NHL Coaches on the Hot Seat: Everyone Still Has a Job

Dallas Eakins - Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks managed to beat Montreal on Thursday night. That probably buys Eakins another couple of weeks at this rate.   

Anaheim is now 8-20-3, has a whopping -57 goal differential, and its metrics are still the worst in the NHL. Currently, Eakins still si employed by Pat Verbeek and the Ducks. At what point, does ownership say enough is enough?

D.J. Smith - Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators keep dancing around the coaching issue, especially regarding management. Now, ownership issues arguably help Smith. However, a 7-2-1 run may keep the Senators’ coach around a little longer.

The Senators’ management seems certain to head into 2023 with Smith as their bench boss. Barring something unforeseen, the Christmas roster freeze will come and go. Expect no changes of significance in Canada’s capital.

Names have been tossed out and speculated on. However, so far, all is quiet on the Eastern Canada front. 

Darryl Sutter - Calgary Flames

The fact that Sutter is still here is significant. Some have dismissed this as total horse expletive. However, Calgary has lost four straight games and stands a mere two games over .500. Sutter is not getting any younger at 64. Also, what else does the coach have to prove?

Calgary losing two 40+ goal scorers hurt, but the Flames expected better than this.

Bruce Boudreau - Vancouver Canucks

Boudreau takes up permanent residence here on the hot seat. Now, things have cooled a little as Vancouver has climbed back to .500. 

The problem is Vancouver keeps blowing leads, but finds ways to win. What happens when the goal-scoring starts to dry up again? Will more jerseys get tossed on the ice?

Jim Rutherford needs to make a few moves, but is one of them Boudreau? That feels less likely, according to the numbers. 

Dean Evason - Minnesota Wild

Evason has seen his seat cool down further. He has to thank Filip Gustavsson, of all people, for that. Minnesota has seven wins in their last 10 games. The goaltender has won five straight games. He has allowed just seven goals during that span. 

Minnesota finally has a goaltender on a run. Streaking in a positive direction has to feel good for the Wild. The schedule gets tougher as Christmas approaches but this team is in a better position. 

Brad Larsen - Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets splash around frantically like a team with little direction or clue at times. Yes, injuries sunk the team’s ability to make the playoffs. However, there is little reason to see these consistently bad efforts night in and night out. 

Ice time allotment remains awful. Larsen keeps lowering the bar. This is to the point that even outside media wonders when Jarmo Kekalainen issues the pink slip?

One Warming Seat - Craig Berube

As St. Louis hovers around .500, Berube needs to be scrutinized more. Fans grow frustrated, and even some pundits. Doug Armstrong will not hesitate to move players, but the market is not there yet. 

Again, keep an eye on this. Would a Stanley Cup winner get the boot before too long?

Cue Up The Fried Catfish John Hynes?

Naturally, it is not the Christmas season until Hynes gets back into this conversation. The Nashville Predators have now lost five straight games and are still sitting around .500. Even with Juuse Saros playing out of his mind, Nashville still cannot go on playing this disjointed.

When Eeli Tolvanen gets placed on waivers, there is a mass disconnect somewhere. It is safe to say the winger was a small problem compared to what is really going on.

Keep an eye again on Hynes, who had strong odds to get fired and does again.