DeBoer's firing and NHL coaching changes for the 2025-26 season

I assume it's okay to write this now as I expect the coaches to remain the same minus our most recent one. So, I can agree on the DeBoer firing considering he's not the kind of coach for a contender. He's an above average coach bare minimum, not terrible but and a good fit for the Stars. But Dallas needs a coach who can and will take Dallas to the next stage. Dallas might have if not the best team in the league and I predict between now and five years that they will win a Stanley Cup. They have all the tools to win: solid defense, forwards loaded at every position and goaltending. All Dallas needs is a very solid back-up to Oettinger. Speaking of, I think it was low of DeBoer to call out Oettinger considering he did let in two goals off the hop, but deciding to pull him right away and on top of that degrading him to the media. But all that aside, I predicted he'd be the first coach to be fired in 2025-26, or as early as a first-round exit. DeBoer can take teams far, he did it with New Jersey, San Jose, Vegas and Dallas. But he is the only coach in Golden Knights history to miss the playoffs. I am quite confident he gets another coaching gig, and is probably going to be the first coach hired as a replacement during the 2025-26 season. 

Which brings me to the next part, on who I think will be the first coaches to be fired next season. I am prediciting either Jim Hillier, Andre Tourigny, John Hynes, Ryan Huska or Bruce Cassidy. 

As for a replacement in Dallas, I think the right one is Andrew Brunette. But as for coaches available, Todd Nelson would be my pick. I think Todd Nelson is an excellent coach waiting to happen and has a great track record. He was apart of two different Calder Cup winning teams and has two UHL championships. Not just that never missed the playoffs as an AHL head coach, and as an assistant been part of some excellent teams. It's more than overdue that he gets a fair shot rather than the stint he had in Edmonton -- I know it was short, fourty-six games with a 17-22-7 record; to be fair it was a bad year for the Oilers, so bad they ended up with the pick to take Connor McDavid -- and Dallas is the perfect team for him. But I wouldn't be surprised to see the Stars go the Laviolette/Tortorella route. 

The Rangers did hire the old Penguins coach Steve Sullivan, who didn't just win two cups with them but was one of the longest tenured coaches in the NHL. All that aside, I think he's overrated and lasted that long due to his relationship with Sidney Crosby. I do think he won't do bad with the Rangers, but I don't think it's much of an improvement. If you ask me, the Rangers needed someone with a more complexed minded, but what I agree upon is his resume of two cups and longitude. But, it's also laughable David Quinn is their assistant coach now. 

The Penguins took the other assistant coach for the Rangers, Dan Muse. I am a big fan of this hire because the Penguins need to give a rookie coach a shot, and he is the right one for it. Won a USHL Championship with the Chicago Steel, and was an assistant to Laviolette on the Rangers and Predators during some of the best times. You know he deserves a shot as head coach. 

The Bruins firing Jim Montgomery is one big joke, and their management is too. Jim Montgomery had proven himself to be the best coach in the NHL to take the Bruins to their biggest step. Now, I am interested to see what Marco Sturm can do with this team. 

I wasn't a fan of the Adam Foote hiring, but I think this is a move to try to keep Quinn Hughes. And if I'm being honest, it's not going to work, in fact if Vancouver does pull off the move to keep him I'll be very impressed, but I am very doubtful. But personally, my choice would be Manny Malholtra for the Canucks. I have low expectations in the Canucks, and think they'll be another team tanking for Gavin McKenna. But I am confident Malholtra will coach this team one day. 

Rick Tocchet went back to Philly where he spent most of his hockey days, but first stint behind the bench. I am a big fan of this move because he was the exact player for the Flyers, making him the right coach too. I think he's great for the media, their young core; Michkov specifically, and provides a big presence. I think he'll move the Flyers into a direction of consistency in making the playoffs and I think Philly will be a powerhouse one day. I also see Tocchet being one of the longest tenured coaches in NHL history with the Flyers. 

Jeff Blashill does deserve another chance in the NHL, but I found Chicago should've hired a better and more experienced coach. To be fair, Blashill indeed does have experience, but I think he's a coach too good for the AHL but not good enough for the NHL; but there's a lot of those. I think this is the right direction for Chicago though as I disagree with their last three options. 

The Joel Quenneville hiring gives me mixed views, I do think he deserves another shot and really needs to redeem himself somewhere. But the Ducks are perfect for that, and I think he's the exact coach to bring them back into contention. I found Greg Cronin to try and make Zegras into a defensive player, and I believe Q is going to help Zegras reach his full potential. 

I dislike the Lane Lambert hiring, and what I am believed is Jordan Eberle wanted him as their coach because they may have a great relationship. One thing people don't always notice, is the teams captain always plays a big part on which coaches get hired -- but not always. In this case it does. But, I personally believe the Kraken won't do well next season and will be one of the teams in the running for Gavin McKenna. 

Derek Lalonde was the replacement for Lane Lambert, and I like the hiring for Toronto as I think Lalonde will be a good coach again, but needs a fresh start and less on his plate. But McLellan was the perfect choice for Detroit considering he won a cup there as an assistant, showing better numbers once he took over.