Five NHL Coaches In Danger Of Getting Pink Slips At Season’s End

Craig Berube will NOT be among those coaches sweating a pink slip at the end of the season. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

It is the NHL’s version of the NFL’s “Black Monday”, the day where failing franchises axe their figureheads and begin the task of looking for a new coach.

There were 4 coaches let go during the season – Philadelphia’s Peter Laviolette, Florida’s Kevin Dineen, Buffalo’s Ron Rolston and Winnipeg’s Claude Noel.  Their replacements have also hady varying degrees of success, led by Craig Berube of the Flyers who has his team as a legitimate contender to make some noise in the Eastern Conference after starting 0-3-0 and struggling early on in his tenure.

Coaches are hired to get fired, and without a doubt there will be a handful re-entering the game of coaching roulette once the season comes to an end.

Here is a list of 5 NHL coaches that could be sweating over the next few weeks as they await their fate.

Randy Carlyle, Toronto

Mar 25, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs head coach

looks on from the bench against the St. Louis Blues at Air Canada Centre. The Blues beat the Maple Leafs 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

An epic 8 game losing streak turned the Leafs from playoff probable to likely to be on the outside looking in come April 15.  This was on the heels of the Game 7 collapse in last season’s playoffs and the buzzards are circling.

Paul MacLean, Ottawa

Mar 22, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Ottawa Senators head coach

watches his team take on the Dallas Stars during the third period at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeated the Senators 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

From coach of the year winner to a man who might be gone already if he wasn’t about to enter a 3 year contract extension signed last year, and if he wasn’t the 4th coach of Bryan Murray’s management tenure. A last minute playoff run might save his job, but if he didn’t have the extension already in his pocket he might be sweating a little.

Dallas Eakins, Edmonton

Mar 16, 2014; Raleigh, NC, USA; Edmonton Oilers coach

looks on against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Wasn’t this supposed to be the year the Oilers made strides?  The “next big thing” behind the bench from his AHL days in Toronto has appeared overwhelmed at times and has a deer in the headlights look.  He is the Oilers’ 4th coach in 5 years and Eakins can’t play defense any more. The Oilers are still at the bottom of the Western Conference.

Dan Bylsma, Pittsburgh

Feb 3, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins head coach

(right) reacts to a play against the Ottawa Senators during the third period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

While the axe won’t fall on Bylsma at the end of the regular season, it is almost Stanley Cup Final or bust for the Penguins and if they fail to reach that level Bylsma could feel the wrath.  He probably has as much pressure as any coach to get his star-studded (but injury riddled) club back to the promised land.