Front offices are taking shape. While the Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks still need to make hires, the coaching carousel will begin to spin this week.
There is at least one official opening with the Los Angeles Kings ready to interview candidates for the job held on an interim basis by D.J. Smith.
The fates of Craig Berube, Andrew Brunette, Adam Foote and Sheldon Keefe rest in the hands of their new managers. Keefe would appear to be most safe, noting his attendance at GM Sunny Mehta’s introductory press conference in New Jersey. New GM John Chayka said he's "absolutely" open to keeping Berube, whom he called a "great coach." It's believed the Predators wish to keep Brunette but will leave that to their hire to decide for certain.
Kris Knoblauch’s future is under review internally this week in Edmonton, same for Andre Tourigny in Utah - where it is decision time with one year remaining on his contract.
And what does a fourth consecutive first-round loss mean for Jon Cooper, if anything? The smart money is on Julien BriseBois retaining Cooper.
John Tortorella took an eight-game plus playoffs run with the Vegas Golden Knights and would need an extension. Officially, Lindy Ruff also does not have a contract for next season, though that is a formality if the Jack Adams Award finalist would like to continue working.
So, that one current opening with the outside possibility for as many as … seven or eight more? That’s a coach’s life in the NHL, where the 10th-highest on the seniority list in a 32-team league was hired in 2024.
Let’s talk candidates. Top of the list for another crack, in alphabetical order:
BRUCE CASSIDY
Put simply, Cassidy will remain out of work as long as he desires. Cassidy, 60, is unquestionably considered one of the top handful of coaches in the NHL and the 2023 Stanley Cup winner can afford to be selective about his next destination.
DAVE HAKSTOL
On sober second thought, maybe coaching the Seattle Kraken to a 100-point season and the second round of the playoffs in their second season was a way bigger accomplishment than realized in the moment. Hakstol, 57, does not idly sit on the sidelines. He joined Jared Bednar’s staff and assisted on a Presidents’ Trophy-winning regular season with perhaps a larger trophy to come.
JAY WOODCROFT
No stock rose as much in the last weeks as Woodcroft, who helped the Anaheim Ducks topple his former Edmonton Oilers. Under Woodcroft, the Ducks realized one of the largest year-over-year power play improvements (up 6.8%) and scored 12 PPG in nine games against the Oilers alone. Woodcroft, 49, has the best points percentage record of any coach in NHL history with only one full coaching stint.
Elsewhere: Peter Laviolette has resurfaced again doing media, Derek Lalonde and Todd Reirden made big contributions as assistants in Toronto and Philadelphia, and Don Granato is back behind the bench coaching Team USA at the World Championship. Plus Dean Evason and Patrick Roy are now available.
Yes, coaches are usually more successful with experience under their belt.
But if you look at the successes of Cooper, Bednar, Rod Brind’Amour and Spencer Carbery, there is certainly something to the notion of finding a fresh perspective in a first-time shot caller.
First up, of course, would be Denver coach David Carle - but we have zero inclination that he is interested in making a move to the NHL now, nor is there an apparent fit on the board.
Manny Malhotra’s candidacy has been well publicized after leading the Abbotsford Canucks to a Calder Cup last spring.
Here are five other first time head coaching candidates to generate interest, listed in alphabetical order:
JEFF HALPERN
Assistant Coach, Tampa Bay Lightning
Stanley Cups? Check. Presence? Check. Intelligence? Check. Experience? Check. There isn’t much that Halpern, 50, lacks on his resume, observing Jon Cooper over the last eight (!) seasons as an assistant in Tampa Bay. The Maryland native ground out a 976-game NHL playing career, has a degree in economics from Princeton and learned from one of the best NHL coaches.
SYLVAIN LEFEBVRE
Assistant Coach, Florida Panthers
After two Stanley Cups, the en vogue move is to pillage the Panthers’ front office. Why not the bench? Sunny Mehta is GM in New Jersey now. Brett Peterson may also be on the way out as a finalist for Nashville and Vancouver GM openings. Lefebvre, 58, had a rough record as AHL head coach. But holy hell, he can coach defensemen. A number of Panthers blueliners owe Lefebvre for resurrecting their careers.
MARK LETESTU
Head Coach, AHL Colorado Eagles
It’s a matter of when, not if that Letestu will become an NHL head coach. A beloved teammate in his playing days, Letestu understands every facet of what makes an NHL team click from systems to culture. He is articulate and analytical. It’s early. Letestu, 41, is still just getting his feet wet after four years as an AHL assistant, but his 41-20-11 record in Colorado this season was a good start.
RYAN MOUGENEL
Head Coach, AHL Providence Bruins
Fresh off winning AHL Coach of the Year, it’s time Mougenel enters the chat as a top-end head coaching candidate. He’s paid his dues at every level: ECHL assistant, ECHL head coach, longtime AHL assistant, now five full seasons as AHL head coach. More importantly, the 50-year-old’s AHL record speaks for itself: 217-103-40 for a sparkling .658 points percentage.
TODD NELSON
Assistant Coach, Pittsburgh Penguins
Dan Muse will rightly receive a ton of praise for his role guiding the Penguins back to the playoffs, justly named a Jack Adams Award finalist. But there is zero doubt that Nelson played a significant role in shaping Pittsburgh’s season alongside the first-year head coach. It’s wild that Nelson hasn’t gotten another shot beyond his interim run in Edmonton way back in 2014-15. Nelson, 56, has won three AHL Calder Cups with two different teams. If you want a guy that wins an interview or press conference, hire someone else. If you want someone who wins, hire Nelson.
Under Consideration: Steve Ott, head coach AHL Springfield; Rocky Thompson, head coach AHL Bridgeport.