Insider Addresses Futures of 4 NHL Coaches on the Hot Seat

Thursday, November 20, 2025 , , ,

Craig Berube, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach
It was exactly one year ago that the Boston Bruins got the jump on the coaching change market when they fired Jim Montgomery. So who can we expect to be the first coach fired this season? There are a number of struggling teams that are far underperforming their expectations. 

Insider David Pagnotta focused on four names, three of them in Canadian markets, when assessing the Head Coach Hot Seat futures. For one, Toronto Maple Leafs bench boss Craig Berube shouldn't be worried about his job, Pagnotta said on Daily Faceoff's DFO Rundown.

"I'm not anticipating any coaching change in Toronto," said The Fourth Period insider. Leafs' GM Brad Treliving did, in fact, give Berube a vote of confidence at his media conference this week (although we all know what that often means). 

The Leafs' struggles this year have been well-documented, but they're not the only Canadian team that's underperforming. 

Canadian teams struggling; are coaches in trouble?

"I know a lot of people in Alberta are going nuts... and losing their minds," said Pagnotta, referring to the Edmonton Oilers' and Calgary Flames' slow starts. But he also doesn't see either of those teams making a change behind the bench. 

Kris Knoblauch was just signed to a three-year extension last month, so the chances of a move there are slim and none. And at the same time, in Calgary, the Flames extended Ryan Huska for another two years. So again, unlikely that a change will happen there either, despite their brutal start to the season. 

"Maybe it's the roster construction that is not up to snuff for some of these teams?" Pagnotta asked rhetorically.

Then he went on to suggest one potential coach whose job really could be in jeopardy. 

Andrew Brunette's job in jeopardy in Nashville

"Nashville is still the one that I'm wondering about. (Head coach Andrew Brunette) has got only more year on his contract, and then it's a team option. I think with the changes we're expecting to see in Nashville roster-wise, it wouldn't surprise me if they eventually make a change behind the bench."

The Predators are having their second straight dreadful season after their big Summer of '24 spending spree in free agency. At 6-10-4, they're once again bringing up the rear in the Central Division, and some of those free agent splashes like Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault are prime trade candidates.

We've even heard, and Pagnotta suggested as well, that GM Barry Trotz could step behind the bench to replace Brunette if he's let go. 

"If Nashville really starts to flounder here, you can’t trade everybody, and some of those moves are going to be difficult. You’ve got to show your team and your fan base that you’re at least doing something. That might be more of a reasoning or a casualty-of-war scenario than anything right now."

Photo; © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

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