Ranking NHL teams that made 2019-20 in-season coaching moves
There have already been six head coaching changes in the NHL this season, and it's not even the All-Star break yet.
Peter Laviolette became the latest to go when the Nashville Predators fired him Monday night, with John Hynes stepping in on Tuesday.
It's rare to see a half dozen coaching changes before the unofficial midway point of a campaign, but there were some extenuating circumstances. While most of the moves were made because of on-ice performance, two were necessary due to conduct issues.
Nevertheless, it's worth exploring how each club is faring under new stewardship. Following Laviolette's dismissal, here's how the five other teams with new head coaches have performed since the in-season changes:
5. New Jersey Devils
| Record Since Move | G/GP | GA/GP | Shots/GP | SA/GP | xGF% | SCF% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6-7-2 | 2.6 | 3.07 | 31.7 | 32.2 | 46.82 | 44.35 |
Head coach: Alain Nasreddine
Move: Fired John Hynes on Dec. 3
The Devils haven't been atrocious since replacing Hynes with Nasreddine on an interim basis, but they remain close to the NHL's basement while being decidedly mediocre.
It's somewhat encouraging that New Jersey hasn't completely bottomed out after trading Taylor Hall (although some Devils fans would probably prefer that route), but only the Detroit Red Wings hold a worse overall record.
The coaching change has invigorated prized trade acquisition Nikita Gusev, who has racked up 12 points in 15 games since the move, and goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood has produced a .922 save percentage over that span. However, New Jersey is still dealing with significant holes, and this team hasn't yet shown enough improvement to avoid getting high draft-lottery odds.
4. San Jose Sharks
Head coach: Bob Boughner
Move: Fired Peter DeBoer on Dec. 11
| Record Since Move | G/GP | GA/GP | Shots/GP | SA/GP | xGF% | SCF% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-5-2 | 2.73 | 3.09 | 29.4 | 29.7 | 48.41 | 49.59 |
It hasn't been easy for Boughner. In late December, the new Sharks head coach publicly called out some of his players after they blew a late two-goal lead, losing to the lowly Los Angeles Kings in overtime. San Jose let another win slip away Sunday, coughing up a two-goal advantage again in the final minute and losing to the Washington Capitals in the extra frame.
Despite continuing to possess a subpar offense, the Sharks remain one of the NHL's best shot-suppressing clubs, ranking fifth in shots against per game under Boughner, and seventh in that department for the season.
Backup goaltender Aaron Dell has outperformed Martin Jones while gobbling up a significant chunk of the struggling starter's playing time, winning three games and boasting a .921 save percentage in six appearances under Boughner. Meanwhile, Jones has managed only one win while authoring an .887 save percentage in five games for his new bench boss.
Like Dell, underperforming forward Timo Meier has shown some life, responding to a benching with a hat trick the very next night and collecting six points over his last five games. However, the Sharks still have their work cut out for them to turn a disappointing campaign around.
3. Calgary Flames
Head coach: Geoff Ward
Move: Bill Peters resigned on Nov. 29
| Record Since Move | G/GP | GA/GP | Shots/GP | SA/GP | xGF% | SCF% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11-5-1 | 3.23 | 3 | 30.1 | 32.8 | 49.87 | 48.6 |
Ward hadn't officially taken over for Peters as the Flames' head coach on Nov. 27 against the Buffalo Sabres, but he nonetheless guided Calgary that night to its first of seven straight wins. The team handed the then-associate coach the reins for that contest amid an investigation into the current head coach, and the Flames promoted Ward two days later following Peters' resignation.
While Peters' departure wasn't due to on-ice performance, Calgary clearly responded to the move. The Flames ranked 30th in goals per game before Ward took over, and the team has risen to 14th during the 17-game span since he unofficially began his tenure. They rank a lowly 24th overall on the season, but that's still progress.
Johnny Gaudreau has been a big part of that offensive resurgence. The club's brightest star has notched six goals and 15 points in 17 games under Ward after registering only five markers and 20 points over the first 27 games with Peters at the helm.
However, Calgary has gone 4-5-1 since its seven-game win streak, and the Flames will need to find consistency if they hope to clinch a playoff spot and make a prolonged postseason run.
2. Dallas Stars
Head coach: Rick Bowness
Move: Fired Jim Montgomery on Dec. 10
| Record Since Move | G/GP | GA/GP | Shots/GP | SA/GP | xGF% | SCF% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7-3-1 | 2.91 | 2.54 | 29.7 | 33.5 | 49.85 | 49.46 |
Much like the Flames' situation, the Stars' didn't make a coaching change because of the team's play, as Dallas dismissed Montgomery for "unprofessional conduct." However, the Stars have played well under Bowness.
Their .682 points percentage across the 11 games since Bowness took over ranks seventh in the league (up from 13th). The club also sits second in goals against per game in that span - a slight improvement from third before the move - while ranking first over 42 games this season.
The latter development can be mostly attributed to the Stars' rock-solid goaltending duo of Ben Bishop and Anton Khudobin, but the team's offense has improved marginally, too. Dallas had posted the league's sixth-worst goals per game rate (2.61) before Dec. 10, but since that night's win over the Devils, the Stars are up to 22nd.
Interestingly, Dallas' five-on-five numbers have dipped. Sure, it's a relatively small sample size, but the Stars rank 17th and 18th in Expected Goals For percentage and Scoring Chances For, respectively, during Bowness' tenure after sitting fifth in both categories under Montgomery.
Still, Dallas has remained competitive since this unplanned coaching move.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs
Head coach: Sheldon Keefe
Move: Fired Mike Babcock on Nov. 20
| Record Since Move | G/GP | GA/GP | Shots/GP | SA/GP | xGF% | SCF% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15-5-1 | 4.09 | 2.86 | 33.8 | 32.2 | 52.52 | 52.71 |
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the Maple Leafs have been much better under Keefe than his predecessor, but this coaching change has clearly made the biggest impact.
We all know Toronto boasts myriad offensive weapons and can fill the net like few other clubs. However, this team wasn't doing that under Babcock to start the season while ranking 13th in goals per game. Since his dismissal, the offense has awoken, leading the NHL in markers per contest and ranking sixth in shots per game (up from 10th).
There are also encouraging signs for Keefe and Co. on the defensive end. The club owns the 11th-best goals against rate and sits 21st in shots against per contest in 21 games under Keefe, after ranking 24th and 25th in those areas under Babcock.
Toronto's vast improvement is evident at five-on-five, too. The team ranks ninth in Expected Goals For percentage during the 21-game span under Keefe, compared to 22nd in the 23 contests under Babcock in 2019-20. The squad is also the NHL's eighth-best in Scoring Chances For percentage, a position Keefe has maintained since taking over.
Throw in a much more effective penalty kill as well as backup goaltender Michael Hutchinson's improved play, and it's easy to understand why the Leafs are so much better now.