Who's the best coach in the NHL? Depends on who you ask.

So we did. We polled our hockey analysts and contributors and asked them to rank the NHL coaches in order, 1-to-30. We assigned one point for a first-place vote and 30 for a last-place vote. The most challenging aspect was ranking the new coaches, or as one pollster noted: "With all the hirings and firings, how about 1-15 with the rest to be named later?"

Here are the results, with explanations from our experts:

Note: Dave King of Columbus was included in the survey. He was fired by the team on Tuesday.

1. Jacques Lemaire, Minnesota

Points: 24 First-place votes: 5 Why: We were trapped into this choice, but there's no arguing with his track record and what he's doing with the third-year expansion franchise ... Best teacher in the game, innovative strategies ... Perennial excellence. Wins with minimal talent ... No one knows the game like he does. He can make 20 players a team ... Always focused on doing more with what he has ... Defensive genius bringing Wilds' youngsters along ... He's a winner, but I don't enjoy watching his teams play ... His style may be dull as dishwater but who can argue with the results? ... A blend of disciplinarian, motivator and strategist. Thought by most club executives around the league as its best head coach ... Squeezes every last drop out of his available talent pool ... The proof is overwhelming.

2. Ken Hitchcock, Philadelphia

Points: 51 First-place votes: 1 Why: Skilled tactician, control freak -- you got questions, he's got answers ... True student of the game ... His attention to detail next to none. Is he a two-year coach on a four-year deal? ... Demanding to the point of abusive ... Abrasive taskmaster loves defense ... Mix of old school and new school. Always trying to get better, but wears out his players ... As intelligent as he is loquacious and extremely good behind the bench during games ... Trying to recreate that Dallas dominance in the City of Brotherly Love ... The ultimate hockey junkie, he's the best there is when the players are buying into his system - however reluctantly ... Tops in preparation, selling a system.

3. Marc Crawford, Vancouver

Points: 56 First-place votes: 2 Why: Has won a Stanley Cup and while he drives his players nuts at times, he also drives them to maximum achievement ... Passionate, gets most out of his team ... Knows how to push the right buttons ... Has presence and bench skills. His passion is high ... Anti-trap advocate, has matured with age ... Brought Canucks to top of league but will always be remembered for not choosing Gretzky for shootout in Nagano ... Fiery style has proven to be winning formula in Vancouver ... Coaches the game like he played it -- like someone strung out on caffeine pills ... A Cup title in Denver, plenty of respect around the loop and that aging Baby Boomer look. Doing a spectacular job in Vancouver ... Gets the most out of players, great bench coach.

4. Jacques Martin, Ottawa

Points: 76 Why: An adaptive man who has won on every level ... Likes a controlled environment, top to bottom, makes it happen ... Systems guru. Shortcoming is in motivating ... As patient as they come. Knows how to play up-tempo game with skill. Is there enough passion in big games? ... No playoff results, but otherwise his teams are always prepared ... Quietly is one of game's brightest minds, gets the most out of his players ... Unfortunately, he rates below some of the newer guys because of his playoff record ... Despite the chaos that surrounds this team this year and in the past, he keeps them winning ... Is that the Senators with the league's best record? ... All that's missing is a playoff payoff (oh, and a payroll) ... Only weakness is emotional playoff charge.

5. Joel Quenneville, St. Louis

Points: 87 First-place votes: 2 Why: Players love to play for him, strong presence ... His longevity alone speaks volumes ... Team annually allows fewest shots. Never overcoaches ... Key to Blues' success is the transition game. He is a master of that and has great feel for the game ... Teams are prepared and well-schooled ... Unproven in tactical sense ... Hasn't been helped by management's attempts to change personality of the team ... Always seems to be one major injury away from the big prize ... Has had a lot of talent to work with over the past six years, but with no Stanley Cup finals appearance during this long, first head-coaching tenure, Quenneville should be held accountable. Next spring, maybe? ... See Jacques Martin, minus the payroll problems.

6. Pat Burns, New Jersey

Points: 100 Why: Big presence, overly conservative ... Commands respect because he is tough but fair ... Great intimidating presence behind the bench. Knows the defensive side of the puck ... Strong fundamentals, too often makes it too much about him ... For a rebuilding job, he's right at the top ... His first year always results in turnarounds. However, success seems to erode after that. More a players' coach than anyone seems to realize ... A hallmark of a Burns team is that it will always have a chance to win. Those teams always compete, always work hard, and often win ... for a while. Maybe the ex-cop has learned more about flexibility by now ... Squeezes every last drop out of his available talent pool ... Maybe this is on reputation, but the former cop is a convincing authority figure.

7. Paul Maurice, Carolina

Points: 101 First-place votes: 1 Why: He's got to be good, because we've had him fired 328 times and the 'Canes keep playing for him ... Intuitive, willing to listen, good motivator ... Still underrated ... Calm demeanor lets players play; has no ego on the bench ... Cerebral, getting better every year ... Great communicator led league in firing rumors ... He has earned this against all odds. It would be interesting to see him with a top talent team ... Outstanding strategist, extremely prepared, highly motivated. Held his own with estimable Bowman in last year's finals ... His honesty and youth go a long way in communicating with players ... Erudite, clever, happily anonymous ... Uses all talent levels the best.

8. Robbie Ftorek, Boston

Points: 107 Why: He can be such a pain and wear out his welcome, but he gets the job done while he's around ... Innovative, underrated at all levels ... His disdain for media hurts his image ... Has a mini hockey rink inside his head; he's always finding ways to get better ... Superior organization, seems less volatile ... Lacking personality, but not brains ... His record speaks for itself; he wins in any situation ... Strongest asset is teaching ability and positive outlook a help to young players ... He's still witheringly blunt, but the sweaters have long since been put in storage ... Details, details, details.

9. Andy Murray, Los Angeles

Points: 124 Why: Takes total control, roles are very plainly described, tough ... Motivator, tough but fair, very knowledgeable ... Gets the most out of his team. Prepares for every situation ... High energy, still looking for results ... Brilliant schemer is master of preparation ... Doesn't panic, and loves to try to outcoach his opponent. Often times, he does ... Strong lineup, needs to make better postseason showing ... A true coaching innovator whose best successes might still be ahead of him. Even in L.A. ... Don't let the scholarly look fool you. This is a man with a backbone of tempered steel ... Has made the Kings a hot property in the Staples Center ... Great coach for a series, great matchups.

10. Mike Keenan, Florida

Points: 139 Why: Sometime you feel as if he's the Wizard of Oz behind the curtain, but he's not afraid to ignore convention and do it his own way ... Too many mind-games, too much carnage! ... Wins through intimidation ... Is back to coaching and teaching again. Can be one of the best bench coaches in terms of matching and intimidating ... Less abrasive now, pushes young players hard ... Limited shelf life because of confrontational style ... Many players have their best seasons under him ... He's an excellent motivator, but I can't imagine him coaching a team of superstars ever again ... Great strategist. Fitness fanatic. But doesn't last long anywhere ... Hate him all you want, question his methods, but the recycled man's record speaks for itself. Somehow coaxing the Panthers into the Top Eight in the East would only add to his mystique ... He's got a short shelf life these days, but maxes what he's working with.

11. Brian Sutter, Chicago

Points: 143 First-place votes: 1 Why: Maddeningly old-school at times, but gets the most out of what he has -- wherever he goes ... old-school simplicity, passion, needs good staff to relay strategy ... Prepares his team as well as anyone. Is constantly reminding them what it takes to be a winner ... No sense he can take team to the next level ... A little mellower than Darryl, still can crack the whip ... OK, he might be as good as Burns ... His teams always overachieve in the regular season. Problem is, it often has set up unrealistic playoff expectations ... A master motivator, best skippering a team trying to move from the bottom to the middle of the pack ... Does best with hand dealt him.

12. Darryl Sutter, Calgary

Points: 146 Why: Of course, the way this works, he will be a "bad" coach before long with this team. Heck, his brother should still be coaching the Flames ... All he does is make his team accountable and better; tough as nails ... His teams are hard to play against ... His way or the highway, old school ... A little more human than Brian, and the players will usually fight for him because of it ... Not as intense as Brian, but creative, smart and work ethic unmatched, except by members of his own family ... He improved the Sharks' point total five seasons in a row. Acerbic, unflinching. More demanding perhaps than even Brian (and once described as "the coaching Sutter without the sugar") ... Great to climb the mountain, forget the top of the hill.

13. Pat Quinn, Toronto

Points: 152 Why: His complaining overshadows a strong knowledge of the game and the players ... Old school in a young game ... Manages to have team at high emotional pitch ... Not very communicative, but gets the most out of his players ... Stresses skating, puck control style ... Champion referee baiter loves offensive hockey. Have to like him for that ... Great at the big picture, but details sometimes seem to get lost on his watch -- and that keeps him from taking next step ... Can't he give that bothersome management job to somebody else? ... If he'd just put a lid on the constant whining at post-game press conferences … Others will have him higher, but those folks will be buying into the act, not the record.

14. Dave Tippett, Dallas

Points: 168 Why: Bright, well-spoken, quietly strong ... Has all the tools, only lacks experience ... Understands both the grinders and skill guys. Has calm demeanor Strong reputation as technically astute ... One of the bright new minds ... Like Lewis, he has learned enough to be a good coach in his first NHL season ... As former coach Tom McVie once said, if you want to be a great coach, get great players. It's working for Tippett ... Thought to be one of the game's most promising young coaches. In his first three months, he's lived up to that billing ... A great start to his first season, but 41 games do not a career make ... This is more an incomplete than the lack of an endorsement ... Great job with star players who didn't have to listen.

15. Dave Lewis, Detroit

Points: 172 Why: All the right tools to be great. Time will tell ... Has a steady hand at the helm ... Has more experience than one thinks. Is very good at transition game and motivation ... Confident but unassuming ... Long-time assistant hard to judge since his team is loaded with talent ... It doesn't matter that he hasn't done it before, Lewis is proving he can coach in a game and in a locker room ... Took over reins seamlessly, which is no mean feat ... He's been the head coach without the name in Hockeytown for years ... Replacing a legend, the extravagantly-talented Red Wings are right there at the top of the West. Again ... Other first-year coaches get more incomplete ratings, but he's been with the Wings so long, he deserves credit for past accomplishments.

16. Ron Wilson, San Jose

Points: 174 Why: Good skills, talks himself into trouble sometimes ... Would make top 10 with a smaller ego ... Has had little time to take over team. Can become bigger than the team when the going gets good ... Good motivator has imaginative schemes to make players buy in ... Time away from hockey (although brief) made him very ready to return. He's a welcome addition to the fraternity ... Can't argue with his record ... That disappointing stint in Washington didn't do his reputation a lot of good, but still highly respected ... He's almost as good a coach as he thinks he is ... Is reluctant to bend his style to players on roster.

17. Bob Francis, Phoenix

Points: 178 Why: Passion, patience and grit. Very good with young players ... On All-Underrated Team ... Great understanding of the game. Can overachieve as he did as a player ... Has struggled without Sean Burke in net ... Knack for getting the most out of his players ... Is he a great coach or does he have a great goaltender? ... Gretzky made the right move keeping him on the job. He's bright, committed and comes from great hockey genes ... From coach of the year to firing rumors in the span of a few months ... Did a great job with limited resources, but the rabbits aren't coming out of the hat any longer ... Needs to push harder for more consistent effort.

18. Craig MacTavish, Edmonton

Points: 200 Why: Still considered an up-and-comer, intelligent ... Understands character and personalities. Loves the up-tempo game and has leadership on the bench ... Likes up-tempo, skating game ... Hasn't been able to take the Oilers to the next level ... Probably should be rated higher. Has brought defensive responsibility to Oilers ... Needs a dose of playoff success ... A heart and soul player with a handful of rings. A heart and soul coach with two too-early springs ... The most underrated coach around. An astute hockey man ... Of course, some Canadians would have you believe this team is competitive despite the big, bad Americans stacking the deck ... Where are the big game victories?

19. John Tortorella, Tampa Bay

Points: 203 Why: Maybe he just got the job at the right time, but the Bolts finally are coming around, and he's nurturing Vinny Lecavalier ... Strong will, good teacher, leadership ... Fiery, straight forward and consistent ... Stays under the radar so maybe deserves to be higher. Appreciates the fast, small up-tempo player and gets the most out of them ... Gained respect across hockey for the way he handled Lecavalier ... Believes in tough love. Gets big assist from associate Craig Ramsay ... Has overseen a remarkable resurrection, maybe the Rangers should have kept him around a little longer ... Can't argue with the results so far this season ... Watch the fall from grace.

20. Lindy Ruff, Buffalo

Points: 228 Why: Strong communicator, sometimes too conservative ... Very underrated, great passion and one of the best practical jokers of all time; makes strong in game adjustments ... Hasn't looked smart since Dominik Hasek left ... Hasn't got much to work with now, but showed in past he can take on the best ... Was a great coach when he had a great goaltender ... Based on the past ... He has been hurt by ownership nightmare and loss of Hasek and others ... Probably still one of the better coaches in the league, although several former players say he's tough to get along with ... A good man stuck in a horrible situation ... Toe Blake couldn't win with this bunch now.

21. Dave King, Columbus

Points: 247 Why: One of top strategists in the game. Doesn't seem to instill great passion in his players ... Great teacher of the game, but lacks that presence and bench savvy to beat the best ... Good teacher, iffy with seasoned pros ... Ability to talk the talk hasn't translated into great results ... Amazingly intelligent when it comes to the game ... Can't dispute his pedigree ... Canada's own hockey professor, Doctor Dave still hasn't learned how to get this team to stop playing like an expansion club ... His credentials are impeccable, but the Jackets have yet to be serious playoff contenders in the West. At some point, all the teaching has to pay off in wins ... A creditable job with the expansion team.

22 (tie). Peter Laviolette, N.Y. Islanders

Points: 267 Why: Player's coach, still growing ... Not his fault his goalie struggled early. Has the bench intensity to fire up a team ... Teams forceful, but often too chippy ... One-year wonder? ... Should be given time to turn team around ... One of the bright new head coaches in the NHL. Long future ahead if he can get a goalie ... Nice job last season getting the Isles into the playoffs. Nice job this season holding onto his job so far ... The magic from a year ago has sadly gone missing ... Back to reality on Long Island ... This should have been a great season -- from the start.

22 (tie). Michel Therrien, Montreal

Points: 267 Why: Game management needs work ... Has that great French-Canadian passion, maybe too much. Has done a good job with what he has ... His teams play hard, no sign he's a good bench coach ... If the Habs don't make the playoffs this year, he will take the fall ... Is he a great coach or does he have a great goaltender? ... A few too many rants, but has potential if he switches to decaf ... He has had this team overachieving more often than not ... Didn't receive the credit deserved for the Habs, against all odds, striding into the second round of the playoffs ... A nice story, the former telephone company worker climbed through the ranks ... Makes players play at their top level.

24. Barry Trotz, Nashville

Points: 276 Why: Better talent would show his potential ... It's not his fault, but the run probably is coming to an end ... Good coach with a bad team ... Has lost a little zip the past two years -- few key players too. Great knowledge of the game ... No flash, team is dull ... Expansion coaches are hired to be fired ... Hampered by slow-moving front office ... Trotz will enjoy next job more ... Has done a decent job with what management has given him. Has tough rebuilding job right now ... There are few more entertaining quotes in the league ... A well-respected hockey man who seems to know only one way to get this team to play -- clutching and grabbing for air ... He's worked wonders in Music City since the franchise came into being, but it's all bottoming out now.

25. Mike Babock, Anaheim

Points: 277 Why: Pushing the right buttons, so far ... Understands what his strengths on the roster are; very good knowledge and in game adjustments ... Has paid his dues, needs to find a way to make Paul Kariya shine ... Off to a great start, intensity is rubbing off on players ... Jury's still out ... Too new to rank higher, but record is refreshing ... So far has done a pretty good job to get the Ducks back in the hunt.

26. Rick Kehoe, Pittsburgh

Points: 297 Why: Not strong in strategy/planning or leadership ... Underappreciated because he's been around. Understands the skill player and lets them play. Has had little to work with ... Coaches best when Mario's getting points ... Everybody knows who really coaches this team, right? ... Paid his dues, and has respect of players ... Has to be tearing his hair out with all the injuries. At least Mario isn't one of them.

27. Tony Granato, Colorado

Points: 315 Why: Strong personality and communication skills, passion rubs off ... Too green to rank higher ... Hard to rate. Long run looks good. Has the awareness and passion to go along way ... Nice start, but inexperience will catch up to him ... Early returns are great. Maybe he does know what he's doing ... Even as player, was strong student of the game but it's early yet ... For a head coach, he was a hell of a player ... Not enough info yet ... Learning on the job with an extremely gifted, massively underachieving team ... Pretty much, he's being a pal and opening the door. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

28. Bruce Cassidy, Washington

Points: 317 Why: Leadership/image needs time to develop ... Still learning, too early to judge yet ... Has to deal with Jaromir Jagr. He is succeeding in this department so should be higher on list for that! ... Knows the game. Like all the new guys, needs to get around the league a few more times ... Great career in minors. Too early to tell if it will translate to NHL ... In a no-win situation. Nobody could coach that team ... The question is: Can anyone get Jagr back to where he used to be? ... A cool, confident, laid-back young coach has had a pretty bumpy start to his first NHL ride ... Still earning his spurs ... An incomplete.

29. Bryan Trottier, N.Y. Rangers

Points: 332 Why: Very bright, the temperament he portrays will be important ... Has done nothing to indicate he can coach at this level ... Has too many egos to deal with. Needs a team of overachievers, not underachievers ... Hasn't been able to pull Rangers together ... Off to a terrible start, but have to wonder if anybody could get results out of that bunch ... Seems extremely uncomfortable in this position with this team ... You have to wonder what comes first: A long-awaited playoff game, Trottier's firing or Glen Sather's overdue retirement? ... Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time ... If he doesn't get a full season, then Glen Sather should take the heat, too ... What a Mess.

30. Don Waddell, Atlanta

Points: 355 Why: Have you seen one of his practices? The sooner he fires himself, the better ... For a coach, he's not a bad GM ... Looking for his successor.