Talk to a half-dozen of Bruce Boudreau's friends and, without fail, they all describe the new Wild coach the same way: "an everyman … unassuming … not a self-promoter … no ego … honest … just a good, good guy."
He's nicknamed "Gabby" for a reason. He'll "talk your ear off … fun-loving … wears his heart on his sleeve … cares about everybody … lives, eats and breathes hockey every second … loves what he does."
And they all say Wild fans "hit the jackpot" and covering the Wild "just became the best beat in the league" because the "Twin Cities media hit the lottery" with the arrival of the very quotable character that is Bruce Boudreau.
Asked if all these descriptions are spot-on, Boudreau said, "Yeah … I think that's me."
"I'm pretty genuine, and that really comes from 33 years in the minors," Boudreau said. "You can't think too much of yourself when you're in the minors every year. I've played and coached in Muskegon and Biloxi, Mississippi, and some places where hockey never saw the light of day.
"In the minors, it's all about promotion, promotion, promotion of the team and I just continue to do that in the NHL. I don't think I've changed, which is the way my wife likes it."
The definition of a career journeyman, Boudreau had a dizzying playing and coaching career full of address changes. But he was also one the best minor league players in history and is near the top of the charts in American Hockey League coaching victories.
The only reason he never climbed higher than ninth in that category is because he ultimately was promoted to the NHL, where he became the fastest coach in history to amass 400 NHL wins, between Washington and Anaheim.