The NHL season is barely two months old, but the coaching carousel has already started spinning. The Boston Bruins shocked the hockey world by firing Jim Montgomery after just 20 games. Days later, the St. Louis Blues hired Montgomery to replace Drew Bannister, continuing the chain reaction.
With the salary cap limiting roster moves and GMs unlikely to fire themselves, the onus often falls on the head coach to right the ship when teams underperform. According to NHL insiders and betting odds, several bench bosses are feeling the heat as the season marches on.
Burning Up: Lalonde, Richardson on Shortest Leashes
Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde rocketed to the top of most hot seat lists following Montgomery’s dismissal. The Wings have regressed after a 91-point campaign last year, struggling mightily to score goals. To make matters worse, Lalonde is in the final year of his contract. Barring a major turnaround, a playoff miss would likely spell the end of his tenure in the Motor City.
The Chicago Blackhawks are mired in a lengthy rebuild, but that hasn’t spared third-year coach Luke Richardson from scrutiny. Reports suggest growing frustration in the locker room, especially from franchise centerpiece Connor Bedard, over the constant losing. With Chicago showing minimal progress, Richardson’s job security looks tenuous at best.
Hot in the Summer: Veteran Coaches on Notice
Several experienced coaches who led their teams to playoff success last year find themselves under pressure to sustain that momentum:
- Andrew Brunette, Nashville Predators – Struggling to build on last season’s turnaround.
- Greg Cronin, Anaheim Ducks – Ducks languishing but goalie play keeping them afloat.
- Joe Sacco, Boston Bruins interim coach – Can he earn the permanent job?
- Andre Tourigny, Utah Hockey Club – New franchise expecting to compete immediately.
Getting Warmer: Measuring Up to High Expectations
For these coaches, the temperature of their seat will likely be determined by playoff performance:
- Peter DeBoer, Dallas Stars – Consecutive conference finals raise the bar.
- Kris Knoblauch, Edmonton Oilers – Coming off a Stanley Cup Final loss.
- Peter Laviolette, New York Rangers – Multiple playoff runs but aging core.
- Patrick Roy, New York Islanders – Pressure mounting to take next step.
They’re in that tricky spot where they need to achieve playoff success to validate keeping their job long-term, even if they’re not in imminent danger of being fired during the season.
– NHL coaching source
On the Hot Seat Spectrum: Sullivan an Outlier
Pittsburgh’s Mike Sullivan finds himself in a unique position. By all accounts, he should be squarely in the hot seat as the Penguins’ playoff chances dwindle. However, the two-time Cup winner has the backing of management and remains committed to the team.
Most other coaches with secure jobs for now fall into two buckets: Those with freshly-signed contracts with new teams, and those with a long history of success like Jon Cooper, Rod Brind’Amour and Jared Bednar. But fortunes can change quickly in the NHL.
Guys have gone from the hot seat to the Jack Adams in the same season. It’s a results-oriented business and you’re only as safe as your last 10 games sometimes.
– NHL head coach
As the playoff races heat up after the All-Star break, the coaching carousel will be worth monitoring. A few more teams stumbling out of contention could decide a change in leadership behind the bench is needed to salvage their season or accelerate a rebuild. In the pressure cooker of professional hockey, the hot seat is always just a losing streak away.
