A lot of coaches played, and most of them are in their 50's and 60's.
The league was 75% Canadian when they were playing and you could count the Europeans.
The league is way more diverse now, but it's not going to happen in coaching until the diverse player base we have now is old enough to be coaching.
People in this thread have touched on it but I think they're underestimating how old coaches are. They're throwing out 10, 15, 20 years older.
Peter Laviolette was THIRTY-SEVEN when Alexis Lafreniere was born. There's not a guy on the roster he doesn't have 20+ years on, not even Jonathan Quick.
Many, but there is a critical mass that are in their 40s or early 50s (but became a NHL head coach in their 40s).
Spencer Carbery – 41, Canadian
Andre Tourigny -41, Canadian
Sheldon Keefe – 43, Canadian
Kris Knoblauch -45, Canadian
Marty St Louis -48, Canadian
Andrew Brunette – 50, Canadian
Drew Bannister – 50, Canadian
Derek Lalonde – 51, Canadian
Travis Green – 51, Canadian
Pascal Vincent – 52, Canadian
Jared Bednar -52, Canadian