NHL: Coaches hot seat

The NHL season is underway and there are head coaches throughout the league that should be on the hot seat already.

Andre Tourigny, Utah Hockey Club

Tourigny was hired by Arizona back in 2021 and is still the bench boss after signing a three-year contract extension in 2023.

In three seasons with the Coyotes, Tourigny went 89-131-26 and never came close to sniffing the playoffs. With finishes of eighth, seventh and seventh in the division in those three seasons, it's kind of surprising Tourigny is still around.

Granted his rosters were young and there weren't any expectations to make the playoffs, the Yotes were right in the thick of things into January last season, then lost 14 in a row.

Maybe there will be some magic this season in Salt Lake City and Tourigny can find a way to cool his seat off by finally making the playoffs with a talented, young roster.

Derek Lalonde, Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings just missed out on the postseason a year ago in Lalonde’s second year behind the bench.

Even though that is a good improvement from year one to year two, Detroit has missed the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons and has not won a playoff series since 2013.

The patience for GM Steve Yzerman is also growing old as the “Yzerplan” is now in year five without a postseason appearance. This feels like the longest rebuild ever.

After coming so close last year, it is finally time to reach the playoffs for the Red Wings. Lalonde’s three-year contract comes to an end after this season so if Detroit plays poorly to start the year, watch for his firing.

Mike Sullivan, Pittsburgh Penguins

Mike Sullivan has been the Penguins head coach since taking over midway through the 2015-16 campaign. He took an underperforming Penguins team all the way to a Stanley Cup victory and did it again the following year.

The Penguins have failed to make it past the first round every year since 2018 and completely missed the playoffs the last two years.

Obviously, the best player in the world Sidney Crosby is still on the team and the Pens won't tear it down and rebuild until he's gone but it might be time to start thinking about it.

Sullivan has also shown a lack of changing things up when they are not working. The power play has been abysmal since the Stanley Cup days. The team was 15% on the power play last season and Sully would just throw the first unit out there every time and expect a different result.

Another slow start to the season and missing the playoffs once more could very well show Sullivan the door out of town but whatever happens, it has been a great run. One of the best coaches the Pens have had and won two cups along with it.

I think Pens fans are thankful for what Sullivan has done by bringing the Penguins to glory twice, but it might be time for a new voice to come in unless somehow something changes this season.

Austin Moran is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email acm6506@psu.edu