Power rankings: Hockey's tenuous job …
Nine teams started the season with a new head coach – nearly one-third of the league. Since then, five have made a change behind the bench, including two (Tampa Bay and Ottawa) that began with a new coach, no less.
There are a number of others rumored to be walking the plank. The bottom line is winning, but expectations can expedite a move. This week's power rankings – which appear each Tuesday – look at where each coach sits in terms of perceived job security with his team.
1.New Jersey Devils (37-17-3, Previous: 6) – There are rumors Brent Sutter may want to return to the family farm in Alberta after the season. Of course, those rumors started with someone outside the Sutter camp. You never know what's on Lou Lamoriello's mind. Obviously, the Devils have exceeded expectations during Martin Brodeur's injury. But what will be the expectations when he returns?
2.Detroit Red Wings (37-12-8, Previous: 2) – Mike Babcock would appear golden here, but behind the scenes there has been some disagreement over personnel and grumbling over how ice time has been doled out to some veterans. It's water under the bridge for now.
3.San Jose Sharks (37-8-9, Previous: 3) – With the way Todd McLellan has successfully instituted a system that general manager Doug Wilson favored all along – up tempo with defensemen activated into the attack – he's got a free ride for at least two seasons.
4.Washington Capitals (36-16-5, Previous: 4) – Bruce Boudreau came in and saved Washington's season last year and has never looked back. And as long as he has the players' full attention everything will be hunky dory.
5.Chicago Blackhawks (31-15-8, Previous: 5) – Joel Quenneville is already the second Blackhawks coach of the season. The knock is he can't get deep in the postseason. Chicago will be satisfied to get there first, but an early exit will raise questions again.
6.Boston Bruins (39-10-8, Previous: 1) – Because his team has performed so well, slipping into the playoffs last year when it wasn't expected and rising to the top of the conference this season, Claude Julien now becomes more susceptible when expectations are not met.
7.Philadelphia Flyers (30-16-9, Previous: 7) – John Stevens was at the forefront of those who got an opportunity to coach in the NHL after toiling with success in the minors, and the shine looked to be off a bit early on when the Flyers struggled out of the gate. But Philly has righted itself and, fair or not, Stevens escapes the scrutiny – for now.
8.Calgary Flames (33-18-5, Previous: 10) – Some might wonder how Mike Keenan has lasted this long with the Flames. He has them playing very well, but it also seems Iron Mike is less iron-fisted with this group, and that goes a long way toward job security at times. Don't forget, he has a long and loyal relationship with the Sutter family and Darryl Sutter is the GM.
9.Dallas Stars (28-21-7, Previous: 8) – Maybe no one can thank Sean Avery in Big D more than Dave Tippett, who certainly didn't deserve to get fired, but was probably walking the plank until the organization could focus all of its turmoil and animosity toward the troubled winger and his inappropriate comments. Tippett knows his stuff and gets results. In fact, it's been a long time since the Stars have been overmatched behind the bench.
10.Edmonton Oilers (29-23-4, Previous: 15) – Rumors of the popular Craig MacTavish's demise started earlier in the season when the Oilers were scuffling. It's not a Stanley Cup roster, so whose fault is it here really? MacT is a very good coach, an Oiler through and through. But he's been there awhile now, and we all know what that usually means.
11.Buffalo Sabres (29-22-6, Previous: 9) – Lindy Ruff just keeps trucking along, as much a part of the Sabres' hockey fabric as anyone in the organization. He is the longest tenured coach in the league, so it's easy to suggest his time is drawing to a close. But he's very well liked and very well respected in Buffalo.
12.Anaheim Ducks (28-25-5, Previous: 11) – No one has doubted the work of Randy Carlyle, a Stanley Cup winner his second year in the league. But this wraps up Year 4 behind the Ducks' bench and he was not hired by the current general manager. Does that leave Carlyle susceptible?
13.Vancouver Canucks (27-21-8, Previous: 19) – Alain Vigneault has no chance to survive if the Canucks miss the playoffs, and probably is vulnerable even if they qualify. Vigneault was not hired by the current agent-turned-GM Mike Gillis, who will surely want to put his man behind the bench.
14.Florida Panthers (28-20-8, Previous: 20) – Before it's all over rookie coach Peter DeBoer just might be the Jack Adams winner if he's the one to guide the Panthers back into the playoffs. This will particularly gall the Ottawa Senators, who wanted DeBoer last offseason, but hired another coach they've already fired.
15.Montreal Canadiens (30-21-6, Previous: 12) – Everyone loves a winner, but it doesn't take long for daggers to get thrown when things go south in Montreal. They've been going south recently and there's no way Guy Carbonneau would survive if the Canadiens folded right out of the playoff picture. He also might not survive if the Habs experience an early-round ouster.
16.Minnesota Wild (28-24-3, Previous: 13) – This is probably more Jacques Lemaire's call than anyone else's in St. Paul. The team basically begged for his return last offseason, and he signed a three-year extension.
17.Carolina Hurricanes (28-24-5, Previous: 14) – Paul Maurice is the Hurricanes' second coach of the season, in his second go with the franchise. Where would a non-playoff finish leave him? Well, a good chance he could land back in the unemployment line.
18.Columbus Blue Jackets (28-23-6, Previous: 21) – Ken Hitchcock has nothing to worry about, an odd statement considering the Blue Jackets could still remain the only team to never appear in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Hitchcock is an excellent coach who will turn a team into a winner if players buy into his defense-first, two-way system.
19.Pittsburgh Penguins (27-25-6, Previous: 16) – Good luck, Dan Bylsma. There were whispers even early last season that Therrien was never the right coach for Pittsburgh's young talent. We'll find out shortly if Bylsma is any better of a fit.
20.New York Rangers (30-22-6, Previous: 17) – The Rangers have a decision to make. Tom Renney didn't forget how to coach overnight. The team isn't having success on the ice. Is a new coach going to make the difference? The fans are calling for his job, and the media has weighed in, too.
21.Ottawa Senators (22-25-8, Previous: 28) – The Sens decided Craig Hartsburg was the wrong decision, so the former NHL defenseman was gone before his first year was complete. Now it's Cory Clouston, promoted from the minors. And when GM Bryan Murray is fired after Ottawa fails to reach the postseason it will be someone else next fall.
22.St. Louis Blues (24-25-7, Previous: 22) – It's hard to analyze just about anything with the Blues this season because of their number of injuries. Early on there were rumblings of change, but Andy Murray and his intense approach has survived. Would it be a surprise if a change is made before next season? No, not in the least.
23.Nashville Predators (27-27-3, Previous: 23) – Barry Trotz is the only head coach the franchise has known, unusual considering GMs are rarely patient enough to allow one coach to guide a team through expansion until contention. Now that it looks as if the Preds will miss the postseason for the first time in five years, though, you have to wonder.
24.Los Angeles Kings (24-22-9, Previous: 18) – Terry Murray was brought aboard when it took GM Dean Lombardi too long last summer to decide Marc Crawford was the wrong man to coach a young team. The brutal truth is Murray won't be the right coach if and when the Kings are contenders. He's just a Band-Aid.
25.Atlanta Thrashers (21-32-5, Previous: 30) – John Anderson waited all those years for this chance, and it may last only as long as it takes for the Thrashers to decide they need to go in a different direction – and we mean with regards to the person who fills the roster.
26.Tampa Bay Lightning (19-26-11, Previous: 26) – The Lightning have played marginally better under Rick Tocchet as opposed to the disastrous decision to put Barry Melrose back behind an NHL bench after so many years away from it. Still, it's about the players and not the coaching here.
27.Phoenix Coyotes (25-28-5, Previous: 25) – There's no doubt Wayne Gretzky has learned a ton about coaching, but are the Coyotes and The Great One really the best fit? A playoff appearance probably renders the topic moot, but if Phoenix misses again is it time for Gretzky to step aside? Probably.
28.Colorado Avalanche (26-30-1, Previous: 24) – Tony Granato was gracious enough to step out of the way when Avs management saw a coach they wanted more, but you have to wonder if Granato, one of the truly good guys in the sport, is back for only a one-year tenure.
29.Toronto Maple Leafs (21-25-10, Previous: 27) – The honeymoon for Ron Wilson continues even though the Maple Leafs will miss the postseason for a fourth straight spring for the first time (only the first time under Wilson). That sentiment will change next season if fortunes don't improve, regardless of Wilson's close friendship with GM Brian Burke.
30.New York Islanders (17-33-6, Previous: 29) – How good of a coach is rookie Scott Gordon? Well, we don't really know because he wasn't given an NHL-caliber roster. How long will he survive? Only until there's a change in the GM office, which will probably come sooner than later.
