5 candidates who can replace John Hynes as New Jersey Devils’ head coach

2. Peter Laviolette

Peter Laviolette is currently employed at the time of this writing. However, it is very possible by season’s end, he’ll have played his last games in Nashville. The Predators this season have played below average and are sitting three points out of a wild card spot in early December, a far cry from where many of us believed they’d be.

Nashville’s 12-10-5 record is not a cause for concern at the moment, but should the Predators slip further in the standings this season, they’ll find themselves out of the playoffs for the first time since the 2013-14 season.

The consensus seems to be that Laviolette’s seat is getting a bit warm in Nashville, but it’s hard to predict if — at all — we’ll see the Predators change coaches this season. One possible scenario if the Predators fail to make the postseason this year is that Laviolette stays through the end of the season, but is fired in the summer, opening him up to pursue other avenues of employment.

Given the head coaches currently on the hot seat, Laviolette may be the Devils’ most attractive choice for a head coach replacement should he be fired. In his career, Laviolette has a 618-410-25-16 record as a head coach, with 10 playoff appearances and one Stanley Cup victory with Carolina.

Much like many of the other coaches on this list, Laviolette would bring a veteran presence to the Devils’ locker room. With a mix of young players and seasoned veterans, Laviolette would mesh well with a New Jersey team looking to make a break to the postseason.