Top 5 NHLers To Be Out Of A Job Next Season?

Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

With the recent firing of general manager Mike Gillis in Vancouver and coach Barry Trotz in Nashville we thought it might be a good time to see if any other GM’s or coaches might be let go this summer.  This is our top 5 list.

1.  Randy Carlyle in Toronto.  The Maple Leafs shot themselves in the foot the final month of the season and knocked themselves out of the playoffs all on their own.  Realistically they weren’t playing great hockey all year but they were winning early on the strength of their goal scoring and goaltending winning them a lot of games but it finally caught up with them at the end of the season.  This was the team that came within 10 minutes and a 4-1 lead late in the third period of game seven of the first round series against the Boston Bruins, a game which they lost in overtime and then they had to watch the Bruins go to the cup final.  Brendan Shanahan coming in as president could mean some changes at coach and at GM.
2. Dave Nonis GM in Toronto.  Nonis could also be on the block because president Shanahan might want some new blood in management but that’s up in the air and Shanahan has not stated publicly that’s what he’s going to do.
3. John Tortorella in Vancouver.  With the firing of GM Mike Gillis, and the subsequent hiring of president Trevor Linden Tortorella could be next as new president Linden might also make a change in coaching or hire a new GM and let that GM hire his own coach.  It’s up in the air and might not be in the works until after the NHL playoffs.
4. Dan Bylsma in Pittsburgh.  Some might wonder how Bylsma can get fired with the season they had and all with the injuries they’ve had, but when you have the best player in the game and you get knocked out of the playoffs in the first round again it might be Bylsma’s last year behind the bench.  It’s a possibility and not fair but winning is everything in the NHL.  If the Penguins make it to the conference final his job should be safe.
5. Kirk Muller in Carolina.  Again injuries have hurt the Carolina Hurricanes especially to their top goaltender Cam Ward.  But signing Eric Staal’s brother Jordan Staal and the changes they made there has not had a big impact so far.  Jeff Skinner struggling hasn’t helped either so they may give it one more year or make the change this year wer’e not sure, but there hasn’t been any word out of Carolina that Muller is in danger of losing his job as of his statement 3 days ago.

There could be some surprises in there or some people we aren’t talking about, but those are the few that come to mind right away when you see the changes in their organizations and the team’s record this season.  Only time will tell like always, so stay tuned.

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