Notable “Theo Epstein” Types in NHL History

Craig Berube has a chance to enter elite territory. He was the head coach who led the St. Louis Blues to the Stanley Cup title in 2019. The franchise was founded in 1967 and it was their first and only title.  

He was hired by the Toronto Maple Leafs this offseason and can lead them to a Cup title as well. The Maple Leafs have the longest drought in league history, failing to win it since 1967, and a victory next season would allow him to snap 111 years' worth of droughts (or misery, take your pick).

This has to have any hockey fan thinking. Who are some of the notable players, coaches, or executives who did this? Theo Epstein is the baseball version of this as the executive led the Boston Red Sox to a World Series title in 2004 (their first since 1918) and then led the Chicago Cubs to a title in 2016 (their first since 1908).

Mark Messier

Mark Messier is arguably the best player to snap a title drought. He was the best skater on the New York Rangers and helped them hoist the Stanley Cup in 1994. It was the first championship for the franchise since 1940.  

That alone gives Messier 54 years of drought-ending credibility. He also was part of the Cup years for the Edmonton Oilers who were an expansion franchise that had to wait four seasons before winning five in seven years. So, Messier has plenty of experience bringing the Cup to fanbases who have long yearned for one.

Brian MacLellan

Brian MacLellan was a depth skater throughout his 10-year career. However, he helped lead the Calgary Flames, who were founded in 1972, to their first and only title in 1989.  

Fast forward 29 years later and he was the Washington Capitals general manager. The franchise had a legacy of failure and had been since its inception in 1974. In 2018, he pulled out all the stops to lead the team to the Cup. Add it all up and MacLellan has 61 years of drought-ending credibility.

Pat Maroon 

A recent name on the list and someone who is still playing in the NHL. Pat Maroon, like Berube, won the Cup with the Blues in 2019. The depth forward went to free agency on a high note. 

The next season, Maroon signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning and won it all again. It wasn’t the longest drought, the first since 2004 but it gave Maroon 69 years of curse-ending credibility. 

Not to be outdone, Maroon won the Cup again the next season as the Lightning went back-to-back. So, you can say everything works out for Maroon.

Scotty Bowman

Scotty Bowman is regarded as one of the greatest coaches of all time. He won nine titles over his 30-year coaching career. 

First, he won the Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1973. Considering the Canadiens win the Cup all the time, this isn’t a drought-ender (they won it in 1971 as well). 

Then came the Detroit Red Wings in 1997. They are a historic franchise yet didn’t win the Cup for 42 years. Bowman was hired by them and led them to the Cup, then led them to two more in the next five seasons.