The NHL coaching carousel is a brutal reality, and it's only a matter of time before the axe starts swinging. Imagine dedicating years to building a team, only to be shown the door mid-season. It's a harsh truth, but one that's all too common in the league. Even though we're barely a month into the season, the whispers have already begun. General managers and owners are starting to eye their head coaches with a mix of hope and skepticism, wondering if a change behind the bench could turn their team's luck around.
Last season, a staggering eight NHL head coaches were fired mid-season—that's a full quarter of the league. The first to go was Jim Montgomery of the Boston Bruins, who got the boot on November 19th. With that date looming just weeks away, it's time to ask: which coaches are on the chopping block this year? A glance at the bottom of the standings might give you a clue, but the NHL has a knack for surprising us.
But here's where it gets controversial... On a recent episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton were joined by The Sheet's Jeff Marek to discuss which coaches might be feeling the heat as the season enters its second month. The conversation quickly turned to names like Andrew Brunette, John Hynes in Minnesota, and Lindy Ruff in Buffalo. And this is the part most people miss... Marek pointed out that even Jon Cooper in Tampa, the league's longest-serving head coach, faced early speculation about his future despite his proven track record. It's a stark reminder that even the most successful coaches have a shelf life.
Here's the kicker: In the Eastern Conference, the lines between good and bad teams are blurrier than ever, making it tough to predict who's truly at risk. Buffalo, for instance, is a perennial question mark. Despite Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's stellar performance on Saturday, the team reverted to Alex Lyon the very next day. Is that a subtle message? It certainly looks like it. Ruff's expiring contract only adds fuel to the fire. But if we're putting targets on backs, Marek argues, Nashville should be at the top of the list. For the second year in a row, they're underperforming in what should be a competitive push.
Now, here's a thought-provoking question for you: With the league's landscape shifting so rapidly, is it fair to hold coaches accountable for their team's struggles, or should we be looking more closely at the front office decisions that shape the roster? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. And if you're curious to hear more of this heated debate, you can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…
