NHL Predictions: 5 NHL Coaches on the Hot Seat Entering 2011-12

Entering the 2011-12 NHL season, there are several coaches with pressure to perform.  They have this unfortunate burden based on the fact that they have rosters set to succeed at the highest level.

There are also coaches trying to take their teams from the basement in their respective conferences to the playoffs.  Whether or not they have the roster talent required to do that rests solely on the general manager.

This offseason, we have seen some coaches escape the hot seat, and others become unemployed based on their 2010-11 team's performance.

Here are five coaches that could succumb to the pressure and/or standings entering this next season.

5. Ron Wilson

The Toronto Maple Leafs finished 10th in the Eastern Conference standings last season, and one of the most storied franchises in hockey does not respond well to missing the playoffs year in and year out.

Wilson's record as head coach in Toronto is 101-107-38 in three seasons.

Like I said, Toronto does not take well to losing, which means Wilson may be done with the Maple Leafs if things do not get off to a good start in 2011.

4. Terry Murray

This hot seat rests on the pressure to perform next season.

The Kings took a young and talented roster and then added veteran Mike Richards.

Anze Kopitar will be back from injury and the rest of the young core of talented players will have another season under their belt.

Last year's fall to the San Jose Sharks in the first round was expected, given the amount of injuries towards the end of the season.  However, anything short of the conference finals will be a disappointment.

And it could cost Murray his job.

3. Tom Renney

Renney was hired as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers in order to build a winning tradition and get the Oilers over the hump in the Western Conference.

However, a year of 62 points and last place in the Western Conference will not get you anywhere in the ultra-competitive West, which is why Renney may be on his last leg in Edmonton.

2. Scott Arniel

Arniel has only been coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets for one year, but the pressure to perform is already mounting going into next season.

Last season, the Jackets did not have a playoff team. However, Columbus was active in free agency by adding Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski to go along with Rick Nash.

Expectations are high in Columbus and the pressure is up on Arniel.

1. Bruce Boudreau

After being the top team in the Eastern Conference the past few years, the Capitals have only a second round loss, first round loss and another second round loss to show for it.

That is enough for head coach Bruce Boudreau to be put on the hot seat.

You can only be a top seed and come out of the playoffs with nothing so many times before the pressure to hold a job mounts.

The Capitals are a great regular season team, so expect another top-two finish in the Eastern Conference next season; but anything short of the Stanley Cup may have Boudreau looking for a job at season's end.