NHL Coaches on the Hot Seat: Could it Be a Not-So-Jolly Christmas?

Some coaches have taken residence on the list to the point where we should be NHL charging rent. Anyway, in this time of goodwill, let the influence of Santa take hold this week. 

Dallas Eakins - Anaheim Ducks

Dallas Eakins expects to coach into 2023 with the Anaheim Ducks, but the question becomes how long. The Anaheim Ducks have been far from good this season. This places them firmly on the bad, err, naughty list.   

Anaheim is not the worst team in the NHL (Chicago is). The team wishes for defense, defense, and more defense. Sadly, fans look like they will not get their Christmas wish of Eakins’ dismissal, either.

D.J. Smith - Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators admit now that the playoffs are a pipe dream. Ottawa wanted to play meaningful games in March and April. Sadly, injuries, poor roster decisions, and a lack of consistent defense have doomed the Senators to around NHL .500. 

The Senators’ management is content with letting Smith coach into 2023. Ottawa ownership is holding off on a decision that will wait until the offseason. Yes, things could change, but that appears to be where Ottawa is heading. 

Still, speculation springs eternal as fans and some wish for a change. 

Bruce Boudreau - Vancouver Canucks

Boudreau is not fighting with his players, at least. See the John Tortorella playbook on that one. However, the Vancouver Canucks are still mired right around .500.

The problem is Vancouver got back to .500 only to lose back-to-back contests. Vancouver looks like a team that goes one step forward and two steps back. If Thatcher Demko and their defense could string something together consistently, that would help. A little trust would go a long way from the defensive side of things.

With all the contract uncertainty, management appears content to try and make a push for better or for worse. Bruce Boudreau’s wish is a team that stops bleeding goals. The fan’s wish is a little different. 

Brad Larsen - Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets and Larsen are still here. Darryl Sutter and Dean Evason have been wiped off the list as their teams look much better. Evason’s Minnesota Wild have won eight of 10 games and five straight.

Ice time results in disaster. Boone Jenner and Yegor Chinakhov are now out on top of an extensive injury list. Chinakhov is out for six weeks because of a high-ankle sprain. Columbus has a goal differential of -43 and has lost eight of ten games and five straight contests.

At what point does enough become enough for the Blue Jackets and management?

Craig Berube - St. Louis Blues

St. Louis still roams at .500, so one has to ask the question. Does Doug Armstrong make a move personnel-wise? 

Again, keep an eye on this. Would a Stanley Cup winner get the boot before too long? St. Louis was starting to play better, but back-to-back games meant rest for Jordan Binnington, which led to a loss. Stay tuned.

Cue Up The Fried Catfish John Hynes?

The arctic cold front plunges into Nashville later this week, and the Predators are as cold as ice right now. They allowed Chicago to briefly lead a game for the first time since Dec. 3. Beating Chicago arguably was the highlight of their week. 

When lines are jumbled all over the place and still not working, there is the inevitable next step of a trade or something more substantial. The Tolvanen waiving simply was not enough. Nashville is off, and the coaching seems unable to fix enough of their problems. 

Now, Hynes has been on and off this list frequently. Some are in disbelief that the coach still has a job in Nashville. Let’s see what happens come January.

That is all for now. See you next week, and yes, thanks for reading!