Jim Schoenfeld
James Grant Schoenfeld | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 4, 1952 Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Ice hockey player, coach, executive, broadcaster, musician |
| Years active | 1972–1985 (player), 1985–2019 (coach and executive) |
| Known for | NHL player and head coach; assistant general manager and interim assistant coach for New York Rangers |
James Grant Schoenfeld (born September 4, 1952) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and executive. His most recent position was as assistant general manager and interim assistant coach for the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League (NHL). Schoenfeld is recognized for his extensive contributions both as an NHL player and as a head coach.
Playing career
Schoenfeld’s junior hockey experience included time with the London Knights, Hamilton Red Wings, and Niagara Falls Flyers. In the 1972 NHL Draft, he was selected fifth overall by the Buffalo Sabres. He spent eleven seasons with Buffalo, serving as team captain during part of his tenure, before concluding his playing days with the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins. His professional playing career ended in 1985.
Coaching and executive career
Following retirement from active play, Schoenfeld took on head coaching roles with several NHL franchises: the Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, and Phoenix Coyotes. His NHL head coaching record totals 256 wins, 246 losses, and 78 ties, amounting to a .509 winning percentage. In 2007, he advanced from head coach of the Hartford Wolf Pack to assistant general manager of the New York Rangers, while continuing to oversee the Wolf Pack through 2017.
One of Schoenfeld’s most memorable moments occurred during the 1988 Wales Conference Finals when he confronted referee Don Koharski. This confrontation resulted in suspensions and fines for both Schoenfeld and the Devils organization. The event caused officials to refuse to work a game, leading local amateur referees to officiate instead. This incident later inspired a parody scene in the film Wayne's World.
On July 23, 2007, Schoenfeld was appointed assistant general manager of the Rangers under Glen Sather, succeeding Don Maloney. He also briefly assumed interim assistant coaching duties during the 2009 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. He relinquished his executive responsibilities on May 16, 2019.
Broadcasting career
In the fall of 1992, Schoenfeld joined ESPN as a color commentator for NHL regular season broadcasts alongside play-by-play announcer Gary Thorne. From the 1993 Stanley Cup playoffs until January 1994, he worked as a studio analyst with hockey journalist Al Morganti and host John Saunders. He returned to ESPN in similar capacities from 2000 until 2002.
Musical career
While based in Buffalo, Schoenfeld collaborated with Buffalo Music Hall of Fame inductee John Valby to record two albums. The first album, Schony (1973), released under Schoenfeld’s name alone, predominantly featured cover songs along with two originals: Valby’s "Barbecue in Heaven" and Schoenfeld’s "Before." Their second album together, The Key Is Love (1974), credited jointly to both artists, consisted entirely of original compositions.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1969–70 | London Knights | OHA-Jr. | 16 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 81 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1969–70 | Hamilton Red Wings | OHA-Jr. | 32 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1970–71 | Hamilton Red Wings | OHA-Jr. | 25 | 3 | 19 | 22 | 120 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1970–71 | Niagara Falls Flyers | OHA-Jr. | 30 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 85 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1971–72 | Niagara Falls Flyers | OHA-Jr. | 40 | 6 | 46 | 52 | 215 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | ||
| 1972–73 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 66 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 178 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 1973–74 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 28 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| (1973–74 AHL season) | (Cincinnati Swords) | (American Hockey League) | (2) | (0) | (2) | (2) | (4) | (—) | (—) | (—) | (—) | (—) | ||
| (1974–75 NHL season) | (Buffalo Sabres) | (NHL) | (68) | (1) | (19) | (20) | (184) | (17) | (1) | (4) | (5) | (38) | ||
| (1975–76 NHL season) | (Buffalo Sabres) | (NHL) | (56) | (2) | (22) | (24) | (114) | (8) | (0) | (3) | (3) | (33) | ||
| (1976–77 NHL season) | (Buffalo Sabres) | (NHL) | (65) | (7) | (25) | (32) | (97) | (6) | (0) | (0) | (0) | (12) | ||
| (1977–78 NHL season) | (Buffalo Sabres) | (NHL) | (60) | (2) | (20) | (22) | (89) | (8) | (0) | (1) | (1) | (28) | ||
| (
1978–79 NHL season) |
(
Buffalo Sabres |
)
(NHL) |
(
46) |
(
8) |
(
17) |
(
25) |
(
67) |
(
3) |
(
0) |
(
1) |
(
1) |
(
0) |
) | |
| (
1979–80 NHL season) |
(
Buffalo Sabres |
)
(NHL) |
(
77) |
(
9) |
(
27) |
(
36) |
(
72) |
(
14) |
(
0) |
(
3) |
(
3) |
(
18) |
) | |
| (
1980–81 NHL season) |
(
Buffalo Sabres |
)
(NHL) |
(
71) |
(
8) |
(
25) |
(
33) |
(
110) |
(
8) |
(
0) |
(
0) |
(
0) |
(
14) |
) | |
| {
1981–82 NHL season} |
{
Buffalo Sabres } {NHL} {13} {3} {2} {5} {30} {—} {—} {—} {—} {—} | |||||||||||||
|- |{ 1981–82} |{ Detroit Red Wings } {NHL} {39} {5} {9} {14} {69} {—} {—} {—} {—} {—} |} |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" |{ 1982–83 NHL season} |{ Detroit Red Wings } {NHL} {57} {1} {10} {11} {18} {—} {—} {—} {—} {—} |} |- |{ 1983–84 NHL season} |{ Boston Bruins } {NHL} {39} {0} {2} {2} {20} {—} {—} {—} {—} {—} |} |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" |{ 1984–85 NHL season} |{ Buffalo Sabres } {NHL} {34} {0} {3} {3} {28} {5} {0} {0} {0} {4} |} |- style="background:#e0e0e0;" ! colspan="3" | NHL totals !719 !51 !204 !255 !1,132 !75 !3 !13 !16 !151 |}
Coaching record
| Team | Season | Regular Season | Postseason | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | Pts | Division standing | Outcome | ||
| BUF | 1985–86 | 43 | 19 | 19 | 5 | (43) | (dismissed) | — |
| NJD | 1987–88 | 30 | 17 | 12 | 1 | (35) | 4th place in Patrick | Eliminated in Conference Finals (BOS) |
| NJD | 1988–89 | 80 | 27 | 41 | 12 | 66 | 5th place in Patrick | Did not qualify for playoffs |
| NJD | 1989–90 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 2 | (14) | (dismissed) | — |
| WSH | 1993–94 | 37 | 19 | 12 | 6 | (44) | 3rd place in Atlantic | Exited in Conference Semifinals (NYR) |
| WSH | 1994–95 | 48 | 22 | 18 | 8 | 52 | 3rd place in Atlantic | Defeated in Conference Quarterfinals (PIT) |
| WSH | 1995–96 | 82 | 39 | 32 | 11 | 89 | 4th place in Atlantic | Lost in Conference Quarterfinals (PIT) |
| WSH | 1996–97 | 82 | 33 | 40 | 9 | 75 | Finished 5th in Atlantic | Failed to reach playoffs |
| PHX | 1997–98 | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 82 | Ranked 4th in Central | Knocked out in Conference Quarterfinals (DET) |
| PHX | 1998–99 | 82 | 39 | 31 | 12 | 90 | Placed 2nd in Pacific | Eliminated in Conference Quarterfinals (STL) |
| Overall | 580 | 256 | 246 | 78 | Participated in playoffs six times | |||