The first ax swung Wednesday morning as Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin handed head coach Claude Julien his walking papers.Was it a surprise move? Somewhat. The Canadiens made big moves in the offseason and started the season like gangbusters. But in recent weeks that succe s had slowed to a crawl. After losing six of their last eight and three straight, including two to the Senators, Bergevin made the first firing of the season. To be fair, that was probably the only surprise that Julien was the first to go.A bunch of bench bo ses have been rumored to be on thin ice for a while but still have jobs despite their clubs still struggling. With Julien now on the market, there could be an influx of coaches looking for work. Last year, following the firing of Mike Babcock by the Maple Leafs, John Hynes (Devils), Pete DeBoer (Sharks), Peter Laviolette (Predators), Gerard Gallant (Golden Knights) and Bruce Boudreau (
https://www.teamyankeesshop.com/new-york-yankees/wade-boggs-jersey Wild) were all let go before the season finished. (Jim Montgomery and Bill Peters were also fired, but for off-ice conduct.)As the NHL approaches the 50-percent mark of this 56-game sprint, the separation between the cream of the crop and the bottom of the barrel of each division is minimal, but there are glaring i sues with the bottom teams.Here's a look at five coaches who could be pink-slipped next.Five coaches on the hot seat(In alphabetical order.) Travis Green, Vancouver CanucksRecord: 8-14-2, sixthin the North DivisionWhy: Canucks ownerFrancesco Aquilini may have given Green and general manager Jim Benning a vote of confidence back on Hockey Day in Canada, but how many times have we've seen that and someone still gets the ax?The Canucks went from one of the darlings of
https://www.teamyankeesshop.com/new-york-yankees/brett-gardner-jersey the summer playoff bubble to the North Division basement. While the team has knocked in67 goals (tied for thirdin the division), ithas allowed 85 (second-worst). The power play lacks theoomph it had last year when it was 24.2 percent effective; in 2021, it's at 15.9. It also doesn't help that the team's heavy hitters Elias Petter son, Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser and Quinn Hughes have struggled on both ends and in all situations.MORE:Here's the thing, though: The Canuckshave the potential to be one of the four teams to make the postseason from the North, but things are just not connecting right now.A big part of the reason is on the back end. It's evident that the lo s of Jacob Markstrom, who finished fourth in Vezina Trophy voting last year, left a big hole in net; his big stops covered up defensive lapses.But the bigger lo s has been two defensemen who left in free agency:Troy Stecher and, more notably, Chris Tanev. The veteran Tanev was not only a voice in the locker room but also the defense partner of rookie Quinn Hughes,who flourished last season and finished second for the Calder Trophy.Without Tanev, Hughes' average individual shot attemptsat 5v5 per game havedipped slightly from 2.66 to 2.42 while his individual Scoring Chances Forhaveseen a more staggering
https://www.teamyankeesshop.com/new-york-yankees/don-larsen-jersey drop, from 0.71 to 0.54 (). Hughes has also taken more hits when on the ice at 5v5 without his protector in Tanev, and the team's expected Goals For when Hughes is on the ice in all strengths havegonefrom 82.16 to a cringy 30.2. If you wantto look at the most basic of stats, he's minus-14.Will Greenbe fired? It's probably 50-50 when you consider the vote of confidence, the fact that Green's contract expires at the end of the season, the lack of initiative they've shown and how bad the team has looked vs. how good it has also looked at times. He may end up beingthe scapegoat, butthe guy who should really get cutis Benning for his roster construction. John Hynes, Nashville PredatorsRecord:9-11-0, sixthin the Central DivisionWhy: Hynes was expected to come in and shake up the Predators, who were struggling last season under then-head coach Peter Laviolette. Instead, there's still a lack of twangy goodne s in Nashville as the Predators continue their poor play in 2021.Since Hines has taken over, the team is 31-31-1 over two seasons, which isn't great when you consider thetalent on the team, including 2020 Norris Trophy winner Roman Josi. But as with a number of other players notably Matt Duchene, Ryan Johansen and Ryan Ellis Josi has struggled to put up points and the team overall has looked lost at times.The Predators Corsi For percentages in the NHL at 5v5 and is ranked second in the Central Division (53.51). It's great that they have 121 more shot attempts than their opponents but when those 922 shot attempts translate to just 491 shots on goal and only 28 goals, it's not great. At 5v5, per Natural Stat Trick, the team has just a 43.75 Goals For percentage. And things aren't any better with the man advantage (16.9
https://www.teamyankeesshop.com/new-york-yankees/yogi-berra-jersey percent); the only team worse in the division is the Red Wings.After losing three straight (one to the Panthers and two to the Lightning), the Predators have reverted to the old reliable state:inconsistency. Win one, lose two. Win two, lose one. Not great for a club in the same division as the two teams that played in the 2020 Stanley Cup Final, plus the Hurricanes and Panthers.Will Hynes be fired? Maybe, but the question then is: Who would come in? Ralph Krueger, Buffalo SabresRecord: 6-9-3, eighth in the East DivisionWhy: Another season of hockey in Buffalo. Another disappointing season of hockey in Buffalo. Another disappointing season of hockey in Buffalo where the call for the head coach to be fired is ringing.Things appeared to be looking up for the Western New York club when the team brought in Taylor Hall to complement the likes of Jack Eichel and Jeff Skinner. Instead, just shy of 45 days into the season,Skinner is a frequent healthy scratch andthere are rumors Eichel, who is out with a lower-body injury, is on the trade block.Buffalo has scored a division-worst 42 goals thanks to three shutouts and three games where they've buried just one puck. Considering that's a third of the team
https://www.teamyankeesshop.com/new-york-yankees/adam-lind-jersey 's games played, it's understandable why they are where they are. Buthere's a fun fact: They have the best power play in the East (32.8 percent).The schedule hasn't helped the Sabres, which could explain their lackluster effort.They haven't hadmuch rest due to a COVID-19-related pause in games and training, and they don't have two consecutive days off until April 4-5.You can blame the schedule all you want, but every team has tough stretches with the season being compacted and impacted by the pandemic. The biggest eye-opener for the Sabres: Hall has one goal, Eichel has two and Skinner has zilch. That won't cut it.Will Kruegerbe fired? Who knows, but the Pegulas do like to fire people (i.e., Jason Botterill and Chris Taylor) so they may pull the trigger. David Qui
The first ax swung Wednesday morning as Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin handed head coach Claude Julien his walking papers.Was it a surprise move? Somewhat. The Canadiens made big moves in the offseason and started the season like gangbusters. But in recent weeks that succe s had slowed to a crawl. After losing six of their last eight and three straight, including two to the Senators, Bergevin made the first firing of the season. To be fair, that was probably the only surprise that Julien was the first to go.A bunch of bench bo ses have been rumored to be on thin ice for a while but still have jobs despite their clubs still struggling. With Julien now on the market, there could be an influx of coaches looking for work. Last year, following the firing of Mike Babcock by the Maple Leafs, John Hynes (Devils), Pete DeBoer (Sharks), Peter Laviolette (Predators), Gerard Gallant (Golden Knights) and Bruce Boudreau ( https://www.teamyankeesshop.com/new-york-yankees/wade-boggs-jersey Wild) were all let go before the season finished. (Jim Montgomery and Bill Peters were also fired, but for off-ice conduct.)As the NHL approaches the 50-percent mark of this 56-game sprint, the separation between the cream of the crop and the bottom of the barrel of each division is minimal, but there are glaring i sues with the bottom teams.Here's a look at five coaches who could be pink-slipped next.Five coaches on the hot seat(In alphabetical order.) Travis Green, Vancouver CanucksRecord: 8-14-2, sixthin the North DivisionWhy: Canucks ownerFrancesco Aquilini may have given Green and general manager Jim Benning a vote of confidence back on Hockey Day in Canada, but how many times have we've seen that and someone still gets the ax?The Canucks went from one of the darlings of https://www.teamyankeesshop.com/new-york-yankees/brett-gardner-jersey the summer playoff bubble to the North Division basement. While the team has knocked in67 goals (tied for thirdin the division), ithas allowed 85 (second-worst). The power play lacks theoomph it had last year when it was 24.2 percent effective; in 2021, it's at 15.9. It also doesn't help that the team's heavy hitters Elias Petter son, Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser and Quinn Hughes have struggled on both ends and in all situations.MORE:Here's the thing, though: The Canuckshave the potential to be one of the four teams to make the postseason from the North, but things are just not connecting right now.A big part of the reason is on the back end. It's evident that the lo s of Jacob Markstrom, who finished fourth in Vezina Trophy voting last year, left a big hole in net; his big stops covered up defensive lapses.But the bigger lo s has been two defensemen who left in free agency:Troy Stecher and, more notably, Chris Tanev. The veteran Tanev was not only a voice in the locker room but also the defense partner of rookie Quinn Hughes,who flourished last season and finished second for the Calder Trophy.Without Tanev, Hughes' average individual shot attemptsat 5v5 per game havedipped slightly from 2.66 to 2.42 while his individual Scoring Chances Forhaveseen a more staggering https://www.teamyankeesshop.com/new-york-yankees/don-larsen-jersey drop, from 0.71 to 0.54 (). Hughes has also taken more hits when on the ice at 5v5 without his protector in Tanev, and the team's expected Goals For when Hughes is on the ice in all strengths havegonefrom 82.16 to a cringy 30.2. If you wantto look at the most basic of stats, he's minus-14.Will Greenbe fired? It's probably 50-50 when you consider the vote of confidence, the fact that Green's contract expires at the end of the season, the lack of initiative they've shown and how bad the team has looked vs. how good it has also looked at times. He may end up beingthe scapegoat, butthe guy who should really get cutis Benning for his roster construction. John Hynes, Nashville PredatorsRecord:9-11-0, sixthin the Central DivisionWhy: Hynes was expected to come in and shake up the Predators, who were struggling last season under then-head coach Peter Laviolette. Instead, there's still a lack of twangy goodne s in Nashville as the Predators continue their poor play in 2021.Since Hines has taken over, the team is 31-31-1 over two seasons, which isn't great when you consider thetalent on the team, including 2020 Norris Trophy winner Roman Josi. But as with a number of other players notably Matt Duchene, Ryan Johansen and Ryan Ellis Josi has struggled to put up points and the team overall has looked lost at times.The Predators Corsi For percentages in the NHL at 5v5 and is ranked second in the Central Division (53.51). It's great that they have 121 more shot attempts than their opponents but when those 922 shot attempts translate to just 491 shots on goal and only 28 goals, it's not great. At 5v5, per Natural Stat Trick, the team has just a 43.75 Goals For percentage. And things aren't any better with the man advantage (16.9 https://www.teamyankeesshop.com/new-york-yankees/yogi-berra-jersey percent); the only team worse in the division is the Red Wings.After losing three straight (one to the Panthers and two to the Lightning), the Predators have reverted to the old reliable state:inconsistency. Win one, lose two. Win two, lose one. Not great for a club in the same division as the two teams that played in the 2020 Stanley Cup Final, plus the Hurricanes and Panthers.Will Hynes be fired? Maybe, but the question then is: Who would come in? Ralph Krueger, Buffalo SabresRecord: 6-9-3, eighth in the East DivisionWhy: Another season of hockey in Buffalo. Another disappointing season of hockey in Buffalo. Another disappointing season of hockey in Buffalo where the call for the head coach to be fired is ringing.Things appeared to be looking up for the Western New York club when the team brought in Taylor Hall to complement the likes of Jack Eichel and Jeff Skinner. Instead, just shy of 45 days into the season,Skinner is a frequent healthy scratch andthere are rumors Eichel, who is out with a lower-body injury, is on the trade block.Buffalo has scored a division-worst 42 goals thanks to three shutouts and three games where they've buried just one puck. Considering that's a third of the team https://www.teamyankeesshop.com/new-york-yankees/adam-lind-jersey 's games played, it's understandable why they are where they are. Buthere's a fun fact: They have the best power play in the East (32.8 percent).The schedule hasn't helped the Sabres, which could explain their lackluster effort.They haven't hadmuch rest due to a COVID-19-related pause in games and training, and they don't have two consecutive days off until April 4-5.You can blame the schedule all you want, but every team has tough stretches with the season being compacted and impacted by the pandemic. The biggest eye-opener for the Sabres: Hall has one goal, Eichel has two and Skinner has zilch. That won't cut it.Will Kruegerbe fired? Who knows, but the Pegulas do like to fire people (i.e., Jason Botterill and Chris Taylor) so they may pull the trigger. David Qui
