John Gruden

John Daniel Gruden (born June 4, 1970) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He currently serves as 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).

John Gruden
C20A9891 (40542723571).jpg
Gruden with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2002
Born (1970-06-04) June 4, 1970
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 19942004
Coaching career 2015present

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
1989–90Waterloo Black HawksUSHL477394635
1990–91Ferris State UniversityCCHA394111529
1991–92Ferris State UniversityCCHA379142324
1992–93Ferris State UniversityCCHA4116143058
1993–94Ferris State UniversityCCHA3811253652
1993–94Boston BruinsNHL70112
1994–95Providence BruinsAHL10110
1994–95Boston BruinsNHL3806622
1995–96Providence BruinsAHL395192429
1995–96Boston BruinsNHL14000430110
1996–97Providence BruinsAHL7818274552
1997–98Detroit VipersIHL76134255742318916
1998–99Ottawa SenatorsNHL130118
1998–99Detroit VipersIHL5910283852100116
1999–00Ottawa SenatorsNHL90004
1999–00Grand Rapids GriffinsIHL505172224121458
2000–01Grand Rapids GriffinsIHL3426818101458
2001–02Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL57314174851012
2002–03Eisbären BerlinDEL38625313492684
2003–04Washington CapitalsNHL111016
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. "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. Woodyard, Eric (November 9, 2015). "Report: Flint Firebirds players walk out after coach is fired". 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. "Bulldogs name John Gruden new head coach". 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.
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