With the first quarter of the 2017-18 NHL season almost in the books, there are a number of head coaches around the league that are on the hot seat. Whether it’s a lack of production or a simple failure to meet expectations, these coaches risk losing their jobs if their teams aren’t able to turn things around in the very near future. Here is a look at four NHL head coaches on the hot seat right now.
Todd McLellan, Edmonton Oilers
Expectations were extremely high in Edmonton after last year’s playoff run. However, the Oilers have struggled out of the gate with a 8-13-2 record through 22 games. Connor McDavid has held his own among the league’s leading scorers with 28 points but he has been forced to carry too much of the load on his own thanks to a lack of production from his teammates. Despite McDavid’s numbers Edmonton ranks 25th in the NHL with an average of 2.7 goals per game. The Oilers haven’t been any better defensively as they rank 26th in the league with an average of 3.3 goals allowed per game. The clock is ticking for Edmonton to turn things around as pressure from an impatient fan base continues to build. McLellan has done an excellent job with a young Oilers team over the past couple of years. None of that will matter if Edmonton doesn’t start winning games. They are just 4-5-1 in their last 10 games.
Bill Peters, Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes haven’t made the playoffs since 2009. With a roster that appears capable of ending that postseason drought on paper, the time is now for Carolina to start winning games. The Hurricanes have just nine wins through their first 20 games and are once again outside of a playoff seed. Carolina ranks in the bottom-half of the league in goals per game and their 27th-ranked power play is a big reason for their offensive struggles. Teuvo Teravainen and Sebastian Aho have produced early on but veterans like Jordan Staal, Justin Williams and Jeff Skinner have underachieved. The Hurricanes have too much talent to spend the entire year on the outside looking in to the Eastern Conference playoff picture. It could cost Peters his job if Carolina isn’t able to turn things around soon.
Jeff Blashill, Detroit Red Wings
Blashill was given a significant leash when he was handed the head coaching gig in Detroit a couple of years ago. His leash has significantly shortened with a team that is expected to contend for a playoff spot this season. The Red Wings are no longer a franchise in transition as the time is now for Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou to step up and produce to their potential. Detroit has been a .500 club so far this season but they will need to find a way to produce more scoring at five-on-five. The Red Wings rank in the top-10 in both power play and penalty kill percentage. However, Detroit ranks just 16th in the NHL with an average of 2.9 goals per game. The Red Wings have one of the most expensive rosters in the NHL so they will need to start winning games in order for Blashill to keep his job beyond this season.
Pete DeBoer, San Jose Sharks
DeBoer helped the Sharks reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2016. However, San Jose underachieved a year ago and they have been a relatively average team throughout the first half of the 2017-18 season. The Sharks actually lead the NHL with an average of 2.2 goals allowed per game. However, they also are among the league’s worst teams when it comes to scoring with an average of 2.5 goals per game. Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns have really struggled with nine and eight points respectively this season. San Jose was expected to be a Stanley Cup contender but that won’t be the case unless the best players on this team step up. DeBoer will be expected to turn things around as the season moves forward. If the Sharks don’t start winning games then it could end up costing DeBoer his job.
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