Coaches on the Hot Seat: Early Pressure Points Defining the Season
Patrick Roy in New York Islanders colours, after being named head coach — TVA Nouvelles, 21 Jan 2024 (CC BY 3.0)
Written by Gina Anton
As the NHL season settles into its long winter grind, the margin for error grows thinner for several head coaches whose teams have stumbled out of the gate. While some benches are stabilizing under new leadership, others have begun to heat up very quickly. Here’s a look at which coaches are feeling the pressure, why their teams are struggling, and how the league’s newest hires have done so far.
Andrew Brunette: Nashville Predators
What was expected to be a step forward has quickly turned into a step back. Nashville spent aggressively and doubled down on a win-now direction, but the Predators’ offense has lagged, and the defensive structure hasn’t resembled Brunette’s high-tempo identity.
With expectations sky-high and the Central Division unforgiving, Brunette is staring down one of the hottest seats in the league. If Nashville doesn’t find its footing soon, management may not wait until spring to make a move on their coach.
Lindy Ruff: Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo made a nostalgic splash by bringing Ruff back behind the bench, but sentiment doesn’t translate to the standings. The Sabres continue to fight inconsistency. This means young stars have been uneven, defensive lapses are frequent, and the power play hasn't produced as advertised.
Ruff’s mandate was clear about taking a talented young core to the next level. But with another slow start threatening to push Buffalo out of playoff contention early, patience in Western New York is dwindling.
Patrick Roy: New York Islanders
Roy brought intensity to Long Island, but intensity only goes so far when wins don’t follow. The Islanders’ structure has been inconsistent. Roy’s fiery approach sparked short-term life last season, but the Isles' inability to generate offense or close out tight games has pushed the coach into an unwelcome spotlight. Unless New York finds scoring depth, Roy’s second NHL stint may hit turbulence fast.
Mike Sullivan — New York Rangers
A two-time Stanley Cup champion arriving on Broadway was one of the offseason’s biggest headlines. Sullivan inherited a roster filled with skill but prone to inconsistency. Early results have shown flashes of tighter defensive play, better transition execution, and improved detail. Sustaining that identity is the challenge.
Jeff Blashill—Chicago Blackhawks
Tasked with guiding a rebuild built around a franchise superstar, Blashill’s role is less about wins and more about development and identity. Chicago’s roster remains young and thin, but the structure has improved, and several prospects have shown a lot of potential.
The record may not reflect it yet, but Blashill’s tenure is trending in the direction management hoped for: steady, patient, and methodical.
Joel Quenneville—Anaheim Ducks
Few coaching hires generated more discussion than Quenneville’s return to an NHL bench. The Ducks, rich with young talent, have shown renewed structure under his guidance. Anaheim’s defensive detail, neutral-zone discipline, and puck-support habits have all improved.
Still, this is a long-term project. The roster is young, the Pacific Division is tough, and early gains are incremental rather than transformative. But the Ducks look more organized and competitive than they have in years. This week they face 4 games in which it will be crucial to perform highly.
Overall Themes
Across the league, a few common themes have dragged teams toward early-season turbulence, ranging from inconsistency, defensive structure issues, and goaltending instability.
The NHL is a results-driven league with fan patience shorter than ever. Coaches like Brunette, Ruff, and Roy face critical stretches that could determine their future before the season even reaches its midpoint. Meanwhile, new arrivals like Sullivan, Blashill, and Quenneville seek to turn early impressions into lasting stability. As the season tightens and the race to playoffs intensifies, the pressure on these men only gets more intense.
