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Ice and Fire: Mike Yeo, John Stevens, Ken Holland have hottest seats in hockey

By Dave Stevenson

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 18: St. Louis Blues head coach Mike Yeo during the game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues on March 18, 2018, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 18: St. Louis Blues head coach Mike Yeo during the game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues on March 18, 2018, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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NEWARK, NJ – NOVEMBER 07: St. Louis Blues head coach Mike Yeo during the first period of the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the St. Louis Blues on November 7, 2017 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ – NOVEMBER 07: St. Louis Blues head coach Mike Yeo during the first period of the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the St. Louis Blues on November 7, 2017 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Getting Warmer: Los Angeles Kings

They say winning cures everything. But it only cures things for so long. The Los Angeles Kings won two Stanley Cups in three years (2012 and 2014). However, since then, all they’ve done is miss the playoffs twice and win a whopping total of one postseason game in two appearances.

The Kings believed in their roster, so they fired head coach Darryl Sutter and general manager Dean Lombardi back in the 2017 offseason. They replaced them internally, going with head coach John Stevens and general manager Rob Blake as their replacements.

So far this season, to say the Kings have been abysmal is being nice. In eight games, their traditional scoring woes have continued, as they have just 15 goals. Signing Ilya Kovalchuk was supposed to help fix those woes. But what’s more alarming is the Kings’ alleged strength, their defense, has allowed 28 goals.

Going into the 2018-19 season, with an aging core, it wasn’t a secret that the Kings had an expiration date. They may have already reached it.

Hot: Mike Yeo

The St. Louis Blues fell apart at the end of last season. Despite this, they chose to hang onto head coach Mike Yeo. The Blues got aggressive in the summer, adding Ryan O’Reilly, Tyler Bozak, David Perron, and Patrick Maroon. Thus far, the Blues have lived up to their name with a 2-3-2 record in a very competitive Central Division.

St. Louis is already behind the eight ball, as they only have six points in seven games. However, the Central Division already has five teams with over 10 points, so the Blues are already having to play catch up. Yeo’s coaching history isn’t too promising. He’s famous for stifling offense and making what should be a fun, beautiful sport much more boring. Yeo never took the Minnesota Wild past the second round either.

On Fire: Ken Holland

The Detroit Red Wings only have one win through their first eight games. But hey, that’s fine, they’re a rebuilding team with lots of promising young players, right? Wrong. The Red Wings roster is one of the worst in the NHL and it has way too many high-priced veterans on it.

There’s no one to blame for that other than general manager Ken Holland. He tried to extend a postseason streak. In the process, Holland lit the Wings’ future on fire and poured gasoline all over it. Good thing the streak lasted for three more first-round exits, huh?

Next. Each State's Mount Rushmore. dark

Holland’s seat is even hotter because Steve Yzerman recently stepped down as the general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning. And he’s just hanging out in Detroit with his family. Conveniently, Yzerman’s deal ends after the 2018-19 season. If you don’t think the Red Wings are licking their chops looking at him as a potential Holland replacement, you’re nuts.

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