Don Cherry announces career plans for the 2024-2025 NHL season

Photo credit: IMDB

Love him or hate him, Don Cherry is back. The 90-year-old hockey personality, best known for his long stint at Coach’s Corner, returns for another season of hockey analysis, this time via his podcast Grapevine, which he co-hosts with his children.

Cherry was fired from the coach’s corner in November 2019 after making controversial comments, but fans of the outspoken commentator know that wasn’t the end of his run. Since leaving the CBC and Sportsnet, Cherry has stayed busy with Grapevine, giving his unfiltered perspective on the game he loves.

It is widely believed that Sportsnet and the CBC were already considering leaving Cherry, who was 85 at the time of his firing. His old-school views and hard-hitting style were becoming a bit outdated for modern audiences, but Cherry’s nostalgic appeal was undeniable. He still attracted viewers who grew up watching him, a legacy few hockey analysts can match.

Cherry’s journey to hockey fame wasn’t just through commentary. He originally got his Coach’s Corner gig in 1984 after a coaching career, most notably with the Boston Bruins, where he led them to two Stanley Cup Finals (although he came up short both times). Known as ‘Grapes’ in the hockey world, he has never been shy about showing favoritism towards teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins.

Cherry’s love for hard, physical hockey has remained a constant throughout his career. Since the NHL has seen a resurgence of physical play in recent seasons, it’s a safe bet that Cherry is excited. Fans will remember his many rants in his final years at Coach’s Corner, where he often complained about what he saw as the “soft” nature of today’s game.

Although Cherry’s own playing career was short in the NHL – just one playoff game with the Boston Bruins – he was a fixture in the minor leagues for 16 seasons. While he may not have been a star player, Cherry’s influence on the sport, both behind the bench and in the television booth, is undeniable.

Now that he’s back on the air, it looks like Grapes isn’t ready to hang up his mic just yet.

Here are some of Cherry’s best moments from the coach’s angle:

Last 10 stories