John Gruden

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John Gruden
C20A9891 (40542723571).jpg
Gruden in 2002
Born (1970-06-04) June 4, 1970 (age 53)
Virginia, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position
Defense
Shot Left
Played for Boston Bruins
Ottawa Senators
Eisbären Berlin
Washington Capitals
Current AHL coach Toronto Marlies
National team  United States
NHL Draft 168th overall, 1990
Boston Bruins
Playing career 1994–2004
Coaching career 2015–present

John Daniel Gruden (born June 4, 1970) is an American professional

ice hockey coach and former player. He is head coach for the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. Prior to Toronto, he served as an assistant coach for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League during the 2022–23 season. He also served as an assistant coach for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL) from 2018 to 2022. He previously served as the head coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs and inaugural head coach of the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League
(OHL).

Playing career

Gruden played high school hockey in Hastings, Minnesota in the late 1980s. Drafted 168th overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins, Gruden played for the Bruins, Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals, playing a total of 92 regular season games, scoring one goal and eight assists for nine points and collecting 46 penalty minutes. He also had a spell in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany for the Eisbären Berlin.

Coaching career

Gruden has worked as an assistant coach for the Detroit Little Caesars AAA hockey club, coaching for their Squirt 2000 squad. He coached for a short stint for the storied Brother Rice JV prep squad (1–16). He also spends time doing work on behalf of the Red Wings Alumni Association. Gruden coached the Stoney Creek High School Cougars hockey team in Rochester, Michigan along with fellow NHL alumnus Greg Johnson.

More recently, Gruden served as an assistant coach for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, helping lead the United States to a gold medal at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships.[1]

On March 26, 2015, it was announced that Gruden would serve as the inaugural head coach for the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League during the 2015–16 season.[1] In a highly publicized incident, he was fired a month into the season. Reports claim the firing was due to refusing to increase the playing time of defenseman Håkon Nilsen, the team owner's son, however team president Costa Papista denied the reports.[2][3] Following a successful player walkout, Gruden was reinstated as the Firebirds head coach and given a three-year contract extension.[4][5] On February 17, 2016, Gruden was again fired by the Firebirds.[6] On June 3, 2016, Gruden was named head coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs.[7] Following the 2017–18 regular season, he led the Bulldogs as the OHL playoff champions.

On July 18, 2018, the New York Islanders hired Gruden as an assistant coach.[8] On June 9, 2022, Gruden was relieved from his duties.[9]

On July 20, 2022, the Boston Bruins hired Gruden as an assistant coach. Following the 2022–23 season, helping the Bruins to the most successful regular season in league history,

On July 4, 2023, the Toronto Marlies hired Gruden as head coach.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season
Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1989–90 Waterloo Black Hawks USHL 47 7 39 46 35
1990–91 Ferris State University CCHA 39 4 11 15 29
1991–92 Ferris State University CCHA 37 9 14 23 24
1992–93 Ferris State University CCHA 41 16 14 30 58
1993–94 Ferris State University CCHA 38 11 25 36 52
1993–94 Boston Bruins NHL 7 0 1 1 2
1994–95 Providence Bruins AHL 1 0 1 1 0
1994–95 Boston Bruins NHL 38 0 6 6 22
1995–96 Providence Bruins AHL 39 5 19 24 29
1995–96 Boston Bruins NHL 14 0 0 0 4 3 0 1 1 0
1996–97 Providence Bruins AHL 78 18 27 45 52
1997–98 Detroit Vipers IHL 76 13 42 55 74 23 1 8 9 16
1998–99 Ottawa Senators NHL 13 0 1 1 8
1998–99 Detroit Vipers IHL 59 10 28 38 52 10 0 1 1 6
1999–00 Ottawa Senators NHL 9 0 0 0 4
1999–00 Grand Rapids Griffins IHL 50 5 17 22 24 12 1 4 5 8
2000–01 Grand Rapids Griffins IHL 34 2 6 8 18 10 1 4 5 8
2001–02 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 57 3 14 17 48 5 1 0 1 2
2002–03
Eisbären Berlin DEL 38 6 25 31 34 9 2 6 8 4
2003–04 Washington Capitals NHL 11 1 0 1 6
NHL totals 92 1 8 9 46 3 0 1 1 0

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2003 United States
WC
13th 6 0 1 1 4
Senior totals 6 0 1 1 4

Awards and honors

Award Year
USHL
Defenseman of the Year 1990
College
All-CCHA First Team 1994
AHCA West First-Team All-American 1994
CCHA Best Offensive Defenseman 1994
IHL
Second All-Star Team
1998
AHL
All-Star Game
2002
[10]
First All-Star Team
2002

References

  1. ^ a b "Flint Firebirds name hockey staff". Ontario Hockey League. March 26, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  2. ^ Joyce, Gare (November 9, 2015). "How Flint Firebirds firestorm came about". Sportsnet. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  3. ^ Sipple, George (November 9, 2015). "Flint Firebirds re-hire coaches after players protest". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  4. ^ Seravalli, Frank (November 9, 2015). "Flint Firebirds re-hire coaches after player protest". TSN.ca. TSN. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  5. MLive
    . Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  6. ^ Sipple, George (February 17, 2016). "Flint Firebirds fire coaches for second time this season". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  7. Hamilton Bulldogs
    . 2016-06-03. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
  8. ^ Radley, Scott (July 18, 2018). "Hamilton Bulldogs head coach becomes Islanders assistant coach". The Hamilton Spectator.
  9. ^ "Gruden and Hiller Relieved of Assistant Coach Duties". NHL.com. June 9, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  10. ^ "Canadian All-Stars 13, Planet USA All-Stars 11". American Hockey League. 2002-02-14. Retrieved 2019-02-01.

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
CCHA Best Offensive Defenseman
1993–94
Succeeded by