To play the game, but not to coach the game: Why aren't there any European head coaches in the NHL?

As the NHL's 104th season picks up steam, Elite Prospects can't help but wonder why there are no NHL head coaches from outside North America. With just over 30 percent of its player base coming from Europe, and more than 50 percent coming from outside of Canada, the game's ancestral homeland, this question is worth examining.

This article will take a look at why there are no coaches currently, address the traditional impediments to European head coaches entering the leagues, and demonstrate with evidence why these are not relevant. It will finish with a recommendation for a number of coaches that meet the qualifications for a head coaching job in the league.