NHL Predictions: 10 General Managers on the Hot Seat

Tom SchreierJun 7, 2018

This offseason has been crazy.

The Flyers blew up their core.

Chicago created cap space.

And Minnesota and San Jose made two blockbuster trades.

The NHL landscape has changed and, inevitably, there will be GMs in the hot seat.

The following are the top 10 GMs under fire.

Tom Schreier is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report. Follow him @tschreier3.

10. Florida Panthers: Dale Tallon

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General manager Dale Tallon joined the Florida Panthers in 2010 after a stint with the Blackhawks.

In Chicago, Tallon turned the moribund Blackhawks into the city's sweetheart when he build a Cup winner two years ago.

However, he signed Brian Campbell (8 yrs, $57 mil) and Marian Hossa (12 yrs, $63.3 mil) to massive contracts that held the team's economic hands behind their backs after winning it all.

After the win, Tallon was promptly shown the door.

In Florida, Tallon is expected to do what he did in Chicago -- turn a downtrodden big-market (Miami area) team into a contender.

The Panthers currently have six players in the three-four million cap hit range and Campbell, who has a $7.1 million cap hit.

The defensemen was acquired in the offseason.

Tallon needs to get Florida out of the basement sooner or later or he will lose this job as well.

9. Los Angeles Kings: Dean Lombardi

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The Kings have begun to generate interest once again in Los Angeles and the fans are becoming demanding.

They want the team to take the next step and get out of the first round next season.

The core in LA remains the same -- Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown are still in SoCal -- but by adding former Flyer captain Mike Richards, the Kings may have the piece they need to take the next step.

However, GM Dean Lombardi, who has orchestrated the team's overhaul, will be in the hot seat if the Kings have an early postseason exit again.

8. Buffalo Sabres: Darcy Regier

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The Sabres new management is willing to spend, and that's good news for the people of Buffalo.

The Sabres, who are currently three million over the $64.3 million cap, brought in Ville Leino, Robyn Regehr and Christian Erhoff (all three have a $4 million-range cap hit) who should be difference-makers for the team.

Erhoff has the biggest upside. He has had 14 goals in the past two seasons for Vancouver. Buffalo could use his production from the blueline.

Regier should be in good standing in Western New York right now, but his team needs to perform in order to keep the hockey-crazy city satisfied.

7. New York Rangers: Glen Sather

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Glen Sather is always under fire in New York, but Marian Gaborik has not been as productive as the team thought he would be.

Sather landed the biggest name in free agency, Brad Richards, and the city will expect the Rangers to get out of the first round next season.

The Blueshirts are capable of making a playoff run, but if the team falls short, Sather can expect to hear it from the Ranger faithful.

6. New Jersey Devils: Lou Lamoriello

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The New Jersey Devils have taken a turn for the worse recently and it has had a major effect in attendance.

In the hockey-saturated market the Devils occupy (there are a lot of Flyers and Rangers fans in New Jersey) the team needs to play high-caliber hockey to fill the Prudential Center.

This means that Ilya Kovalchuk must live up to his contract (15 yrs, $100 mil), Zach Parise must be re-signed and the veterans must play up to par.

That is a tall order for GM Lou Lamoriello.

5. Washington Capitals: George McPhee

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The Washington Capitals have a reputation of flaming out in the second round of the playoffs and it is GM George McPhee's job to turn that perception around.

The Caps went all-out in the offseason to try to become a contender again.

Tomas Vokoun was brought over from Florida for a cap-friendly $1.5 million, one-year deal.

Two defensemen, Dennis Wideman and Roman Hamrlik, joined the team for $3 and $4 million deals, respectively.

Playoff hero Joel Ward (4yrs, $3 mil) and former Blackhawk Troy Brouwer (2 yrs, $2.35 mil) were also signed to provide an offensive boost.

Washington is over the cap ($65.2/64.3 mil) and still has adjustments to make, but the roster is filling out and it looks like they will be a pre-season Stanley Cup favorite next season.

4. Toronto Maple Leafs: Brian Burke

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Like Glen Sather in New York, Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke, who put together the Silver medal-winning U.S. Olympic Team, is constantly under fire in Toronto.

Burke kept his core together, but added pieces in Tim Connolly (2 yrs, $4.75 mil) and Matthew Lombardi (2 yrs, $3.5 mil) to support the team that is already there.

Connolly was an astute pickup at a reasonable price, but Lombardi, who was injured most of last season, is a risk.

Toronto is on the brink of their first playoff appearance since the lockout. The postseason is a must for Burke and the Leafs.

3. Vancouver Canucks: Mike Gillis

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The Canucks faithful believe this is their time after they endured a crushing Game 7 loss in Vancouver in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Vancouver suffered some cap causalities, namely Christian Ehrhoff, but retained most of their core and should be back at it next year.

However, the expectations will be high.

It is Stanley Cup or bust for GM Mike Gillis and the Nucks next season.

2. Calgary Flames: Jay Feaster

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GM Jay Feaster has decided to go back at it next season with his aging core.

The Flames were on the brink of a playoff appearance last year, but they are not getting any better and eventually a youth movement is going to be an order.

For now, the team will try for one last good run.

If things go wrong, the Calgary faithful are going to turn on the team and expect a lot more action in the offseason next year.