Ken Hitchcock

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Lore & Background

Hitchcock became a major league coach in January 1996 when the Dallas Stars named him coach with 43 games remaining in the season. The following season was the start of five elite years for the team, where they won five consecutive division championships. During the 1998-99 NHL season, Hitchcock led the Stars to a regular season record of 51-19-12. In the 1999 playoffs, Hitchcock led the team to a Stanley Cup victory over the Buffalo Sabres, the team's first. The next season, Hitchcock again led the team to the Stanley Cup Final, only to lose to the New Jersey Devils. In the 2000-01 season, Hitchcock again led the Stars to the playoffs, but the team exited in the Conference Semifinals. Midway through the following season, after getting off to a mediocre 23-21-6 start and in the midst of strife between the players and management, Hitchcock was fired as head coach.

In Their Own Story

The 1998-99 season was the pinnacle. Hitchcock led the Stars to a 51-19-12 regular season record. In the playoffs, they advanced to the Stanley Cup Final and won in six games over the Buffalo Sabres. It was the franchise's first Stanley Cup. The following season, Hitchcock again led the team to the Stanley Cup Final, but they lost to the New Jersey Devils in six games. After the 2000-01 season, where the Stars exited in the Conference Semifinals, the team got off to a 23-21-6 start in 2001-02. With strife between players and management, Hitchcock was fired 50 games into the season. He returned to Dallas on April 13, 2017, as head coach for the second time. On December 21, he earned his 800th win as NHL head coach when the Stars defeated the Blackhawks 4-0. On April 13, 2018, Hitchcock announced his retirement.

Reader's Guide

Ken Hitchcock's most significant achievement with Dallas was winning the Stanley Cup in the 1998-99 season. He led the Stars to a 51-19-12 regular season record that year. The Stars advanced to the Stanley Cup Final and won in six games over the Buffalo Sabres. The following season, Hitchcock again led the team to the Stanley Cup Final, but they lost to the New Jersey Devils in six games. During his tenure, the Stars won five consecutive division championships and reached the Conference Finals in 1998, 1999, and 2000. Hitchcock was fired 50 games into the 2001-02 season after a 23-21-6 start. He returned to coach the Stars for the 2017-18 season, earning his 800th career win on December 21, 2017, in a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. He retired after that season.

Did You Know?

• Hitchcock was named head coach of the Dallas Stars on January 8, 1996, replacing Bob Gainey, who remained as general manager.
• In his first full season with the Stars, he led the team to the Central Division title, the franchise's first since 1984, when the team was still in Minnesota.
• During the 1997-98 season, Hitchcock was named to his first of three consecutive NHL All-Star Game teams as coach.
• Hitchcock was fired 50 games into the 2001-02 season after a 23-21-6 start.
• On December 21, 2017, Hitchcock earned his 800th win as NHL head coach when the Stars defeated the Blackhawks 4-0.