Four NHL Coaches Who Could Be Job Hunting This Summer

Lindy Ruff (James Guillory-Imagn Images)

The NHL’s coaching carousel is spinning faster than ever, with multiple teams changing coaches – including the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues – during the current regular season. But the way things are shaping up, there are going to be more changes we should expect to see once this season is over.

With that in mind, here are four coaches likely to part ways with their team this summer. In alphabetical order:

1. Andrew Brunette, Nashville Predators

The Predators have been one of the biggest disappointments this season, posting a 25-35-8 record that puts them in 14th place in the Western Conference. Consequently, the spotlight is squarely on Brunette, who has been on the job in Nashville since May of 2023. That may not sound like a long time for a coach to leave their mark, but if Preds GM Barry Trotz isn’t going to make material changes to his team’s roster, the thing he can change is his coach.

It’s certainly not solely Brunette’s fault that Nashville is where they are in the standings. However, the Predators may opt for a new voice behind the bench. And that would leave Brunette looking for work after this season concludes.

2. Lindy Ruff, Buffalo Sabres

Many eyebrows were raised when greybeard veteran Ruff was hired for his second tour of coaching duty in Buffalo last April. But the Sabres have been unable to improve in Ruff’s latest tenure, generating the Eastern Conference’s worst record at 27-35-6. The 65-year-old Ruff may see his tenure come to an end this coming off-season – especially if the Sabres dismiss GM Kevyn Adams at season’s end. A new GM will want their own coach in place, so Buffalo could be looking for a new bench boss very soon.

Ruff’s near-lifelong connection to the Sabres hasn’t translated into many wins this year, and in the zero-sum business of NHL coaching, that’s all that really matters. Buffalo has to chart a different course as soon as possible, and that’s why we believe Ruff will be sent packing in favor of a younger coach with a different vision for this constantly-changing Sabres roster.

3. Joe Sacco, Boston Bruins

The Bruins were accustomed to performing well in recent years, which is why their sub-par performance this season is such a downer for Boston fans. Jim Montgomery was fired in mid-November, and Sacco was inserted as an interim replacement for him. But that hasn’t done much good at all, and we don’t see Sacco staying on the job once this year comes to an end.

Who will replace Sacco? Well, we see another coach currently employed by another Eastern Conference team – Penguins bench boss Mike Sullivan, who we’ll discuss below – being the choice in Beantown as the Bruins attempt to retool on the fly. Hiring Sullivan for his second stint as Boston’s coach would give the Bs the structure and discipline they’re in dire need of. Sometimes a return to a familiar face makes sense for a team, and that’s where we think the Bruins will be at with Sullivan if and when he becomes a coaching free agent.

4. Mike Sullivan, Pittsburgh Penguins

Sullivan has been Pittsburgh’s coach since December 2015, and he’s led them to two Stanley Cup championships, giving him a lot of leeway in the nine years he’s been on the job with the Penguins. But every coach eventually reaches his "best before" date, and considering that Sullivan’s Pens have failed to make the playoffs for this season and the previous two seasons, the Penguins need a change behind the bench.

Only Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper – another multi-time Cup winner – has more current tenure than Sullivan, and we expect Sullivan would quickly be picked up by another team once the Penguins let him go. But the Penguins need a different voice now, and it’s time for both Sullivan and the Pens to mutually agree to part ways. All good things eventually come to an end, and it’s high time for the Penguins to move on from Sullivan.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Topics

High school sports: Multiple GWOC schools looking for new basketball coaches

Mar. 20—As March winds down, the coaching carousel continues to spin at local high schools. In boys basketball, three jobs are open in the Greater Western Ohio Conference. At Fairmont, alumnus ...
Yahoo Sports - 3d
McNeese St. coach Will Wade confirms he's been in contact with N.C. State about its coaching job

McNeese State coach Will Wade knows his name is in the mix during the college basketball coaching carousel. Asked Wednesday if he or his agent had been in contact with N.C. State about its ...
Yahoo Sports - 4d
Todd McLellan sounds alarm on Detroit Red Wings: 'Not sure we want to do' hard work

With the Detroit Red Wings falling further out of the Eastern Conference playoff race, head coach Todd McLellan questioned the team's work ethic.
Yahoo Sports - 21h
Coaches believe Latta teams will be in the hunt this spring

LATTA — Latta baseball coach Dillon Atkinson and Latta softball coach Jeremy Bates have similar outlooks about their teams this spring. Both coaches feel like their teams are more than capable of ...
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15
Detroit Red Wings struggling at 'big boy hockey' time of year? 'Tough luck,' says coach

Ben Chiarot said the Detroit Red Wings need to play 'big boy hockey' to have a chance at playoffs
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Viktor Hovland changes swing coaches — again!

The coaching carousel for Viktor Hovland is active again.
Yahoo Sports - 4d
NHL launches a front office iPad app to modernize roster, contract and salary cap info for teams

The development comes eight years since the NHL put iPads in coaches’ and players’ hands on benches during games. The hope is it will be used just as frequently to figure out trades, free agent ...
Yahoo Sports - 3d
NHL general managers zero in on goaltender interference and other coach's challenges

Video review, particularly coach’s challenges for goaltender interference, took center stage Monday at the NHL general managers' annual spring meeting. GMs were shown roughly 70 clips of goals ...
Yahoo Sports - 6d
Byron Leftwich joins University of Colorado coaching staff

Byron Leftwich was a successful offensive coordinator for four seasons in Tampa, which provided him with opportunities to interview for multiple head coaching jobs.
Yahoo Sports - 4d

Four NHL Coaches Who Could Be Job Hunting This Summer

1. Andrew Brunette, Nashville Predators

2. Lindy Ruff, Buffalo Sabres

3. Joe Sacco, Boston Bruins

4. Mike Sullivan, Pittsburgh Penguins

Topics

Related

High school sports: Multiple GWOC schools looking for new basketball coaches

McNeese St. coach Will Wade confirms he's been in contact with N.C. State about its coaching job

Todd McLellan sounds alarm on Detroit Red Wings: 'Not sure we want to do' hard work

Coaches believe Latta teams will be in the hunt this spring

Detroit Red Wings struggling at 'big boy hockey' time of year? 'Tough luck,' says coach

Viktor Hovland changes swing coaches — again!

NHL launches a front office iPad app to modernize roster, contract and salary cap info for teams

NHL general managers zero in on goaltender interference and other coach's challenges

Byron Leftwich joins University of Colorado coaching staff

More from Yahoo Sports

Canucks Gameday #71: Two Desperate Teams Battle It Out In New Jersey

A weekend full of sport, but the highlight was a unicorn attacking Martin Brundle

Hallgrimsson chat pays off for match-winner Idah

'Believing is one thing, doing is another' - McMahon

'You want to play against the best' - Spencer on Sweden test

More in Sports

Canucks Gameday #71: Two Desperate Teams Battle It Out In New Jersey

A weekend full of sport, but the highlight was a unicorn attacking Martin Brundle

Hallgrimsson chat pays off for match-winner Idah

'Believing is one thing, doing is another' - McMahon

'You want to play against the best' - Spencer on Sweden test