Complete History of NHL Goalie Coaches

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Being we are, well, you know, Goalie Coaches, it seems only fitting that we would have a complete history on every goalie coach that has ever worked in the NHL. This article contains the up to date information of every current goalie coach in the NHL.

For the sake of reader interest and relevance, this article will list every current NHL team in alphabetical order and list the goalie coaches that have worked for that particular team in descending order with the latest being on top.

Additionally, we have created biography pages for each goalie coach, these can be viewed simply by clicking the coaches name. Rather than putting together simply another list, we wanted to uncover unique stories and information about each coach. If you have information that is reputable and should be included, please contact us.

Inside each coaches biography, you’ll find things such as well known goalies they have worked with, written content they have published, videos (that are publicly available), and more. Each goalie coaches biography includes a list of teams they’ve been with and whether or not they won a Stanley Cup with that team.

One of the things about the world of not just hockey but goaltending in general is how tightly knit the community is. Below, when you look at the history of NHL goalie coaches on each team, you’ll notice how many relationships are tightly connected and how this has influenced the goalies you see in the NHL today.

I hope you enjoy this as I have thoroughly enjoyed putting this together. Please note that we update this article immediately upon any news of NHL goalie coaches being fired, retiring, or of any other relevancy. We will also include goaltending development coaches and goalie coaches in future edits.

Are there any goalie coaches in the Hall of Fame?

Despite there being many goalies themselves in the Hall of Fame, there are no goalie coaches in the Hall of Fame to date. There are 118+ “builders” in the Hall of Fame, none of them coaches of goalies. Without question, a goalie coach can make or break a goalie. While the time will certainly come when a goalie coach joins the coveted Hall, to date, that time has not yet come.

Every Goalie Coach In The NHL, By Team

Anaheim Ducks

The current goalie coach for the Anaheim Ducks is Sudarshan Maharaj, known as “Sudsie”. Maharaj was hired as the goaltending coach for the Ducks beginning with the 2016-17 season.

2016-17 to present day: Sudarshan Maharaj

Arizona Coyotes

The current goalie coach for the Arizona Coyotes is Corey Schwab. Schwab was named goaltending coach for the Coyotes in 2015 and has been with the team ever since. Schwab was goalie coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning and a goaltending development coach for the San Jose Sharks prior to his work with the Coyotes.

2015-16 to present day: Corey Schwab
2004-05 to 2008-09: Grant Fuhr
1997-98 to 2003-04: Benoit Allaire

Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins current goalie coach is Bob Essensa. Essensa is one of the most tenured goalie coaches in the NHL, having been with the team for over two decades.

2003-04 to present day: Bob Essensa

Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres team website does not list an officially titled Goalie Coach. Instead, Seamus Kotyk is listed as goaltender development coach, a role he has held since the 2017-18 NHL season. The goaltending development coach is a role typically held by a goalie coach responsible for the development of a teams goalie prospects at the AHL / ECHL levels.

1990-91 to 1997-98: Mitch Korn

Calgary Flames

The current goalie coach of the Calgary Flames is Jordan Sigalet. Sigalet was first hired by the Calgary Flames as goaltending coach in 2014-2015. He had served previously with Flames AHL affiliate the Abbotsford Heat from 2011-12 to 2013-14.

2014-15 to present day: Jordan Sigalet
2000-01 to 2001-02: Grant Fuhr

Carolina Hurricanes

The current goalie coach of the Carolina Hurricanes is Paul Schonfelder. Schonfelder was first hired by the Hurricanes in 2017-18. Schonfelder has professional goaltending experience, with his career topping out in the AHL. He also played junior hockey most notably in the OHL, amongst other leagues.

2017-18 to present day: Paul Schonfelder

Chicago Blackhawks

Jimmy Waite is the current goalie coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. Waite has held this position since his initial hire prior to the 2014-15 season. Waite was previously a goaltending coach in the QMJHL, a major junior league based in Canada.

2014-15 to present day: Jimmy Waite

Colorado Avalanche

Jussi Parkkila is the current goalie coach of the Colorado Avalanche. Parkkila is one of the few NHL coaches with the majority of his coaching experience being overseas. He was a goalie coach in Finland, as well as in the KHL for SKA St. Petersburg.

2017-18 to present day: Jussi Parkkila

Columbus Blue Jackets

Niklas Backstrom, not the same Niklas Backstrom of the Washington Capitals, is the current goalie coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Previous goalie coach Manny Legace’s contract was not renewed by the team after the 2022-23 NHL season. Backstrom had an NHL career spanning 10 seasons and had been with the Blue Jackets organization as a scout and goaltending development coach since the 2019-20 season.

2023-2024 to present day: Niklas Backstrom
2018-19 to 2022-23: Manny Legace
2011-12 to 2018-19: Ian Clark

Dallas Stars

Jeff Reese is the current goalie coach for the Dallas Stars. He was hired in 2015-16 and has been with the Stars ever since. Reese had previously been with the Philadelphia Flyers and has worked for an NHL team in various roles since the 1999-00 season. His NHL coaching career spans over two decades.

2015-16 to present day: Jeff Reese

Detroit Red Wings

The current goalie coach of the Detroit Red Wings is Alex Westlund. Westlund replaced former Detroit Red Wings goaltending coach Jeff Salajko.

2022-23 to present day: Alex Westlund
2016-17 to 2021-22: Jeff Salajko

Edmonton Oilers

The current goalie coach for the Edmonton Oilers is Dustin Schwartz. Schwartz replaced Frederic Chabot, who was fired by the Oilers during the middle of the season.

2015-16 to present day: Dustin Schwartz
2009-10 to 2014-15: Frederic Chabot

Florida Panthers

Robbie “Robb” Tallas is the current goalie coach for the Florida Panthers, a role he has held since the 2009-2010 season.

2009-10 to present day: Robb Tallas
2007-08 to 2008-09: Pierre Groulx
2001-02: Ian Clark

Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings current goalie coach is Mike Buckley. Buckley was named goalie coach of the Kings for the 2023-24 NHL season, having previously served as goalie development coach and goalie coach of the Pittsburg Penguins.

2023-24 to present day: Mike Buckley

Minnesota Wild

The current goalie coach of the Minnesota Wild is Frederic Chabot. Chabot is the 2nd goaltending coach in Minnesota Wild history, replacing long time goalie coach Bob Mason.

2020-21 to present day: Frederic Chabot
2001-02 to 2019-20: Bob Mason

Montreal Canadiens

Current Montreal Canadiens goalie coach Eric Raymond joined the Canadiens in 2021-22. Waite was let go by the Canadiens in March of 2021. Sean Burke would serve as interm goalie coach for the remainder of that season.

2021-22 to present day: Eric Raymond
2021: interm basis, Sean Burke
2013-14 to 2020-21: Stephane Waite
2009-10 to 2012-13: Pierre Groulx

Nashville Predators

Replacing legendary NHL goalie coach Mitch Korn is no simple task, but that’s what current Predators goaltending coach Ben Vanderklok was tasked with in the 2013-14 season. Vanderklok is currently the goaltending coach for the Nashville Predators, having been with the team since that season.

2013-14 to present day: Ben Vanderklok
1998-99 to 2013-14: Mitch Korn

New Jersey Devils

The current goalie coach for the New Jersey Devils is Dave Rogalski. Rogalski’s hiring was announced in 2020, having previously served as goaltending development coach for the St. Louis Blues.

2020-21 to present: Dave Rogalski

New York Islanders

The current goalie coach of the New York Islanders is Piero Greco. Piero Greco is in his first NHL goaltending coaching position, having previously worked for the Toronto Marlies and winning a Calder Cup with them during the 2017-18 season. Legendary NHL goalie coach Mitch Korn came to New York with Barry Trotz and was responsible for hiring Piero Greco.

Mitch Korn does still work for the New York Islanders, from 2018-19 to present day he has served as the teams Director of Goaltending.

2018-19 to Present: Piero Greco
2003-3006: Sudarshan Maharaj

New York Rangers

One of the longest tenured goalie coaches in the NHL is Benoit Allaire, current goalie coach of the New York Rangers.

2004-05 to present day: Benoit Allaire

Ottawa Senators

Zac Bierk is the current goalie coach for the Ottawa Senators in the NHL. Bierk was hired during the middle of the 2020-21 NHL season, following the teams re-assignment of Pierre Groulx. Groulx was removed from his position of goalie coach and designated as a scout for the Senators.

2020-21 to present day: Zac Bierk
2016-17 to 2020-21: Pierre Groulx

Philadelphia Flyers

Kim Dillabaugh is the current goalie coach for the Philadelphia Flyers. Dillabaugh had previously spent time as a goaltending consultant with the Los Angeles Kings and as an Assistant / Goalie coach for the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL. He was with the Kelowna Rockets from 2003-04 to 2013-14. Dillabaugh began working with the Kings in 2007-08 and served both organizations during that same time frame.

2015-16 to present day: Kim Dillabaugh
2009-10 to 2014-15: Jeff Reese

Pittsburgh Penguins

The current goalie coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins is Andy Chiodo. Chiodo was named team goalie coach following the departure of Mike Buckley.

2021-22 to present day: Andy Chiodo
2017-18 to 2020-21: Mike Buckley

San Jose Sharks

Thomas Speer is the goalie coach for the San Jose Sharks. Speer was hired during the 2022-23 season, just 10 years into being a goaltending coach at the professional level. Speer’s previous goalie coaching experience was with the Allen Americans (ECHL), Witchita Falls Wildcats (NAHL) and the US National Team Development Program.

2022-23 to present day: Thomas Speer

Seattle Kraken

The current goalie coach of the Seattle Kraken is Steve Briere. Briere is the only goalie coach in Seattle Kraken franchise history and had previously been a goalie coach at the NHL level for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

2022-23 to present day: Steve Briere

St. Louis Blues

The current goalie coach of the St. Louis Blues is David Alexander. Alexander has been the goalie coach for the St. Louis Blues since the 2017-18 NHL season.

2017-18 to present day: David Alexander

Tampa Bay Lightning

The goalie coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning is currently Frantz Jean, also known as “Frantz Bergevin-Jean”. Frantz Jean has been the goalie coach for the Tampa Bay Lighting for more than a decade, beginning during the 2010-11 NHL season.

2010-11 to present day: Frantz Jean
2004-05 to 2007-08: Corey Schwab

Toronto Maple Leafs

The current goalie coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs is Curtis Sanford. Sanford last played in the NHL in 2011-12 for the Columbus Blue Jackets where he started 36 games, posting a respectable 2.60 GAA and a .911 save percentage. Sanford brings professional playing experience to the Leafs goalie room, having been a journeyman NHL goalie and posting elite statistics during games played in the AHL. Sanford last played professional hockey during the 2014-15 season with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL.

2022-23 to present day: Curtis Sanford
2015-16 to 2020-21: Steve Briere

Vancouver Canucks

The current goalie coach of the Vancouver Canucks is Ian Clark. Clark is in his second stint as goalie coach of the Canucks, having previously been with the team for the better part of the 2000-2010 era. Clark would go on to work for the Columbus Blue Jackets before returning to the Canucks in 2019.