NHL: 4 head coaches who will start the season on the hot seat

NHL head coaches are always under pressure. But which ones are under the most pressure entering the 2019-20 NHL season? Here’s a look at them.

As we draw closer to the new NHL season, it’s a time of excitement. The sounds of slapshots and cutting of ice perforate our ears in delight. But not all is sunshine and roses. Many jobs are safe, but there are some that are being watched closely.

Here are some coaches that may want to have moving boxes opened and ready.

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Coaches On The Hot Seat

Atlantic Division: Jon Cooper – Tampa Bay Lightning

This might sound crazy. Why would one of the best coaches in the league be on the hot seat? But there are a couple of things you should hear. It’s strange to see a coach who is constantly in the Jack Adams conversation listed here, but here’s some food for thought.

Cooper has done a lot of good, no doubt. But there’s only so much teasing you can do before rage sets in. He’s given fans a President’s Trophy, a Jack Adams nomination, heck, he’s even just the third coach in NHL history to win 60 games in a season, but he hasn’t given the city the Holy Grail.

Stanley Cup Finals are special, wonderful and amazing, but in the end, they leave you with anger, sadness and a bitter taste in your mouth. The world’s best appetizer is one to rave about, but it still pales in comparison to the best entree. General Manager Julien Brisebois might have his finger on the eject button. Let’s just hope Cooper is wearing a chute.

Metropolitan Division: John Hynes – New Jersey Devils

It can’t be easy to start with a team that Hynes inherited. A noble effort, but the Devils simply haven’t gotten to that next level. With his guidance, the Devils did make the playoffs and his star player, in Taylor Hall, even took home the Hart Trophy, but is that enough?

Since 1995, the Devils have sent the message to the league that they are here: so watch out. Stevens, Neidermayer and Brodeur were near unstoppable and they took home the silverware every three years in their prime. Although they are no longer there, fans have gotten used to that level of pedigree.

With a Hart winner, a Norris winner, two 1st overall picks and a pretty balanced team, expectations are even higher than they were 2012 when they last went to the big dance. If they don’t make it past the first round, I worry about Hynes’ job security. It’s not as bad as some other coaches, but the boo birds are hiding in the bushes. He may want to pack some luggage.

Central Division: Bruce Boudreau – Minnesota Wild

Boudreau is a coach that fans love, but he is a tale of two men. He is sensational in the regular season, but not so much in the playoffs. His amazing .641 winning percentage is hard to see when you look at his .478 in the playoffs; even worse his .200 with the Wild. Bill Guerin is new and fresh. New GMs don’t often keep old coaches, especially those who struggle in April.

Pacific Division: Peter DeBoer – San Jose Sharks

I don’t even want to name another coach, but for the sake of the article, here’s one. Peter DeBoer has done almost nothing wrong; showing the world the Sharks can win in the postseason and even brought them to their first Stanley Cup Finals.

The only reason he is here is that the team is changing. Yes, Thornton is still there, but Marleau is long gone and Pavelski has signed with Dallas. Doug Wilson has been around five years longer than the next longest-tenured general manager in the NHL. If San Jose turns ugly, someone has to take the blame. It ain’t gonna be Doug. Well, have I lost my mind? I’d love to hear from you.