NHL · 7 months ago

2025 NHL Coaching Hot Seat: Top 5 Coaches Skating on Thin Ice

Jake Burkey

Host · Writer

5. Rick Tocchet, Vancouver Canucks
Tenure on Team: 2.5 seasons

Record: 104-62-26

The Canucks have been disappointing this season, and I’m starting to think the Canucks organization might turn on head coach Rick Tocchet. He’s been a good coach and well-respected around the league. However, the Canucks have had drama this season with J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson that perhaps held them back from reaching peak form. If the Canucks miss the postseason, which looks possible, I see Tocchet getting the boot.

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1. Andrew Brunette, Nashville Predators
Tenure on Team: 2 seasons

Record: 52-39-7

Nashville hired Andrew Brunette in May of 2023. This season, he was given one of the most stacked rosters in the league. Expectations were high for the Predators, with most experts predicting Nashville as a Stanley Cup contender. Unfortunately for Brunette, Nashville has been a train wreck, sitting two spots from dead last in the league.

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2. Mike Sullivan, Pittsburgh Penguins
Tenure on Team: 9 seasons

Record: 375-219-77

Mike Sullivan has been the boss behind the bench in Pittsburgh for a while now, beginning in 2015. He’s seen the Penguins in their prime and won Stanley Cups with them. However, this team is close to a complete rebuild. They are not good enough to compete in the playoffs, and with an aging core centered around Sidney Crosby, the window for them to win one more Stanley Cup is fading.
3. Joe Sacco, Boston Bruins
Tenure on Team: 5 months

Record: 22-25-6

Joe Sacco filled in for the Bruins as Interim Head Coach in November 2024. He had previously served as an assistant coach for the team for about a decade. It’s clear to me that the Bruins are in full rebuild mode, or at least they should be, but it won’t be shocking if the Bruins make a head coaching change over this offseason.
4. Peter Laviolette, New York Rangers
Tenure on Team: 2 seasons

Record: 55-23-4

Peter Laviolette came into a good situation with the Rangers in 2023 and has had success, until this season. Laviolette helped the Rangers to a 2024 Conference Final appearance, but this season has been a disappointment. The Rangers are still in the hunt for a final playoff spot, but with a 36-32-7 record, it’s fair to say that Laviolette is gone if they miss the postseason.
5. Rick Tocchet, Vancouver Canucks
Tenure on Team: 2.5 seasons

Record: 104-62-26

The Canucks have been disappointing this season, and I’m starting to think the Canucks organization might turn on head coach Rick Tocchet. He’s been a good coach and well-respected around the league. However, the Canucks have had drama this season with J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson that perhaps held them back from reaching peak form. If the Canucks miss the postseason, which looks possible, I see Tocchet getting the boot.

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
1. Andrew Brunette, Nashville Predators
Tenure on Team: 2 seasons

Record: 52-39-7

Nashville hired Andrew Brunette in May of 2023. This season, he was given one of the most stacked rosters in the league. Expectations were high for the Predators, with most experts predicting Nashville as a Stanley Cup contender. Unfortunately for Brunette, Nashville has been a train wreck, sitting two spots from dead last in the league.

Have all the intel you need? Free actionable info is one click away! Sign up for our daily newsletter, SportsGrid Daily.

2025 NHL Coaching Hot Seat: Top 5 Coaches Skating on Thin Ice

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