The NHL’s Western Conference is home to not only a number of Stanley Cup contending teams, but also to more than a few quality coaches. The Central Division however, leads the rest of the west when it comes down to the bench bosses working out of the middle of the country. Whether they are a veteran coach with over a decade of coaching experience, or a former All-Star goaltender that isn’t afraid of anyone, the Central Division rivals everyone else in the league in regards to its quality coaching. Here’s a look at how the head coaches in the Central Division stack up against each other on a nightly basis.

7. Peter Laviolette- Nashville Predators

Although Laviolette owns a respectable overall coaching record in the NHL of 389-282-25-63, it’s hard to imagine why the Predators decided to make him their leader in the dressing home and behind the bench after giving Barry Trotz the boot. After getting canned by the Philadelphia Flyers after going 0-3 to start the 2013-14 season, there was clearly something wrong in Laviolette’s world, and we don’t expect things to have changed all that much. The Preds are better off looking to Shea Weber to act as player-coach, as Laviolette will once again prove that his coaching career should once again move to the broadcast booth instead.

6. Paul Maurice- Winnipeg Jets

Maurice’s claim to fame was leading the 2001-02 Carolina Hurricanes to a Stanley Cup final birth. Since then, his coaching career has been relatively forgettable. However, one needs to give the 16-year coaching vet credit, as he will continue to try to turn nothing into something in the cold winters that Winnipeg has to offer. His passion for coaching the game keeps Maurice out of the basement for now as he tries to get the Jets back to the playoffs for the first time since the beginning of their second stint in the NHL.

5. Mike Yeo- Minnesota Wild

Coach Yeo is exemplifies the unknown when it comes down to the bench bosses in the Central Division. He’s not flashy, and he doesn’t make the headlines on a nightly basis. However, with an overall record of 104-82-26 as the Wild’s coach, he’s consistent. Heading into 2014-15 he could be poised to have a breakout season with Minnesota as the team had an overall solid offseason. With Thomas Vanek signing on with the Wild in the offseason, Yeo all of a sudden has more to play with and can now be a lot more creative.

4. Lindy Ruff- Dallas Stars

Ruff has the ability to put hockey back on the map in ‘Big D’ all by himself. There’s a reason why he had a h=coaching job in Buffalo for 14 seasons. The guy lives and breathes the game of hockey. It says a lot about a coach who is able to stay in a city no matter what the situation is, and with players such as Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, Ruff’s overall situation is about to get better. Expect big things to come out of Dallas in the not so distant future.

3. Ken Hitchcock- St. Louis Blues

In his 18-year coaching career in the NHL, Hitchcock himself has only managed to miss the playoffs six times. His overall coaching record of 657-405-88-90 tells us that he is one of the greatest hockey minds left in the game today. The fact that Hitchcock is able to manage a team that may not have the names that everyone seems to know, he is still able to make them a threat to win it all since he became the coach of the Blues in 2011-12. Although they disappointed during the post-season last year, Hitchcock’s Blues will be ready to make a deep run when they drop the puck to begin the season in early October.

2. Patrick Roy- Colorado Avalanche

Yes, he’s only coached in the NHL for one single season. Yes, he can fly off the handle at any given time. However, Patrick Roy is opinionated and rough around the edges in all the right ways. He has his player’s backs, he speaks his mind, and he is a fantastic motivator. He has personality. Which is something that so many coaches, and hockey people in general, lack year after year. Expect Roy and his Avalanche team to make it further than you think season after season. Why, you ask? Because they want nothing more than to prove you wrong.

1. Joel Quenneville- Chicago Blackhawks

Quenneville flat out knows how to win. Over his 17-year career behind the bench of just three different teams, he has a very impressive coaching record of 706-410-77-100. Good enough for 15 playoff appearances, accompanied by two Stanley Cup victories in just the last five seasons. Quenneville may have been blessed with talented rosters since his first season as a head coach in 1996-97, but it isn’t always easy to have stars come together and play as a team. Quenneville gets the absolute best out of his players year after year, and there’s no reason to believe why this won’t continue to happen in 2014-15.