youth, then juniors, then finally getting a shot coaching with the St. Louis Blues, the NHL’s newest expansion team in 1967. I guess you could say the rest is history.
Reporter - Why do you think that you were so successful when doing your job?
Scotty Bowman - Though I don’t like touching on this subject as it reveals the non-humble side of me, I believe that I was so successful in coaching because I cared. I cared like no other coach. I spent countless hours studying other teams. I spent countless hours designing my practices to fit the team's needs. I spent countless hours studying other coaching styles to benefit my own style of coaching. I spent all of these hours on and off the ice because I cared. When we got on the ice, all of the “Let's go” and “Move it” paid off in the end. I cared about my team's success above anything and everything else. That is what mattered most to me.
Reporter - What do you believe is your biggest achievement, why?
Scotty Bowman - The greatest achievement in my life would have to be my long-lived coaching career. I try to stay as humble as possible, but I even think that it is remarkable that I coached the top level of hockey across the globe for more than 4 decades. Sometimes I felt like I aged like fine wine, as it appears my first and last Stanley Cup victories are astonishing 39 years apart. Of course, the 9 Stanley Cups, and the 1,244 wins are nice, but in my opinion, I am proud of myself for keeping my composure for over 40 years behind the bench, coaching some of the best hockey players in the world. And let me tell ya, some of those kids are a pain in the neck!
Reporter - What is your best attribute? What is your worst attribute?
Scotty Bowman - The best attribute of myself would have to be how I never live in the past. Though I am proud of my widely known success, I do not focus on it. I focus on what’s happening right now, what’s happening at this exact moment. Those are the things that are important to me no matter how much I have accomplished in my life. And now the worst...I would say the worst part about me is how I am so-called “not likable”. Of course, I wouldn’t admit it myself, but others have said that I am not a likable person. They say I am snarky, not friendly, and too truthful, but that is the way I live life. That is the way I live life, whether or not people like me or not.
Reporter - What/Who helped you become the person you are today?
Scotty Bowman - The event that helped me become the person I am today was my injury while I was a young player, playing in the junior leagues in Canada. Without this injury, I would’ve most likely continued to play hockey and most likely would've ended up being an average junior player throughout all of my life. The injury saved my career, it saved my life and opened me up into a whole new world of hockey.
Reporter - What was the best lesson you learned throughout your years in the coaching business?
Scotty Bowman - The best lesson I was taught throughout my years in coaching hockey, was that by constantly switching the lines and team strategies, I was able to keep my opponent off track, and not let them gain any competitive advantage when playing against my team.
Reporter - Who was your inspiration growing up, why?
Scotty Bowman - My inspiration growing up would have to be myself. As cliche as it sounds, I never let anything or anyone get in the way of what I set my mind to. I wanted to run through life like a well-oiled machine. No bumps, no stops, but of course, that is not how life goes. Life is full of surprises. Life is a bumpy ride. Life is unpredictable, but you can never let life get in your way.
Reporter - What made you choose the 8 teams you said were the best teams in all of hockey?
Scotty Bowman - That's a great question...The teams I chose as my top 8 teams in all of the NHL’s widely spread history were not the most skilled teams, they are the teams that play like a team. A team with not a single individual, rather an 18+ man unit. These teams I put together in a playoff-style bracket, were teams I thought, in a seven-game series, would beat any other team throughout all of history. Again, the most successful teams are made up of players who are brothers. Players that all work together no matter the situation they are faced with.
Reporter - In coaching, did you have favorite players and players you disliked?
Scotty Bowman - Of course, I had favorite players. Every coach does, and though they may not show it, every coach has players they like and every coach has players that they dislike. That goes for all sports. That goes for all of life. Personally, I had the honor of coaching and observing some of the greatest players to ever play the game. It truly was exhilarating to watch some of these guys play. They moved the puck so crisply, almost sounding like woodpeckers pecking at a tree.
Reporter - What is one piece of advice you can give to future generations, why?
Scotty Bowman - One piece of advice I would give to future generations of hockey players is to live life the way that you want to live life. In other words, don’t anyone else control your thoughts, feelings, and reactions. I would tell you to be yourself, no matter the response that it may draw. Play the game how you think it should be played. Be a good teammate, be coachable, and most importantly be a good person in general. Also...crave the ice like it is your main priority. Everyday, picture yourself skating through the cool, breezy air shooting and scoring the biggest goal of your life. Make that dream become a reality.
I believe that is all...Thank you Mr. Bowman for this incredible opportunity to interview one of the greatest coaches throughout history across all sports. If you want to learn more about Scotty Bowman, one of the greatest coaches of all time across all sports, I recommend Scotty, written by Ken Dryden. And thank you to the audience, for tuning in to this special episode of NHL NETWORK.
THIS WAS A FICTIONAL INTERVIEW WRITTEN FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVIEWING THIS BOOK!
My name is Doug Rocco, a reporter at NHL Network. Today I had the opportunity to interview Scotty Bowman, a former NHL coach. My job in this interview is to inquire more knowledge about this incredible man and to try to bust some secrets out of the most successful coach in the history of hockey.
Reporter - Who are you?
Scotty Bowman - My name is Scotty Bowman, I was born on September 18, 1933, In Montreal, Quebec, Canada. I grew up playing hockey all of my life and dreamed, like most, to be an NHL star. Sadly, my career was cut short when I sustained a serious head injury playing Junior B hockey. From there, I took to the world of coaching, starting with youth, then juniors, then finally getting a shot coaching with the St. Louis Blues, the NHL’s newest expansion team in 1967. I guess you could say the rest is history.
Reporter - Why do you think that you were so successful when doing your job?
Scotty Bowman - Though I don’t like touching on this subject as it reveals the non-humble side of me, I believe that I was so successful in coaching because I cared. I cared like no other coach. I spent countless hours studying other teams. I spent countless hours designing my practices to fit the team's needs. I spent countless hours studying other coaching styles to benefit my own style of coaching. I spent all of these hours on and off the ice because I cared. When we got on the ice, all of the “Let's go” and “Move it” paid off in the end. I cared about my team's success above anything and everything else. That is what mattered most to me.
Reporter - What do you believe is your biggest achievement, why?
Scotty Bowman - The greatest achievement in my life would have to be my long-lived coaching career. I try to stay as humble as possible, but I even think that it is remarkable that I coached the top level of hockey across the globe for more than 4 decades. Sometimes I felt like I aged like fine wine, as it appears my first and last Stanley Cup victories are astonishing 39 years apart. Of course, the 9 Stanley Cups, and the 1,244 wins are nice, but in my opinion, I am proud of myself for keeping my composure for over 40 years behind the bench, coaching some of the best hockey players in the world. And let me tell ya, some of those kids are a pain in the neck!
Reporter - What is your best attribute? What is your worst attribute?
Scotty Bowman - The best attribute of myself would have to be how I never live in the past. Though I am proud of my widely known success, I do not focus on it. I focus on what’s happening right now, what’s happening at this exact moment. Those are the things that are important to me no matter how much I have accomplished in my life. And now the worst...I would say the worst part about me is how I am so-called “not likable”. Of course, I wouldn’t admit it myself, but others have said that I am not a likable person. They say I am snarky, not friendly, and too truthful, but that is the way I live life. That is the way I live life, whether or not people like me or not.
Reporter - What/Who helped you become the person you are today?
Scotty Bowman - The event that helped me become the person I am today was my injury while I was a young player, playing in the junior leagues in Canada. Without this injury, I would’ve most likely continued to play hockey and most likely would've ended up being an average junior player throughout all of my life. The injury saved my career, it saved my life and opened me up into a whole new world of hockey.
Reporter - What was the best lesson you learned throughout your years in the coaching business?
Scotty Bowman - The best lesson I was taught throughout my years in coaching hockey, was that by constantly switching the lines and team strategies, I was able to keep my opponent off track, and not let them gain any competitive advantage when playing against my team.
Reporter - Who was your inspiration growing up, why?
Scotty Bowman - My inspiration growing up would have to be myself. As cliche as it sounds, I never let anything or anyone get in the way of what I set my mind to. I wanted to run through life like a well-oiled machine. No bumps, no stops, but of course, that is not how life goes. Life is full of surprises. Life is a bumpy ride. Life is unpredictable, but you can never let life get in your way.
Reporter - What made you choose the 8 teams you said were the best teams in all of hockey?
Scotty Bowman - That's a great question...The teams I chose as my top 8 teams in all of the NHL’s widely spread history were not the most skilled teams, they are the teams that play like a team. A team with not a single individual, rather an 18+ man unit. These teams I put together in a playoff-style bracket, were teams I thought, in a seven-game series, would beat any other team throughout all of history. Again, the most successful teams are made up of players who are brothers. Players that all work together no matter the situation they are faced with.
Reporter - In coaching, did you have favorite players and players you disliked?
Scotty Bowman - Of course, I had favorite players. Every coach does, and though they may not show it, every coach has players they like and every coach has players that they dislike. That goes for all sports. That goes for all of life. Personally, I had the honor of coaching and observing some of the greatest players to ever play the game. It truly was exhilarating to watch some of these guys play. They moved the puck so crisply, almost sounding like woodpeckers pecking at a tree.
Reporter - What is one piece of advice you can give to future generations, why?
Scotty Bowman - One piece of advice I would give to future generations of hockey players is to live life the way that you want to live life. In other words, don’t anyone else control your thoughts, feelings, and reactions. I would tell you to be yourself, no matter the response that it may draw. Play the game how you think it should be played. Be a good teammate, be coachable, and most importantly be a good person in general. Also...crave the ice like it is your main priority. Everyday, picture yourself skating through the cool, breezy air shooting and scoring the biggest goal of your life. Make that dream become a reality.
I believe that is all...Thank you Mr. Bowman for this incredible opportunity to interview one of the greatest coaches throughout history across all sports. If you want to learn more about Scotty Bowman, one of the greatest coaches of all time across all sports, I recommend Scotty, written by Ken Dryden. And thank you to the audience, for tuning in to this special episode of NHL NETWORK.
THIS WAS A FICTIONAL INTERVIEW WRITTEN FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVIEWING THIS BOOK!
August 15, 2022
Dryden's approach here, perhaps necessitated by a reluctant subject, is to write a book that is as much a biography of the NHL and its best teams during Bowman's time as it is a bio of the man himself. What comes across, very clearly, is that, unsurprisingly, Scotty Bowman possesses perhaps the keenest hockey-mind that has ever been. I would've enjoyed some insights into Bowman's relationship with some of the legendary players he has coached but there isn't much of that. Dryden, himself, might've gone there as regards what he observed over the years with the Montreal Canadiens but he chooses not to inject himself into the story, with one notable exception.
January 2, 2026
I really enjoyed this book, a really good insight into the greatest hockey mind ever, Scotty Bowman, written by one of the greatest hockey minds, Ken Dryden. Bowman is so knowledgeable, yet so humble — and so is Dryden as his 5-time Cup winning net-minder.
This book isn’t as much a biography as it is a history. The first quarter or so is a bio of Bowman’s childhood and young adulthood before essentially giving a history of the eight greatest teams of Bowman’s lifetime (not necessarily teams he coached) from his perspective and Dryden’s historiography. Would recommend to anyone who enjoys the great game.
This book isn’t as much a biography as it is a history. The first quarter or so is a bio of Bowman’s childhood and young adulthood before essentially giving a history of the eight greatest teams of Bowman’s lifetime (not necessarily teams he coached) from his perspective and Dryden’s historiography. Would recommend to anyone who enjoys the great game.
November 14, 2025
This was an interesting concept for a book but I did still enjoy it. It had some really interesting insights into how Scotty Bowman looks at the best hockey teams and definitely how he rates them. I may not completely agree on what he considers to be the best teams of all time but it was still a really enjoyable read.
December 8, 2020
I was a big fan of Ken Dryden’s last book, Game Change. This book is written fairly similar, alternating between Scott Bowman’s life and the great teams he watched or coached through the decades.
Scotty Bowman is a legend in the game and don’t get me wrong there where some interesting tidbits throughout, but his life is hockey and just hockey. It got pretty dull/bland/boring. Lots of statistical information.
It was interesting to read how he coached some of his great teams and why some situations didn’t work. But outside of that I didn’t find this book about such a legendary figure in hockey all that interesting, when it probably could have been, given his interactions with so many prominent NHL players, staff etc.
It’s also far to long. Dryden has Bowman pick his top 8 teams of all time. You read a chapter about Scotty then about one of the 8 teams. The chapters on the teams are literally broken down to Scotty talking about every key player, which in some chapters is nine to ten players a team. The last 70 pages are these top 8 teams matched up in a theoretical quadrant of playoff series. Kind of cool, but the depths they go into to talk about a fictional event is quite frankly a time waster. The facts are just facts reiterated from earlier in the book. An it actually gets worse, they are then reiterated again and again as teams move into the final four and final.
Scott Bowman is a hockey lifer through and through. He had a legendary career as a coach, GM, scout. Was it overly interesting, no. Is it cool to hear how he coached all these hall of famers, yes. To me this book is, for lack of a better word, very “Meh”. I likely wouldn’t recommend this to anyone. A brief summary gives you what you need to know. Overall a little disappointed, feel like I wasted my time.
Scotty Bowman is a legend in the game and don’t get me wrong there where some interesting tidbits throughout, but his life is hockey and just hockey. It got pretty dull/bland/boring. Lots of statistical information.
It was interesting to read how he coached some of his great teams and why some situations didn’t work. But outside of that I didn’t find this book about such a legendary figure in hockey all that interesting, when it probably could have been, given his interactions with so many prominent NHL players, staff etc.
It’s also far to long. Dryden has Bowman pick his top 8 teams of all time. You read a chapter about Scotty then about one of the 8 teams. The chapters on the teams are literally broken down to Scotty talking about every key player, which in some chapters is nine to ten players a team. The last 70 pages are these top 8 teams matched up in a theoretical quadrant of playoff series. Kind of cool, but the depths they go into to talk about a fictional event is quite frankly a time waster. The facts are just facts reiterated from earlier in the book. An it actually gets worse, they are then reiterated again and again as teams move into the final four and final.
Scott Bowman is a hockey lifer through and through. He had a legendary career as a coach, GM, scout. Was it overly interesting, no. Is it cool to hear how he coached all these hall of famers, yes. To me this book is, for lack of a better word, very “Meh”. I likely wouldn’t recommend this to anyone. A brief summary gives you what you need to know. Overall a little disappointed, feel like I wasted my time.
December 5, 2019
This book is different than other books about hockey. As the author states near the start of the book, Scotty Bowman is not a storyteller. He is a coach, a manager, a scout and an analyst. He watches the game and tries to figure out why one player is great and another is not, why some teams were successful, and others not. The book describes how Scotty "sees" the game.
Fortunately, I am old enough to have seen most of the players and teams described in this book either in person or on "Hockey Night in Canada". I could visualize each player as Scotty broke down their strengths and weaknesses. I'm not sure this book would interest young hockey fans, but it was a great read for us older fans.
The strength of this book is the analysis, but it is also its weakness. Although Scotty is not a storyteller, I wish it had contained a few more stories about his first-hand experiences with these players. I'm sure he has a few to tell and I wish he would have shared them with us.
Fortunately, I am old enough to have seen most of the players and teams described in this book either in person or on "Hockey Night in Canada". I could visualize each player as Scotty broke down their strengths and weaknesses. I'm not sure this book would interest young hockey fans, but it was a great read for us older fans.
The strength of this book is the analysis, but it is also its weakness. Although Scotty is not a storyteller, I wish it had contained a few more stories about his first-hand experiences with these players. I'm sure he has a few to tell and I wish he would have shared them with us.
February 6, 2020
A great read with insights into hockey history, along with a bio of Scotty Bowman.
The structure of the book, which weaves Bowman's biography in with his insights on the 8 best teams he has seen during his life, makes for a few redundancies and there is a Habs-heavy tilt to the book that cannot be denied and, frankly, ought to be embraced given the history and relationship between author and subject. It is an ideal pairing, however, and it is an endearing read that gives the occasional chill when the reminiscence is familiar.
Ultimately Dryden has proven himself again to be one of hockey's best chroniclers and he adds to his towering reputation among hockey writers with this. His first hand commentary of several of the events just adds to this books charm.
The structure of the book, which weaves Bowman's biography in with his insights on the 8 best teams he has seen during his life, makes for a few redundancies and there is a Habs-heavy tilt to the book that cannot be denied and, frankly, ought to be embraced given the history and relationship between author and subject. It is an ideal pairing, however, and it is an endearing read that gives the occasional chill when the reminiscence is familiar.
Ultimately Dryden has proven himself again to be one of hockey's best chroniclers and he adds to his towering reputation among hockey writers with this. His first hand commentary of several of the events just adds to this books charm.
Read
December 5, 2019Ken Dryden is one of hockey’s greatest goalies, but he is also a lawyer (McGill) and a tremendous writer. Scotty Bowman won nine Stanley Cups as a coach, and is regarded as the greatest coach of all time. But what makes this book great is the writing and the stories. Even if you don’t like hockey, you will like this book. One of the best sports books ever written. —M. Todd Henderson, Michael J. Marks Professor of Law
November 24, 2019
This books is full of hockey stories told by the greatest coach, written by the greatest hockey writer. I would've enjoyed another 400 pages. The book would benefit from having more detail about Scotty's time in Pittsburgh and Detroit.
I enjoyed reading about Scotty's top eight teams. It was interesting to see his reasoning for thinking why one team would beat another.
I enjoyed reading about Scotty's top eight teams. It was interesting to see his reasoning for thinking why one team would beat another.
February 18, 2023
A nice insight into the life and thoughts of the greatest hockey coach of all time.
March 26, 2020
This hockey book is either a good book, a really good book, or an amazing book, depending on what kind of hockey fan you are. For me, it was a good book, with interesting stories.
Anyone who follows hockey with any level of depth at all knows who Scotty Bowman is, and understands the huge impact he's had on the game through decades of contributions on multiple teams and in multiple roles. Reading this book is a fun opportunity to get to know the personal side of Scotty better than most fans ever have. Ken Dryden is obviously very fond of Scotty and respects him and his knowledge hugely, and both the fondness and the respect come through clearly throughout this book.
The concept of having Scotty pick the best teams ever from all the teams in all the years is an interesting concept, and it delivered plenty of good stories and engaging insights. What it also delivers is A LOT of statistics!
Personally, I'm about watching and enjoying the game being played, so I don't really care about the minutiae of every number and stat and how it may or may not impact the overall results. It's just not my thing. But if that IS your thing, then this is a great book and you will enjoy it because there is a ton of the foundational, numerical details that, for a coach, is really important to how teams play, develop and win [or don't!]. Scotty has a phenomenal memory and can put every fact into the larger context to explain why some teams and some players are great and others are not.
And if your team happens to be one of the ones Scotty selects as the best [as my Detroit Red Wings are times two] then you get a detailed in-depth look at how that team developed into the winning team it was, with stories about the players, perspectives on how the game has changed over the decades, and what it takes to build a tremendous hockey team. It's cool to get a look "inside the dressing room" so to speak of your favourite team in some cases in very key years. That makes this a very good book.
Finally, if you like "what if" scenarios, then Scotty's opinions on how the teams he's named as the best ever would play out in an imaginary running of a finals among them, then you will really enjoy this as that is how the book wraps up.
Honestly, if you're a hockey lover, you should at least take a look at this book, because Scotty has a lifetime of insight, strategic views and just true love of the game and Dryden has done a great job of putting that all down here. You may not love every page or all the detail, but this is a hockey-lover's valentine and it deserves at least a look!
Anyone who follows hockey with any level of depth at all knows who Scotty Bowman is, and understands the huge impact he's had on the game through decades of contributions on multiple teams and in multiple roles. Reading this book is a fun opportunity to get to know the personal side of Scotty better than most fans ever have. Ken Dryden is obviously very fond of Scotty and respects him and his knowledge hugely, and both the fondness and the respect come through clearly throughout this book.
The concept of having Scotty pick the best teams ever from all the teams in all the years is an interesting concept, and it delivered plenty of good stories and engaging insights. What it also delivers is A LOT of statistics!
Personally, I'm about watching and enjoying the game being played, so I don't really care about the minutiae of every number and stat and how it may or may not impact the overall results. It's just not my thing. But if that IS your thing, then this is a great book and you will enjoy it because there is a ton of the foundational, numerical details that, for a coach, is really important to how teams play, develop and win [or don't!]. Scotty has a phenomenal memory and can put every fact into the larger context to explain why some teams and some players are great and others are not.
And if your team happens to be one of the ones Scotty selects as the best [as my Detroit Red Wings are times two] then you get a detailed in-depth look at how that team developed into the winning team it was, with stories about the players, perspectives on how the game has changed over the decades, and what it takes to build a tremendous hockey team. It's cool to get a look "inside the dressing room" so to speak of your favourite team in some cases in very key years. That makes this a very good book.
Finally, if you like "what if" scenarios, then Scotty's opinions on how the teams he's named as the best ever would play out in an imaginary running of a finals among them, then you will really enjoy this as that is how the book wraps up.
Honestly, if you're a hockey lover, you should at least take a look at this book, because Scotty has a lifetime of insight, strategic views and just true love of the game and Dryden has done a great job of putting that all down here. You may not love every page or all the detail, but this is a hockey-lover's valentine and it deserves at least a look!
September 3, 2020
Being a hockey fan and my team - the Montreal Canadiens, I had to read this book. Scotty Bowman is considered to be the greatest head coach in hockey history. Scotty: A Hockey Life Like No Other takes on a deep dive into Bowman’s life, starting with his childhood and leading into his short-lived playing career (ended by injury) before breaking down a coaching legacy that will likely remain unmatched in hockey history. A master tactician and a effective motivator, Bowman was uniquely capable of identifying what would spur each player to maximize his potential. From Guy Lafleur to Mario Lemieux to Steve Yzerman to Sergei Fedorov, many of hockey’s ultimate legends delivered their finest performances with Bowman behind the bench.
The book concludes with a unique feature, in which Bowman evaluates what would happen if the eight finest teams in NHL history battled it out tournament-style to yield the greatest team of all time. It was really fascinating to get Bowman’s take on what made those teams great and what the likely outcomes would be if they could have actually faced off against one another.
Scotty: A Hockey Life Like No Other gives us a remarkable opportunity to view nine Stanley Cup championship teams from behind the bench, and to gain a far greater understanding of the steps the mercurial Bowman took to coach those teams to greatness. The book is a must-read for fans of the dynastic Canadiens, Lemieux’s Cup-winning Penguins or the Yzerman/Fedorov Wings powerhouse; not to mention other hockey legends like Rocket Richard, Gordie Howe, Jean Belliveau (my favorite) and Bobby Orr (another great #4)
My Rating: Recommended (4 pucks out of 5)
The book concludes with a unique feature, in which Bowman evaluates what would happen if the eight finest teams in NHL history battled it out tournament-style to yield the greatest team of all time. It was really fascinating to get Bowman’s take on what made those teams great and what the likely outcomes would be if they could have actually faced off against one another.
Scotty: A Hockey Life Like No Other gives us a remarkable opportunity to view nine Stanley Cup championship teams from behind the bench, and to gain a far greater understanding of the steps the mercurial Bowman took to coach those teams to greatness. The book is a must-read for fans of the dynastic Canadiens, Lemieux’s Cup-winning Penguins or the Yzerman/Fedorov Wings powerhouse; not to mention other hockey legends like Rocket Richard, Gordie Howe, Jean Belliveau (my favorite) and Bobby Orr (another great #4)
My Rating: Recommended (4 pucks out of 5)
February 21, 2021
I love biographies, especially sports ones and my favorites are hockey stories. I have read a lot of them. Scotty Bowman and Ken Dryden are both legends so I was excited to finally read this one.
I had tried to read The Game, Ken Dryden’s own story and stopped before getting to page 30. So, having read this story, I can attest that Dryden has a particular writing style. Known as an intellectual, this book is filled with statistical data, player’s summaries or scoring cards. However, Dryden fails to tell a story that connects emotionally with readers.
He does not explain what set Bowman apart as a coach. We all know he was ruthless in the 70s and adapted his coaching style with the Red Wings. You will not read anything about it in this book. All you get are victories or losses and nothing about how he coached, what his strategies were or relationships with players. Did he develop relationships? All you read are what Bowman had to say about teams or players, again about what kind of players they were, never about the individuals or their personality. At times, you are confused not knowing if the thoughts are Bowman’s or Dryden’s.
He barely mentions his family life. He summarized by one line how he met his lifelong wife mentioning he married a St-Louis’ nurse. You will never know what kind of father he is either.
I feel Bowman’s impressions on the 8 greatest hockey teams were not needed. It did add a few chapters to a biography which was already too static.
I read this book wanting to learn what set him apart as a hockey legend, a respected coach; I’m disappointed to say I have no idea.
I was interested in reading Game Change, another Dryden book but I will pass as his writing style does not satisfy my reading interests.
I had tried to read The Game, Ken Dryden’s own story and stopped before getting to page 30. So, having read this story, I can attest that Dryden has a particular writing style. Known as an intellectual, this book is filled with statistical data, player’s summaries or scoring cards. However, Dryden fails to tell a story that connects emotionally with readers.
He does not explain what set Bowman apart as a coach. We all know he was ruthless in the 70s and adapted his coaching style with the Red Wings. You will not read anything about it in this book. All you get are victories or losses and nothing about how he coached, what his strategies were or relationships with players. Did he develop relationships? All you read are what Bowman had to say about teams or players, again about what kind of players they were, never about the individuals or their personality. At times, you are confused not knowing if the thoughts are Bowman’s or Dryden’s.
He barely mentions his family life. He summarized by one line how he met his lifelong wife mentioning he married a St-Louis’ nurse. You will never know what kind of father he is either.
I feel Bowman’s impressions on the 8 greatest hockey teams were not needed. It did add a few chapters to a biography which was already too static.
I read this book wanting to learn what set him apart as a hockey legend, a respected coach; I’m disappointed to say I have no idea.
I was interested in reading Game Change, another Dryden book but I will pass as his writing style does not satisfy my reading interests.
September 16, 2023
This is not a typical biography. Apparently, Scotty doesn’t tell a lot of stories about himself and his experiences, so the parts about his life are mostly fact-based retelling of what happened. Not a lot of interesting color. To make the book more interesting, the author, Ken, Dryden, has Scotty pick the eight best teams in the history of the NHL and say why. After that he said, which of the eight would win if they had to play it out for the best of all time.
This book ended up being a hockey history, book as much as the life of Scotty Bowman. In a way, it makes sense because Scotty has been such a part of hockey for the last 70 years. It just didn’t have a lot of interesting stories or personal experiences to make it fun, it was more dry in its retelling. It was a good book and I learned a lot, and I guess when someone doesn’t talk very much like Scotty Bowman, you have to find a way to draw out the information.
The only real issue I had about the choices of the eight best teams in history, was putting the 2010s Chicago Blackhawks in with the rest of the great teams in the NHL. They just didn’t measure up when you compared them with the other seven. This book came out before the Kyle Beach scandal and I hope if he had had that information they would have just left this team out in place of one of the half dozen others I could have picked that were much more complete teams.
This book ended up being a hockey history, book as much as the life of Scotty Bowman. In a way, it makes sense because Scotty has been such a part of hockey for the last 70 years. It just didn’t have a lot of interesting stories or personal experiences to make it fun, it was more dry in its retelling. It was a good book and I learned a lot, and I guess when someone doesn’t talk very much like Scotty Bowman, you have to find a way to draw out the information.
The only real issue I had about the choices of the eight best teams in history, was putting the 2010s Chicago Blackhawks in with the rest of the great teams in the NHL. They just didn’t measure up when you compared them with the other seven. This book came out before the Kyle Beach scandal and I hope if he had had that information they would have just left this team out in place of one of the half dozen others I could have picked that were much more complete teams.
Want to read
November 11, 2024Wow.
To preface the lens in which I read this book… I am a former professional female hockey player, I grew up at a time that celebrated the physicality and “pay back” nature of the game. Where you have the “right” to take someone’s head off on the ice if they wronged you or a teammate in any way. I also read this book through the lens of having lost a very close friend to CTE only a couple of years ago. His name was also Steve.
There’s a natural drawing commonalities to your own lived experiences, and then adding the amplified connection of the name brought me to tears many many times throughout this book.
I feel it is an incredibly important book for anyone/everyone to read. To understand how blows to the head can and will impact people, their abilities, personalities and the compounding effect on loved ones also going through this side by side.
The responsibility that the NHL needs to take to protect the humans whom they profit off of season in and season out. Turning a blind eye or passing the buck to someone else is no longer acceptable. This is bigger than the game.
Perhaps the biggest take away for me and I hope others is creating pause in our day to day lives to recognize where our actions, inactions, cheers or silence may very well be contributing to the life, death or future of others.
To preface the lens in which I read this book… I am a former professional female hockey player, I grew up at a time that celebrated the physicality and “pay back” nature of the game. Where you have the “right” to take someone’s head off on the ice if they wronged you or a teammate in any way. I also read this book through the lens of having lost a very close friend to CTE only a couple of years ago. His name was also Steve.
There’s a natural drawing commonalities to your own lived experiences, and then adding the amplified connection of the name brought me to tears many many times throughout this book.
I feel it is an incredibly important book for anyone/everyone to read. To understand how blows to the head can and will impact people, their abilities, personalities and the compounding effect on loved ones also going through this side by side.
The responsibility that the NHL needs to take to protect the humans whom they profit off of season in and season out. Turning a blind eye or passing the buck to someone else is no longer acceptable. This is bigger than the game.
Perhaps the biggest take away for me and I hope others is creating pause in our day to day lives to recognize where our actions, inactions, cheers or silence may very well be contributing to the life, death or future of others.
December 31, 2020
Living in Toronto for most of my adolescence, I’ve Never been a fan of the Montreal Canadiens. I always nevertheless had a high regard for both Ken Dryden and Scotty Bowman. Dryden? because I too played goalie and he was a goalie to emulate (though in play I tended more toward the more theatrical style of my other hero, Mike Palmateer — on bad days, which were too often, my antiheroes Billy Smith and Ron Hextall). Scotty Bowman? I really don’t know why. There was just something in the way he stood behind the bench and later without a hint of any Cherry-an (though I loved him too) or, later, Tortorellian rancor answered questions (when he did). Plus, Scotty Bowman has been ubiquitous in the (historic and present) professional hockey world. These reminiscences do not disappoint. They illumine the characters (and some times not favourably, though never unkindly) of many past and present hockey heroes. I particularly enjoyed Scotty’s analysis and break-down of the best all-round NHL team. Very well conceived and written.
September 30, 2022
For lovers of hockey this is a wonderful book.Scotty Bowman has won more games than any other NHL coach, plus 9 Stanley Cups.Ken Dryden, who played for Bowman in Montreal, is a skilled writer.His book The Game is probably the best book ever about hockey.Dryden's technique is to follow Bowman from Verdun, where he was born,getting the great coach's insights through interviews about the eras he knew intimately from the 1940s until recent times.Along the way Bowman coached or saw some of the greatest teams in history and the book concludes with his view of the eight greatest teams in history, then a mythical series where the 1976-77 Montreal Canadians come out on top over the 1951- 52 Detroit Red Wings.Fans will debate Bowman's choices- I think the great Canadian team of 1955-56 with Rocket Richard and Jean Beliveau was the best ever- but every page of the book is filled with hockey insights and as a primer on how the game has changed from the Original Six to the modern game of today where European stars abound this book can not be surpassed.
March 7, 2020
Interesting book about one of hockey's most accomplished coaches. Interesting concept to have the story of Bowman's life and career juxtaposed with his takes on what he considers the top teams in NHL history as they developed at points along his career.
More of a memoir about Bowman's life then reflections on his coaching methodology. I learned lots about his life but nothing about why he was a good coach, other then he lead legendary teams.
Dryden's writing style is highly academic, more so then many other similar sports biographies by other authors. He is a highly intelligent person and it is obvious by how he writes this book. This made the book informative however hard to follow at times. I found myself rereading pages at times to fully understand. Also at times the perspective came across as "fanboy" however that is largely due to Dryden's respect of Bowman and his legacy.
Overall a decent book!
More of a memoir about Bowman's life then reflections on his coaching methodology. I learned lots about his life but nothing about why he was a good coach, other then he lead legendary teams.
Dryden's writing style is highly academic, more so then many other similar sports biographies by other authors. He is a highly intelligent person and it is obvious by how he writes this book. This made the book informative however hard to follow at times. I found myself rereading pages at times to fully understand. Also at times the perspective came across as "fanboy" however that is largely due to Dryden's respect of Bowman and his legacy.
Overall a decent book!
January 5, 2024
I read this because I wanted to understand what made Scotty Bowman such a successful coach. And I’m interested in his life story. But the start of the book certainly dives way too deep into the minutiae - dimensions of his bedroom in Verdun, his phone #, a history of Verdun, etc. A better editor would have helped.
But in the end, I really enjoyed this book. Dryden weaves Bowman's life with the eight teams that Scotty has chosen as the eight best of all time. At the end Scotty goes through a playoff of the eight teams to settle on the one best team of all time.
In the end, I didn't get any technical tips on his coaching. Other than to say, build your strategy around the players you've got. Be prepared to change your approach depending on who's on the ice at any given time. Be straight with your players.
For hockey fans who remember the 60s and the 70s - and the 50s! - this was a great trip down memory lane.
But in the end, I really enjoyed this book. Dryden weaves Bowman's life with the eight teams that Scotty has chosen as the eight best of all time. At the end Scotty goes through a playoff of the eight teams to settle on the one best team of all time.
In the end, I didn't get any technical tips on his coaching. Other than to say, build your strategy around the players you've got. Be prepared to change your approach depending on who's on the ice at any given time. Be straight with your players.
For hockey fans who remember the 60s and the 70s - and the 50s! - this was a great trip down memory lane.
June 23, 2020
Scotty and Ken are the ultimate duo for hockey insights. We've read Dryden's books before - starting with my favourite 'The Game' - but this is the first insight we get into Scotty. I've watched and followed him for 40 years but we never really got to know him.
A bit of a biography with lots of historical elements, with the best part getting into Scotty's head and understanding what he sees and how he thinks.
Some parts had more statistics then needed, and there was some repetition in describing the 8 great teams.. but I learned so much about Scotty's career from the earliest days, from player, to coach, to scout, to coach, GM, Advisor and everything in between. Also great insight into Sam Pollack, and many of the coaches and players from the '50s and '60s.
Read it through the end, including the Epilogue and Acknowledgments.. all worth the time.
A bit of a biography with lots of historical elements, with the best part getting into Scotty's head and understanding what he sees and how he thinks.
Some parts had more statistics then needed, and there was some repetition in describing the 8 great teams.. but I learned so much about Scotty's career from the earliest days, from player, to coach, to scout, to coach, GM, Advisor and everything in between. Also great insight into Sam Pollack, and many of the coaches and players from the '50s and '60s.
Read it through the end, including the Epilogue and Acknowledgments.. all worth the time.
February 6, 2021
More of a 3.5/5 for me. It really is 2 books combined into one. Looking back on it, firstly, I thought it was a really good book about hockey history. Through discussions with Scotty Bowman about history 8 best NHL teams of all-time, and also the state of the game during the Era in which those teams played. Secondly, I thought it was an alright biography about Scotty as a man. I personally was much more interested in the history and discussion of the greatest teams than the biography of Scotty as a man, so I ended up skimming many of the biographical chapters. They weren't written poorly and didn't detract from the book entirely, I just wasn't as intrigued so I didn't find them outstanding at all. Overall the quality of the discussion and writing on the greatest teams of all time was great enough to give the book a 4, though maybe my personal enjoyment ranks it more as a 3.5/5.
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