Four NHL Coaches That Could Be on the Hot Seat
The 2023-24 NHL season has seen several NHL coaches being fired due to a lack of success and unmet expectations, as a total of seven coaches have lost their jobs prior to the end of the regular season. From the Edmonton Oilers, who were preseason front-runners for the Stanley Cup, to the Ottawa Senators, who had one of the busiest off-seasons in the league, all seven of the teams who have dismissed coaches this season had playoff hopes going into the season. The other five teams that have decided to part ways with their coach include the New Jersey Devils, the Los Angeles Kings, the New York Islanders, the Minnesota Wild, and the St. Louis Blues. Here are four prospective NHL coaches who may find themselves in hot water following the Stanley Cup Playoffs as we approach the last full week of the regular season.
1. Sheldon Keefe (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Since taking over as the Maple Leafs head coach in 2019, Sheldon Keefe has progressively seen his job security become warmer and warmer following multiple seasons of failed playoff success. In his past four seasons with Toronto, Keefe’s squad has failed to reach the Eastern Conference Finals and has only advanced past the first round once in the 2022-23 season. With the talents of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Morgan Reilly, and Mitch Marner, the Maple Leafs have too great of a roster to continue having quick playoff exits each season. Currently, the Maple Leafs sit in third place in the Atlantic Division and appear to be heading toward a first-round matchup against the Florida Panthers. If the Maple Leafs fail to put together any resemblance of playoff success this go around, Keefe could find himself heading out the door at the conclusion of the season.
2. Mike Sullivan (Pittsburgh Penguins)
For the majority of this season, the Penguins have been an up-and-down club that has shown potential recently of being a playoff contender as they have maneuvered themselves into a tightly contested race for the Eastern Conference second Wild Card spot. Prior to action on Monday, the Penguins sit one point behind the Red Wings for the Wild Card spot and have five more games to make their final push. Despite their late surge this season, the Penguins have seen themselves on the outside of the playoff picture for the majority of the season, as captain Sidney Crosby is entering the final years of his Hall of Fame career right now.
Under head coach Mike Sullivan, the Penguins have won two Stanley Cup Championships (2016 & 2017) and have regularly been a top-tier contender in the conference. However, over recent seasons, Pittsburgh has struggled to maintain their dominance as they have only made it past the first round in the postseason once in the last six seasons. During the 2023-24 season, the Penguins have ranked 19th in goals per game (3.03), 12th in goals against (2.95), and have the third-fewest power-play goals (36). Depending on the result of the Penguins push towards the playoffs, general manager Kyle Dubas may decide to go in a different direction at the head coach position if the team misses the playoffs for the second straight season.
3. Dave Hakstol (Seattle Kraken)
The Seattle Kraken had an amazing first season under head coach Dave Hakstol finishing with 100 points at the end of the regular season and making it to the second round before being eliminated by the Dallas Stars. However, the team's 2023–24 season has been a disappointment. The Kraken have a 32-31-13 record with 77 points after 76 games played, and they are out of the running for the playoffs. The Kraken’s step back this season has been in large part due to a significant decrease in goals per game (2.62), as they rank 29th in the league, compared to being sixth last season (3.52). Also, the Kraken have been inconsistent down the stretch run as they have gone 4-8-2 over their last 14 games, which put the nail in the coffin in the Kraken’s playoff hopes. With such a drastic decline in their first two seasons, Hakstol could see himself on the hot seat depending on how general manager Ron Francis decides to approach the offseason.
4. Don Granato (Buffalo Sabres)
After a surprising 2022-23 season, which saw the Sabres finish with a 42-33-7 record for 91 points and ended up one point shy of claiming a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, the Sabres have seen a major decline in offensive production this season. The major decline in performance this season has led to Buffalo being on the verge of missing the playoffs for the 13th straight season, as they sit five points behind the Red Wings for the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. During the 2022-23 season, the Sabres ranked third in the league in goals per game (3.57) and ninth in power-play percentage (23.4%). Now, in 2023-24, the Sabres rank 21st in the league in goals per game (2.97) and are tied for the third-fewest power-play goals (36). Despite the improved performance in 2022 under head coach Don Granato, the Sabres’ front office may decide to start fresh at head coach heading into next season.
