Editing Roger Neilson (section)

==Coaching career==
Neilson's coaching career began in 1966 as head coach of the [[Ontario Hockey League]]'s [[Peterborough Petes]], then the junior farm team of the [[Montreal Canadiens]], and he remained for 10 years in [[Peterborough, Ontario]], where he maintained a home until his death. He also worked at the [[University of Windsor]] with a summer hockey camp program, which led to camps from [[Port Hope, Ontario]] to [[Israel]].

Neilson moved into professional hockey coaching with the [[Dallas Black Hawks]] in the [[Central Professional Hockey League|Central Hockey League]] in 1976–77.

Neilson's entry into the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) came in 1977 with the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]], when he was hired to replace [[Red Kelly]] as the head coach of the team. Neilson coached the Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–79), the [[Buffalo Sabres]] (1979–81, associate and head coach), [[Vancouver Canucks]] (1981–84, assistant and head coach), [[Los Angeles Kings]] (1983–84), [[Chicago Blackhawks]] (1984–87, assistant), [[New York Rangers]] (1989–93), [[Florida Panthers]] (1993–95), [[Philadelphia Flyers]] (1997–2000), and for two games with the [[Ottawa Senators]] in April 2002.

Neilson's tenure with Toronto lasted until 1979, when Neilson was fired as head coach of the Maple Leafs by owner [[Harold Ballard]]. There was outrage throughout the players, media, and general public. Ballard then relented, but wanted Neilson to enter the next game with a paper bag over his head as "the mystery coach", but Neilson refused and coached the next game as if nothing had happened.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hornby |first=Lance |date=March 11, 2019 |title=A look back at the Roger Neilson 'paper bag' game and Pal Hal's theatre of the absurd |url=https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/a-look-back-at-the-roger-neilson-paper-bag-game-and-pal-hals-theatre-of-the-absurd |access-date=September 10, 2023 |website=[[Toronto Sun]]}}</ref>

Neilson was initially an assistant coach with Vancouver, but he took over as head coach after [[Harry Neale]] was suspended for taking part in an altercation with fans during a brawl against the [[Quebec Nordiques]]. When the team went unbeaten in the next seven games, he was given the job permanently. It was in his new capacity that Neilson led the team on its run to the [[1982 Stanley Cup Finals]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crowe |first=Jerry |date=1991-04-05 |title=Kings Can Consult History Book, Not Webster : NHL playoffs: Canucks went all the way to Stanley Cup finals without Neale in 1982. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-04-05-sp-2057-story.html |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> 

After five seasons with the Rangers and Panthers, Neilson led the Flyers to first place in the [[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Eastern Conference]] in the 1999–2000 season. With the Flyers leading in the conference standings at the midseason break, Neilson earned the honor to coach the Eastern Conference squad in the [[2000 National Hockey League All-Star Game|All-Star Game]]. Previously, based on his performance with the Canucks, he had coached the [[Campbell Conference]] All-Stars at the [[35th National Hockey League All-Star Game|1983 All-Star Game]]. But a Neilson-coached team fell short of expectations once again, as the Flyers were ousted by the [[New Jersey Devils]] in seven games in the Eastern Conference championship round.