Eight teams in the National Hockey League are searching for new head coaches following a series of changes across the league. Veteran coaches became available, while some teams may consider candidates pursuing their first opportunity as an NHL head coach.
The coaching market became active immediately after the season concluded for many clubs. The New York Rangers reportedly are in advanced talks with Mike Sullivan, who recently parted ways with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Other teams made changes earlier. The Rangers fired Peter Laviolette after the season. The Seattle Kraken fired Dan Bylsma, and the Anaheim Ducks fired Greg Cronin. The Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, and Chicago Blackhawks also changed coaches during the season. John Tortorella was fired by the Flyers in March, while the Blackhawks fired Luke Richardson in December.
The Vancouver Canucks also have an opening after Rick Tocchet turned down a new contract offer this week. The Penguins position became vacant with Sullivan's departure.
The openings present various situations for potential hires, ranging from teams aiming for immediate contention to those in earlier stages of building. The Anaheim Ducks, for example, improved their point total significantly this past season but still finished well outside the playoffs.
The Chicago Blackhawks have young talent like Connor Bedard, but the team lacks depth and is involved in a long rebuilding phase. The Philadelphia Flyers finished last in their conference, indicating a significant effort is required to improve.
The Pittsburgh Penguins feature Sidney Crosby, who continues to perform at a high level and recently signed for two more seasons, but the team missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season and struggled in areas like five-on-five goal differential.
Beyond veteran coaches, several first-time candidates are drawing interest. David Carle, head coach at the University of Denver, reportedly withdrew from Chicago's search. Jay Pandolfo from Boston University and Steve Ott, an associate coach with the St. Louis Blues, are also potential candidates.
Marc Savard, an assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs known for power play success, and Mitch Love, an assistant with the Washington Capitals and a two-time AHL Coach of the Year, are also considered prospects for head coaching roles.
Olli Jokinen, currently coaching overseas, has expressed a desire to coach in the NHL eventually. His coaching style gained attention after a viral profanity-laced speech to his team in January.
The New York Rangers, despite missing the playoffs this past season, had a strong regular season in 2023-24 and feature goaltender Igor Shesterkin, considered one of the league's top goaltenders.
Assessing his decision to part ways with Sullivan, Pittsburgh General Manager Kyle Dubas stated, "I felt it was just time."
