Hot Seat Fifteen
March 23rd, 2008 by Jason ChenBruce Garrioch at the Toronto Sun reports that at least 15 head coaches’ jobs could be in jeopardy this summer if their respective teams don’t advance or make the playoffs.
Ted Nolan, NYI - He’s reported feud with DiPietro might punch his ticket out, but he’s also done a good job with a patchwork Islanders squad that lost all their leading scorers from last season over the summer. He’ll stay.
Tom Renney, NYR - When Jagr underperforms, the coach is always to blame. The Rangers are still in the thick of things despite having poor seasons from Drury and Gomez, and for that Renney will be rewarded with another year behind the bench.
John Stevens, Phi - One of my bets to be replaced. His contract expires this year and the Flyers have underachieved all year. They have a wealth of talent but nothing to show for it.
Michel Therrien, Pit - He’s gonna stay. I don’t even know why his name’s been mentioned, as the Pens are in a fight for the division title and Therrien has been behind the bench as Malkin and Crosby mature.
Paul Maurice, Tor - As long as there’s a coach in Toronto, there’s always rumours that he’s going to be replaced. He’ll get another shot next year with a stable ownership.
Peter Laviolette, Car - Again, I don’t know why Garrrioch mentioned him. Sure, they missed the playoffs after their Cup win, but they’ve been playing very good hockey.
Jacques Martin, Fla - Another of my bets to be replaced, either as GM or coach. Martin will miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season and his Luongo-Bertuzzi trade has to go down as one of the worst in history.
John Tortorella, TB - He’ll get another shot without Richards in his lineup and a starting goalie in Smith. He’s actually matured a lot as a coach over the years and I think he deserves another shot, given the lack of depth Feaster gives him.
Denis Savard, Chi - I don’t see any reason to fire him. The Blackhawks have been nice surprises this year and will have an even more competitive team as the youngsters get better.
Barry Trotz, Nsh - The only Nashville coach in history, and one of the best in the league. The guy’s done an awesome job this year despite missing Timonen, Hartnell, Sullivan, and Vokoun. Poile has said he’d like to see him back.
Andy Murray, StL - He’s done a good job despite the lack of quality players in his lineup. His job is safe.
Joel Quenneville, Col - He’ll have another shot next year with a better Jose Theodore if he re-signs. He’s a good coach, just unfortunately stuck in the toughest division.
Dave Tippett, Dal - Just because he has Richards doesn’t mean he has to go far to keep his job. Dallas is one of the most disciplined teams in the league and have had success despite not having a lot of talent in their forward corps. They’re hoping Modano will retire soon to give them some money to sign a few UFAs.
Marc Crawford, LA - As much as the Kings management has done a terrible job this year, and as much as I think Crawford is overrated, he’ll be back next year. The Kings should be having a full-on youth movement right now but instead are wasting money on guys like Handzus, Calder, and Nagy.
Ron Wilson, SJ - One of my bets to lose his job if the Sharks don’t at least reach the Conference finals. The Sharks have been plagued by playoff disappointment and have made them stagnant over the years.
Garrioch forgot to mention Don Waddell, who I think will lose either his GM or coach title, or both.
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3 Responses to “Hot Seat Fifteen”
By Steve on Mar 24, 2008
Martin wasn’t GM of the Panthers when they traded Luongo for Bertuzzi, Mike Keenan was. He left soon after. Martin orchestrated the Bertuzzi for Shawn Matthias trade on Feb 27, 2007, which by most counts was a complete fleecing of the Detroit Red Wings, who lost Bertuzzi after his inconsequential appearance in Red and White.
Martin also signed Tomas Vokoun, and has kept Olli Jokinen in the fold while developing Nathan Horton into a decent hockey player. I see no reason to assume he’s on his way out of Florida.
Paul Maurice is going to get canned in Toronto when a new GM is brought in. GM’s tend to bring in their own people, and keeping Maurice makes no sense from that perspective.
Andy Murray might get canned in St. Louis because of their drop off in play during the 2nd half of the season. They brought back Keith Tkachuk, brought in Paul Kariya, and the team is still mired near the bottom of the standings. I’m not so sure he’s done great things with no talent as you suggest.
I don’t understand your comments around the Sharks being stagnant. They’re 2nd in the NHL, and they’ve made moves to improve the team. Ron Wilson has had playoff success to varying degrees in the past with Washington and San Jose… I don’t think he’s leaving if Doug Wilson stays put as GM.
How have Scott Gomez and Chris Drury had bad seasons with the Rangers? Gomez is leading the Rangers with 67 points, and Drury is 3rd with 51 points. Yes they’ve disappointed but not as much as Jagr and Straka. Jagr is on course for his first season with less than 30 goals since his rookie year with the Penguins. That isn’t Scott Gomez and Chris Drury’s fault.
By Jason C on Mar 24, 2008
Steve,
My mistake, yes it was Keenan who made the deal. Shawn Matthias exploded onto GMs radars with a solid tournament with Team Canada and I don’t think even Martin knew he was going to be this good. The fact of the matter is, Martin hasn’t always been popular with his players, and he will miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season, despite being in the weakest division in hockey.
Asides from perhaps Erik Johnson, there is not real bona fide talent on the Blues. Kariya is not the player he once was and has shot the puck less and less, and can no longer be counted to shoulder the offensive load. Tkachuk is also nearing the end of his career and his 53 points this year are a nice surprise. He too can no longer shoulder the offensive load. Instead they’re counting on the Stempniaks and the Boyes to generate offense, neither whom are a Toews or Kane calibre player. Legace is old and there is no heir apparent yet. Their play has dived off but they’re still a hard working team and I think Murray has done a good job with what he’s been given to work with.
Ron Wilson has been rumoured to be on the hot seat because despite the Sharks being perennial Cup contenders every year, they’ve been bounced both years in the second round since the lockout. They have a very talented and good team but they don’t have anything to show for it. In 7 appearances by Wilson’s teams, only 5 have made it to the Conference Finals or further. Crawford in Vancouver was stuck in a similar situation. There have also been rumours that both Wilsons could be gone if they don’t at least reach the Conference finals this year.
Gomez will not hit the 80-point plateau this year and Drury will not net 30 goals. Jagr, as you said, will not hit net 30 either. This is as much Jagr’s fault as Drury and Gomez’s. The Rangers spent roughly a combined $14m to the two pivots, and neither of them have lived up to expectations. The Rangers’ 198 GF are among the worst in the East.