NHL Hot Seat: NHL Coaches on the Hot Seat in 2024-25

The 2024-25 NHL season is officially here. This campaign has the potential to be another very entertaining year, as several teams around the league made big changes to their rosters. 

While the new season offers a clean slate, there are some coaches to watch incredibly closely during the start of the year. Because of this, let’s discuss four coaches who are hot-seat candidates heading into the new season. 

Jim Montgomery – Bruins 

The Bruins have had an ugly start to the season. They currently have an 8-7-2 record, and the primary reasons for it have been their poor offense and lack of discipline. With the Bruins having high expectations, this kind of start is unacceptable, and Jim Montgomery’s seat is getting warmer because of it. 

While Montgomery is not the only one to blame for the Bruins’ poor start, it is certainly fair to wonder about his job security. He has created chatter as a hot-seat candidate before, and this will only continue to be the case if the Bruins keep struggling. 

Potential Replacement: Gerard Gallant could be a coach who grabs the Bruins’ attention. He has plenty of experience coaching teams with high expectations and won the Jack Adams Award back in 2018. 

Mike Sullivan – Penguins

Things are terrible with the Penguins right now, and Mike Sullivan’s seat is undoubtedly getting hotter. The Penguins currently have a 6-9-2 record, and they are not showing any signs of improvement. In fact, things have only been getting worse.

The Penguins notably allowed six first-period goals against the Stars in their last game. They also have won only three out of their last 10 games. Thus, Sullivan is a coach to watch incredibly closely from here.

Sometimes, teams need a new voice in the room, and the Penguins appear to be overdue at this point. 

Potential Replacement: Jay Woodcroft is one coach the Penguins should watch closely. While his time with the Oilers ended poorly, he had plenty of success coaching superstars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. As a result, he could do the same with the Penguins’ top guns.

Derek Lalonde – Red Wings 

Things have not been good with the Red Wings so far this season. They have a 6-7-1 record and are currently seventh in the Atlantic Division. Due to their bad start, Derek Lalonde is once again a prime hot-seat candidate. 

Lalonde’s job security was questioned big time this offseason after the Red Wings’ poor finish to the 2023-24 campaign. While they elected to keep him around, it is fair to wonder how much longer of a leash he will have from here. If Detroit does not turn things around, a big change behind the bench could be coming. 

Potential Replacement: Dave Hakstol is a coach to watch if the Red Wings want to make a change behind the bench. He has plenty of experience and could help the Red Wings get back on the right track because of it. 

Andrew Brunette – Predators 

The Predators had a massive summer, bringing in Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei. However, even after making some big-time moves, they have started their season off with a 5-9-2 record. With this, head coach Andrew Brunette’s seat is getting hotter. 

The Predators are expected to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference this season, but they have been far from it. If they continue to struggle early on, it would not be particularly surprising if we saw the Predators make a change behind the bench.

Potential Replacement: Todd McLellan could be an interesting coach for Nashville to bring in. While his time with the Kings ended in a poor fashion, he has had a good amount of success in the NHL and would be a good coach for Nashville to have.