“Good goaltenders make for good coaches” (hockey adage)

“Good goaltenders make for good coaches” is a hockey adage. A good goaltender helps to win games—making any coach look good. “Good goaltenders can make any coach look like a genius” was cited in print in 1997.
 
“Good horses make good jockeys” is a similar adage used in horse racing.
 
 
10 February 1997, Winnipeg (Manitoba) Free Press, “MacLean proves he’s one of the best” by Scott Taylor, pg. D3, col. 3:
“Good goaltenders can make any coach look like a genius.”
(Florida Panthers head coach Doug MacLean—ed.)
 
12 November 2000, Miami (FL) Herald, “Rangers’ Leetch turns it on: Defenseman taking more opportunities,” pg. 13D:
“I learned long ago that good coaches are made by good goaltenders,” Toronto coach Pat Quinn told The Toronto Sun.
 
1 October 2006, Boston (MA) Globe, “A potential snag in the net: Thomas, Toivonen short on experience” by Kevin Paul Dupont, pg. C6:
“Remember, coaches with great goaltenders become great coaches.”
(Boston Bruins coach Dave Lewis—ed.)
 
Sportsnet (Canada)
Spector on Leafs: Difficult decisions ahead
By Mark Spector
January 7, 2013
(...)
Good goaltenders make good coaches, while in the case of the 2013 Toronto Maple Leafs, bad ones could cost the GM his gig.
 
The Globe and Mail (Toronto, Ontario)
NHL AWARDS
Carlyle, Therrien, MacLean among front-runners for NHL coach of the year
DAVID SHOALTS
Published Sunday, Apr. 14 2013, 10:28 PM EDT
Last updated Sunday, Apr. 14 2013, 10:58 PM EDT
(...)
Boudreau, who won the Jack Adams Trophy in 2007-08 with the Washington Capitals, is enjoying the old saying that good goaltenders make for good coaches.