This week, the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins completed their coaching hires, leaving 31 NHL teams set with their coaches for the upcoming season. Eight new coaches are entering the league, and we’ll evaluate their teams’ chances to make the Stanley Cup playoffs using a simple 1-to-4 rating scale:
1 = No playoff chances
2 = Possible playoff appearance
3 = Strong playoff contender
4 = Very likely to make playoffs
Here’s a team-by-team assessment in alphabetical order:
Anaheim Ducks
New Coach: Joel Quenneville
Rating: 2
Quenneville takes over a Ducks team that finished sixth in the Pacific Division. Although the franchise is gradually improving with GM Pat Verbeek planning major roster changes, the Ducks face stiff competition from playoff stalwarts like Vegas, Edmonton, and Los Angeles. Despite Quenneville’s winning reputation, Anaheim lacks the experience and depth to make a significant leap next season.
Boston Bruins
New Coach: Marco Sturm
Rating: 3
Sturm steps into the Bruins’ coaching role with high expectations to bring the team back into the playoffs. He faces the challenge of blending veteran stars such as David Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm with emerging talents like Fabian Reisel and Fraser Minten. The Atlantic Division remains competitive, but with Sturm’s fresh approach and experienced players, Boston has a solid chance of securing a playoff berth.
Chicago Blackhawks
New Coach: Jeff Blashill
Rating: 1
While the Blackhawks boast promising young talent like Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, and Artyom Levshunov, they are far from playoff-ready. Competing in a tough division with a roster of aging veterans, Chicago needs more elite young players and development time. Blashill’s role will be to build consistent competitiveness, but a playoff run next season is unlikely.
New York Rangers
New Coach: Mike Sullivan
Rating: 3
Sullivan brings a championship pedigree to the Rangers and faces pressure to erase last season’s disappointment. Despite roster changes, the team still has the talent to return to postseason contention. Sullivan’s biggest task is tightening the defense to support star goalie Igor Shesterkin. Two seasons without playoffs are a low point for the Rangers, making Sullivan’s leadership crucial for their comeback.
Philadelphia Flyers
New Coach: Rick Tocchet
Rating: 2
Tocchet is known for boosting player confidence, but the Flyers struggle with goalie quality, limiting their playoff prospects. Although the team shows slight improvement potential, a postseason appearance is still out of reach. Philadelphia’s promising young players like Mattvi Mikkov and Jamie Drysdale offer hope, but the Flyers remain in rebuilding mode.
Pittsburgh Penguins
New Coach: Mike Sullivan
Rating: 2
Although less familiar, the new Penguins coach was chosen by GM Kyle Dubas to improve the team’s competitiveness. The Penguins still rely on aging stars while needing to develop younger talent. Goaltending is a key area requiring improvement before they can challenge for playoffs next year. Roster changes loom, but immediate playoff success seems unlikely.
Seattle Kraken
New Coach: Lane Lambert
Rating: 2
The Kraken, still early in their franchise journey, replaced veteran Dan Bylsma with Lambert in hopes of stabilizing the team. While they have some foundational pieces and their first reliable goalie in Joey Daccord, defensive depth is lacking. The Pacific Division is tough, and although Seattle won’t be bottom-tier, they may struggle to break their playoff drought next season.
Vancouver Canucks
New Coach: Bruce Boudreau
Rating: 4
Despite a disappointing 2024-25 season, the Canucks remain optimistic about their playoff chances with star goalie Thatcher Demko and top defender Quinn Hughes healthy. Familiarity with the roster and offseason talent additions could revitalize the team. If the Canucks overcome last year’s lackluster performance, they are poised to return to the postseason confidently.
Fan Take:
This coaching shuffle highlights the evolving dynamics in the NHL, where both established franchises and emerging teams seek to build winning cultures. For hockey fans, these changes signal an exciting season ahead, with fresh leadership potentially reshaping playoff races and sparking new rivalries that will keep the sport thrilling.
