How much do NHL head coaches actually make?
A quick look at the salary range for NHL head coaches and how experience/pedigree matter.
I guess I should call this what it is.
It’s an SEO-pleasing piece that I can link back to when needed about NHL coaching salaries.
It’s also something on the top of my mind after the Dallas Stars hired Glen Gulutzan this week, and there were some public commentaries from other that the Stars had gone cheap with the higher after firing Peter DeBoer, who was making $4.25 million per season to coach in Dallas.
DeBoer was one of the NHL’s highest-paid coaches. Of the salaries we know, he had ranked fifth on list, according to data acquired by Front Office Sports.
We don’t know Gulutzan’s salary at this point, I’ve only been told it’s a “fair market rate” for his experience. We also don’t have confirmation on the length of the deal, which is believed to be either three or four seasons based on typical coaching contracts.
So this story, admittedly, has some holes. But I did want to provide some context and additional notes to go alongside a column I wrote today for D Magazine.
I’ve spoken to NHL coaches and agents about this, and I think it’s important to remember there tends to be three classifications of NHL head coaches and their typical budget.
Tier 1, first-time NHL head coaches, who often work for closer to $1 million because there are only 32 jobs like this and teams can name their price when giving someone that first opportunity.
Tier 2, coaches with some NHL head coaching experience, it’s not the first top job, and there’s a little bit of leverage. These coaches tend to make between $1.5 million and $3 million depending on their leverage and other experience.
Tier 3, the top tier, lengthy résumé, often the coaches that have won Stanley Cups, or like DeBoer, have been NHL institutions. There’s about six or seven coaches in the league that command the $4 million-plus type salary, the ones listed above and others we don’t know like Paul Maurice, Joel Quenneville, and Todd McLellan.
Again, I don’t know Gulutzan’s salary, I’ve done some digging, but unlike player salaries there’s no cap hit to make it public. So unless Gulutzan or Nill decide to reveal what the final deal was, it’s unlikely we’ll get that final number.
Gulutzan was likely in Tier 2, which gives you an idea to ballpark where his salary might be.
I’m not sure how much this adds to the context or discourse of today, but I felt it was important to at least write this up today and have it there for the next time someone googles, “how much do NHL coaches make?”