NHL Coach Kirk Muller: How to Develop Relationships with Today's Player

In episode 139 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome Stanley Cup champ and NHL coach Kirk Muller. Ask anyone who has had a chance to meet or be coached by Muller, and they'd likely tell you that he fits the profile of a "modern coach" to a tee. With the shift from a dictatorship style of leadership, to one where the leader seeks to connect with their team, he has made relationship building a priority in every stop he's made throughout his career. Muller had a remarkable NHL playing career of 19 seasons and nearly 1500 games, highlighted by scoring the Stanley Cup clinching goal for Montreal in Game 5 of the 1993 Final. Following retirement, he would get his first shot at coaching with Queen's University in 2005. After just one season, he'd make the jump to the NHL and join his former club in Montreal as an assistant coach. In total, Muller has spent 10 of 15 seasons behind an NHL bench as an assistant with the Canadiens. His lone head coaching gig came with the Carolina Hurricanes for three seasons (2011-2014). During his career, Muller has had the chance to work with and learn from an incredible list of coaches. That includes Lou Lamoriello, Pat Burns, Dave Tippett, Ken Hitchcock, Bob Gainey, Guy Carbonneau, Jim Rutherford, Alain Vigneault, Doug Armstrong, and Claude Julien. After being relieved of his assistant coaching duties with Montreal earlier this season, Muller is currently without a coaching job. But with his resume, knowledge of the game and ability to connect with his players, there's no doubt that he'll find his way back to the NHL sooner rather than later. Find out how he approaches relationship building with his players, what he sees as the pillars to a successful program.