NHL Hot Seat Radar: Coaches With The Most To Prove In The Playoffs
Whether they're truly on the hot seat or not, coaches on the Hurricanes, Oilers and more NHL squads must prove they can bring their team to the next level in the Stanley Cup playoffs at last.
Coaches will have something to prove in the Stanley Cup playoffs. In the case of the four NHL coaches on the Hot Seat Radar, a first-round playoff series win is an absolute must. It doesn't matter one iota that a team had regular-season success or made it far in previous playoffs.
Coaching is a "what have you done for me lately" business, and no time is that clearer than in the post-season. All it can take is one bad or great coaching decision that makes a team a winner or loser in the post-season. So coaches have to deliver on their end of things, just as players do.
Not every coach whose team doesn't meet expectations will get fired, and that includes some of the bench bosses below. But whether they're new to a team or have been trying constantly to get the squad to the next level, they have something to prove. Let's take a closer look in this "most to prove in the playoffs" edition of the NHL Hot Seat Radar.
Rod Brind'Amour, Carolina Hurricanes Although Brind'Amour has won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top coach just once, he could've won the award multiple times. Since he took the Hurricanes ' job in 2018, Carolina has made the post-season every season and hasn't lost in the opening round. (That's, of course, if you include them winning the best-of-five qualifying round in 2020 and losing in the first best-of-seven series.
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