NHL Coaches Who Need To Succeed To Save Their Careers

The 2018-19 NHL season is now less than two weeks away, meaning it's a good time to start forecasting what should be another great year.

One of the hot topics is which coaches are on the hot seat. Obviously, the likes of Mike Sullivan (Pittsburgh), Gerard Gallant (Vegas), and Paul Maurice (Winnipeg), are going nowhere.

Coaches overseeing rebuilds like Travis Green (Vancouver), Barry Trotz (New York Islanders), and David Quinn (New York Rangers), also have nothing to stress about. They have plenty of job security.

However, if these five head coaches don't lead their teams to promising starts, then expect them to be shown the door either during or after the 2018-19 season. Here are the five bench bosses who are under the most pressure to succeed.

5. Guy Boucher

Hard to believe that only two seasons ago, Guy Boucher led the Ottawa Senators to the 2017 Eastern Conference Final, where they fell just one goal short of reaching the Stanley Cup Finals.

Everything that could go wrong for Ottawa did go wrong in 2017-18. They were the second worst team in the NHL. Captain Erik Karlsson was traded for a disappointing return to the San Jose Sharks. Perennial 20-goal man Mike Hoffman was also traded, and owner Eugene Melnyk once again wouldn't give his front office the green light to spend money on big time players. What a shock.

It's not Boucher's fault that the Sens are being run into the ground by questionable front office decisions and an owner who seems bent on getting into a war with his own fans. But as we know, Melnyk has no problem firing coaches. Boucher is their third coach in four years, after all.

The Senators are in turmoil right now. When do coaches stuck in the situation that Boucher is in manage to escape it? He's going to have to work his magic and find a way to make this team competitive in 2018-19. Otherwise, who knows? This could be his final head coaching in the NHL.

4. Jeff Blashill

It's surprising that the Detroit Red Wings have held onto head coach Jeff Blashill this long, given that they've now missed the playoffs in back-to-back years. Let's not forget they barely got into the postseason in his first year behind the bench, too.

Blashill enters his fourth season as head coach with a mere 104-105-37 record. The Red Wings are known for being loyal to their veteran players, even if the production hasn't been up to usual standards. It seems as though they're giving Blashill that "loyal" treatment as well.

Detroit is nowhere close to contending, especially with captain Henrik Zetterberg retiring as he deals with a nagging back injury. The Red Wings have flaws all over the roster, and it's hard to see how they won't be a bottom-five team in the standings next year.

It doesn't make sense to keep a head coach whose job was to keep the playoff streak going. Detroit needs to accept that it's time for a rebuild, and that usually means finding a younger and fresher voice behind the bench.

3. Randy Carlyle

Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

Despite winning the Pacific Division title four years in a row under Bruce Boudreau, the Anaheim Ducks weren't able to reach the Stanley Cup Final in his tenure. With so many playoff letdowns under his watch, Boudreau was fired and replaced by old friend Randy Caryle, the man who led Anaheim to its only championship in 2007.

Carlyle has seen an up-and-down tenure since returning to Anaheim. They did reach the Western Conference Final in 2017, only to be put away by the Nashville Predators. The Ducks barely squeaked into the postseason last season, before the San Jose Sharks swept them with ease in the opening round.

Other teams in the Pacific are quickly catching up to a rapidly ageing Ducks team, whose core players are now in their 30s and slowing down fast. Carlyle has his work cut out for him as he tries to squeeze out one more championship run with this Anaheim team.

Unless Carlyle can get Anaheim to at least the second round of the playoffs, it's hard to see Ducks GM Bob Murray giving him another chance. The Ducks may have no choice but to fire Carlyle a second time if their playoff woes don't go away in 2018-19.

2. Bruce Boudreau

The Minnesota Wild have made the playoffs in each of the last six seasons, but they've been eliminated in the first round four times - and in each of the past three years. It's clear that Minnesota isn't on the level of other Central Division powers like the Nashville Predators or Winnipeg Jets.

Their Cup window has closed, but the Wild are hoping that Boudreau can work his magic and make something happen in 2018-19. Good luck getting another 40-goal season from Eric Staal, another 35-win season from Devan Dubnyk and All-Star production from Ryan Suter, who's recovering from a horrific ankle injury that ended his 2017-18 season.

Boudreau may be part of the 500-win club with 10 postseason berths on his resume, but expectations have grown overtime in the State of Hockey. Minnesota has been vying for a championship, not consistent first or second round exits.

The Wild probably need to win one playoff series to even consider keeping Boudreau. A non-playoff season or first round elimination, and he's probably looking for a job after the 2018-19 season.

1.Todd McLellan

In a way, it's surprising that the Oilers haven't replaced McLellan behind the bench yet. Despite having the luxury of the world's greatest hockey player, Edmonton has missed the playoffs in two of the last three seasons.

A trendy pick to win the Stanley Cup last year, McLellan simply wasn't able to lead the Oilers out of a deep hole they dug themselves into early in 2017-18. Now, McLellan can't shoulder all of the blame, but there aren't any excuses for another non-playoff year in Edmonton this time around.

Keep in mind McLellan and the San Jose Sharks underachieved in his final years as bench boss. He has a porous postseason track record, and that doesn't fit well for a team that's expected to compete for a Stanley Cup.

If the Oilers struggle out of the gate, expect a change behind the bench. Even if Edmonton makes the playoffs, McLellan has to lead them to one or two playoff series wins to keep his job beyond 2018-19.

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