5 NHL coaches who could be on the hot seat by Thanksgiving

1. Bruce Boudreau – Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild have reached the Western Conference Final once (2003) and have never advanced to the Stanley Cup Final since joining the NHL in 2000-01. The State of Hockey hasn’t advanced to the second round of the playoffs since 2014-15, and it’s fair to say the Wild have underachieved over the past eight seasons.

Head coach Bruce Boudreau, known for coaching a couple of underachieving teams in the past (Washington Capitals & Anaheim Ducks), was hired by Minnesota during the 2016-17 offseason and the expectations from ownership have only been to win a Stanley Cup or bust.

After missing the postseason last year, and starting off 2019-20 on the wrong skate, it’s fair to say that Boudreau is on the hot seat and as early as Thanksgiving if the Wild don’t trend in the right direction.

Minnesota has invested serious money in the team’s roster with the likes of Zach Parise, Mats Zuccarello, Jason Zucker, Ryan Suter and Matt Dumba. Three of those skaters mentioned are above the age of 30 and their prime windows are closing, as is the Wild’s to win a cup, no?

Goaltender Devan Dubnyk has been a top-five goaltender since joining the wild back in 2014-15, but it’s fair to say that the 2015 Masterton Trophy winner (Comeback Player of the Year) only has one or two more quality years left between the pipes.

Another early-round exit from the Stanley Cup playoffs isn’t acceptable for the Wild, and if management doesn’t feel like Boudreau is the guy – expect a change behind the bench at the Xcel Energy Center sooner rather than later.