Don Cherry announces career plans for 2024-2025 NHL season

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Jon McIntyre
October 13, 2024 (2:33 PM)

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

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

It's widely believed that Sportsnet and the CBC were already considering moving on from Cherry, who was 85 at the time of his dismissal. His old-school views and hard-hitting style were becoming a little outdated for modern audiences, but Cherry's nostalgic pull was undeniable. He still drew in viewers who grew up watching him, a legacy that few hockey analysts can match.

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

Cherry's love for hard, physical hockey has remained a constant throughout his career. In fact, as the NHL has seen a resurgence of physical play over the last few seasons, it's a safe bet that Cherry is thrilled. Fans will remember his many rants in his final years on Coach's Corner, where he often complained about what he saw as the «soft» nature of today's game.

Though Cherry's own playing career was brief 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 broadcast booth, is undeniable.

With his return to the airwaves, it looks like Grapes isn't ready to hang up his mic just yet.

Here are some of Cherry's best moments from coach's corner: