The 2025-26 NHL Coaching Watch

[Pokecheque]

It's the dead part of the season, so may as well do this.

Let's start with the guys who are safe (at least during the season, Dan Bylsma proved being new doesn't prevent you from getting the axe after the season ends). Either because they're newly hired or they won the Cup...twice.

Paul Maurice, Mike Sullivan, Rick Tocchet, Dan Muse, Marco Sturm, Jeff Blashill, Joel Quenneville, Lane Lambert, Adam Foote

Geez, that's a lot of new names.

BUT WAIT...I think there's one exception:

Glen Gulutzan, who gets to occupy a whole new category I just made up--New Head Coach Whose Seat is Already Hot.

Gulutzan has had a very checkered past as a head coach (go check out his infamous stick-hurling tirades during his time in Calgary) so I'll admit I was surprised to see him get another chance, and with a team fresh off back-to-back Western Conference Final appearances to boot. But then I noticed they also promoted longtime Texas Stars head coach Neil Graham, and I truly believe that Graham was the guy Jim Nill intended to hire all along, but either felt he needed at least a little seasoning at the NHL level before taking over, or ownership demanded a veteran behind the bench. Either way, if the Stars stumble I won't be surprised if HCGG is treated more like a glorified interim guy, something he definitely has some experience with.

Now onto the list of regular hot-seat coaches:

1. Jared Bednar
When the Avalanche hired a new assistant coach in Dave Hakstol who just happened to be an experienced head coach, it was obvious the organization wanted a backup plan. Bednar is fresh off his worst postseason defeat yet, losing in the first round in seven games to the oh-so familiar foe in Peter DeBoer. It's such a grand irony that it was DeBoer who ultimately ended up losing his job. But Bednar may not be far behind if the Avs at any point stumble badly during the season or find themselves booted from the playoffs in either the first or second round.

I still think Bednar is a very good coach, but like all coaches (he is now the 2nd-longest tenured in the entire league) he has grown increasingly stubborn in his approach. And in my opinion, bad management has essentially set him up to fail. Barring a DEEP playoff run, this very much looks like Bednar's last run in Colorado.

2. Patrick Roy
I forgot my own rule, listing the coach I think is going to be fired FIRST, not the coach most likely to be fired period. But anyway, I don't want to edit right now, so here is Patrick Roy, whom I think is most likely going to get fired at some point by the rebuilding Islanders. It's been a rough return for St. Patrick, and now that there's an entirely new management team in charge that's looking at a long-term goal, it seems obvious to me that Roy's days as a head coach now, and possibly ever again, are numbered.

3. Jon Cooper
I honestly don't think Cooper is in any real trouble, but it's possible the organization ends up believing that it's time to move on from the longest-reigning bench boss in the NHL. If it does indeed end this year or the summer of 2026, it's been one of the most successful head coaching stints in hockey history, certainly in the modern era.

4. Andrew Brunette
It's possible Bruno should be at the top of this list but in the end, I just have no idea what Barry Trotz is trying to accomplish. After "winning" the 2024 offseason, the Preds came out with an old, slow lineup that barely avoided being dead last in the entire league. They did very little to refurbish a bad lineup, and the shine from Brunette's first season, bolstered by the infamous U2 Sphere concert snub (boy did I get tired hearing/reading about THAT dumb narrative), has come completely off.

5. Bruce Cassidy
The Vegas Golden Knights once again radically retooled after a disappointing season, snagging the top potential free agent this offseason in Mitchell Marner. But with a bolstered lineup up front comes a weakened blueline corps, coupled with the fact that stalwart defender Alex Pietrangelo has apparently booked his ticket to Robidas Island. Cassidy also appears to be one of those coaches who wears out his welcome a tad quicker than his colleagues, there are realiity show elimination rounds less acrimonious than his exit from Boston revealed. And really, it's Vegas, they're the most fickle organization in all of sports and aren't afraid to make whatever changes they see fit.

Honorable mentions: Sheldon Keefe, Jim Hiller, Travis Green, Andre Tourigny, John Hynes

Most Honorable mention: Lindy Ruff. Dude is likely retiring after this season, the question is whether he will outlast his all-but-doomed boss.

And yes, I do think the first GM fired next year will indeed be Kevyn "We Don't Have Palm Trees In Buffalo" Adams.

Lastly, a big factor that may lead to someone getting the axe early? Pete DeBoer and John Tortorella are currently unemployed. The latter may be done, I don't know, but the former most assuredly will get another chance to throw an organization's goalie under the bus.

[Pokecheque]

I intended for that to be a short read but I just had to keep adding to it. I'm at work so it may be horribly edited...oh well.

I had a hard time figuring out who isn't in some kind of hot water as an NHL head coach. I wonder if that's mostly because of parity, there's just no big surefire super-team at present, which leads most everyone else to believe they have a shot, and fewer excuses for front offices and coaches to hide behind.

Conversely, with the league getting back on its feet after Covid took a huge swipe at the its finances, teams are still mostly afraid or just plain unwilling to blow it up and start over. The 32 Thoughts team joked repeatedly that Pittsburgh is the only team that's clearly rebuilding, but even they haven't gone fully nuclear on their veteran-laden lineup.

[Logical Progression]

I went with Patty Roy. Largely inept at the NHL level and doesn't seem like a good leader behind the bench. Might be too hard ass and old school.

[Chris18]

I think Roy's leash length depends largely on the new ACs. If they can fix the special teams (I have very little faith in the new PK guy, can't even remember his name now) the Isles will likely be good enough to push for at least a WC spot. If they can't fix the special teams they're fucked and every coach should be fired, tarred and feathered.

If Cooper gets fired, I'd like to see Roy fired and Darche reunite with Cooper.

[Pokecheque]

Well it’s likely gonna be a guy who wasn’t even on my radar: Ryan Huska.

Things have run aground in Calgary, but I kinda thought that was the plan. But Huska looks like he’s in “save my job” mode and doing borderline stupid shit now. Benching Sharangovich was probably warranted. Benching Matt Coronato may have been effective once, but to go to it again!? That’s a guy who’s already out of ideas and the season isn’t even a month old.

Also, he’s got one tell-tale mark of a doomed NHL head coach: The ink isn’t even dry on his new extension.

[E.L.]

Jim Montgomery looked like the man in St. Loo but that team is also falling off in a hurry.

And I think Andrew Brunette is not a great coach so just a matter of time in Smashville.

[Stinky]

Montgomery. is a Montgonner soon.

[Pokecheque]

If they shitcanned Monty THAT quickly, especially given how quickly he turned things around last season in St. Loo, that would be something.

Yeah I think based on what I'm reading, that Barry Trotz will step down from his GM position, take over the bench again, and David Poile's son will be the next guy running the front office.

Also, let's not forget that Pete DeBoer is just sitting there doing nothing. Someone online already mentioned he'd be a good fit in Minnesota, which would likely have Jared Bednar throwing a giant tantrum at Avalanche HQ.

[Pokecheque]

Oh, one other prediction if I haven't said it already--I don't think Nill hired Gulutzan to be a long-term solution. No, I think he's an interim guy in all but name only, he just didn't want to put the real hotshot candidate that was drawing buzz from other teams, Neil Graham, in charge too soon. Right now the Stars are firmly in a playoff spot and absolutely killing it on special teams, but even strength play has let them down. If they stumble for any extended period of time, I could see them giving GG the boot and going with Graham.

[Chris18]

I can't see Trotz handing someone else the ability to fire him. Maybe he'll do something more like get behind the bench again, but he'd also keep his GM job and maybe add another assistant GM, who would being ideas to Trotz to approve or reject.

[Pokecheque]

I can't see Trotz handing someone else the ability to fire him. Maybe he'll do something more like get behind the bench again, but he'd also keep his GM job and maybe add another assistant GM, who would being ideas to Trotz to approve or reject.

I only remember it happening recently in sports years ago with the Denver Nuggets--Dan Issel stepped down from the GM spot (where he was failing miserably) and they named KiKi Vandeweghe as the GM. And Issel's 2nd stint as Nuggets head coach ended horribly, I won't go into the details, but it has happened.

I could see it happening if ownership basically forces his hand. But yeah, could be a Roy-in-Colorado situation, but that didn't go well at all either.

[Chris18]

I just see Trotz as too smart to do that, especially after being fired in NY. Although I still think he wanted out and Lou publicly "fired" him so Trotz didn't have to say he quit. Trotz looked totally checked out that last year.

[Pokecheque]

Well go figure, it’s a GM that gets the axe first. I didn’t get the timing right but I got the name right (not a huge prognostication though).

Rumblings indicate there’s likely changes happening in Los Angeles very soon. Kings are still in the thick of it but their offense has imploded, and it wasn’t that great to begin with. Probably not a good idea to boot Jordan Spence and Vladislav Gavrikov and replace them with…Cody Ceci and Brian Dumolin. And they already had noted pylon Joel Edmundson to begin with.

I was hoping Pete DeBoer would wait until the Leafs wanted to hire him but I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up taking over for the objectively terrible Hiller.

[Pokecheque]

Hiller somehow still has a job. I don't know why, but as an Avs fan I'm all for it.

I had Sheldon Keefe listed as an "honorable mention," I think he's in real trouble now.

Nashville is on a heater and struggling back to .500 so I think Bruno is safe for now.

As for Monty and the Blues, they look resigned to their fate, so if a change is coming I assume it'll come in the offseason, if at all.

[Chris18]

Do you think if the Avs lose two in a row in regulation Bednar will be fired? The pace they're setting is insane.

Buffalo was looking dead and have won 9 straight! WTF? If Ruff was in any trouble, that should buy him time.

[Pokecheque]

Do you think if the Avs lose two in a row in regulation Bednar will be fired? The pace they're setting is insane.

Buffalo was looking dead and have won 9 straight! WTF? If Ruff was in any trouble, that should buy him time.

I have to think the owner is thrilled the team is winning, BUT THAT POWER PLAY...!!!

Not only is Lindy doing well in Buffalo (largely because the three-headed goaltending monster is, for now, working) but it's also pretty clear he was NEVER the problem in New Jersey.

[Chris18]

I still don't understand NJ firing Ruff.

[Pokecheque]

I still don't understand NJ firing Ruff.

Fitzgerald fired off a diss at the presser that implied Ruff wasn't playing the young players, like Alexander Holtz. Thing is, Alexander Holtz sucks, and even Fitzgerald all but admitted it himself the player got shipped off for virtually nothing. Currently has two points in 11 games for Vegas.

Also, that age-old determiner for coaching tenures--goaltending!--didn't hold up.

[Chris18]

Blue Jackets fire Evason and hire oft-retired/rehired Rick Bowness.

[E.L.]

Dean Evason came in as a guy who people felt didn’t get a fair shake in Minny, and now you could argue he once again didn’t get a fair shake in Lumbus. Or maybe he’s not a good coach.

Bowness is hockey’s Rasputin.