# Phil Watson

Joseph Philippe Henri Watson (April 24, 1914 — February 1, 1991) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach in the National Hockey League. He played for the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers between 1936 and 1948, and coached the Rangers from 1955 to 1960 and the Boston Bruins from 1961 to 1963. He was born in Montreal, Quebec.

## Coaching career

Soon after retiring as a player, Watson became a coach. He was head coach of:
* New York Rovers QSHL 1948–1949
* New York Rovers EHL 1950–1951
* Quebec Citadelles QJHL 1951–1952
* New York Rangers NHL 1955–56 to 1959–60
* Providence Reds AHL 1960–1961
* Boston Bruins NHL 1961-1963
* Buffalo Bisons AHL 1964–1966
* Quebec Aces AHL 1966–1967

## Awards and achievements

* 1940 Stanley Cup championship (New York Rangers)
* 1944 Stanley Cup championship (Montreal Canadiens)

## Personal life

He married a model named Helen Anderson on March 29, 1939 in New York. The couple had a daughter named Jan, who'd later appear in several films.

## Legacy

In the 2009 book 100 Ranger Greats, the authors ranked Watson at No. 76 all-time of the 901 New York Rangers who had played during the team's first 82 seasons.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1932–33 | Montreal St. Francis Xavier | MCJHL | 11 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1933–34 | Montreal St. Francis Xavier | MCJHL | 16 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1934–35 | Montreal Jr. Royals | QJHL | 19 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 24 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 1935–36 | New York Rangers | NHL | 24 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1935–36 | Philadelphia Ramblers | Can-Am | 22 | 9 | 5 | 14 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1936–37 | New York Rangers | NHL | 48 | 11 | 17 | 28 | 22 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| 1937–38 | New York Rangers | NHL | 48 | 7 | 25 | 32 | 52 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1938–39 | New York Rangers | NHL | 48 | 15 | 22 | 37 | 42 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 1939–40 | New York Rangers | NHL | 48 | 7 | 28 | 35 | 42 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 16 |
| 1940–41 | New York Rangers | NHL | 40 | 11 | 25 | 36 | 49 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| 1941–42 | New York Rangers | NHL | 48 | 15 | 37 | 52 | 58 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 8 |
| 1942–43 | New York Rangers | NHL | 46 | 14 | 28 | 42 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1943–44 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 44 | 17 | 32 | 49 | 61 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 16 |
| 1944–45 | New York Rangers | NHL | 45 | 11 | 8 | 19 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1945–46 | New York Rangers | NHL | 49 | 12 | 14 | 26 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1946–47 | New York Rangers | NHL | 48 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1947–48 | New York Rangers | NHL | 54 | 18 | 15 | 33 | 54 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 590 | 144 | 265 | 409 | 532 | 54 | 10 | 25 | 35 | 67 |

## Coaching record

| Team | Year | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Post season |
| Team | Year | G | W | L | T | Pts | Division rank | Result |
| NYR | 1955–56 | 70 | 32 | 28 | 10 | 74 | 3rd in NHL | Lost in semi-finals |
| NYR | 1956–57 | 70 | 26 | 30 | 14 | 66 | 4th in NHL | Lost in semi-finals |
| NYR | 1957–58 | 70 | 32 | 25 | 13 | 77 | 2nd in NHL | Lost in semi-finals |
| NYR | 1958–59 | 70 | 26 | 32 | 12 | 64 | 5th in NHL | DNQ |
| NYR | 1959–60 | 15 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 6th in NHL | Fired |
| BOS | 1961–62 | 70 | 15 | 47 | 8 | 38 | 6th in NHL | DNQ |
| BOS | 1962–63 | 14 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 6th in NHL | Fired |
| PHI (WHA) | 1972–73 | 71 | 37 | 34 | 0 | 74 | 3rd in East Division | Lost in first round |
| VAN (WHA) | 1973–74 | 12 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 5th in West Division | Fired |
| NHL Total | NHL Total | 379 | 135 | 179 | 65 | 335 |
| WHA Total | WHA Total | 83 | 40 | 43 | 0 | 80 |