10 NHL Coaches on the Hot Seat Entering 2012-13

There are several NHL coaches on the hot seat entering the 2012-13 season who could lose their jobs if their teams struggle to live up to expectations.

We could also see coaches fired a month or two into the season, like we did in St. Louis last year when Davis Payne was fired. He was replaced by Ken Hitchcock, who led the team to the second best record in the Western Conference.

This kind of turnaround might make general managers believe that coaching fixes could jump start their teams if they get off to poor starts this year.

Let's look at 10 coaches who are on the hot seat as we approach the new season.

Jack Capuano, New York Islanders

Jack Capuano will be expected to help the New York Islanders contend for a playoff spot this season after finishing 14th in the Eastern Conference last season.

Capuano's fate could be decided by the performance of his young players, most notably forward Ryan Strome and defenseman Griffin Reinhart.

The playoff shouldn't be a requirement, but the franchise needs to take some steps forward and give fans reasons to be optimistic about the future.

Joe Sacco, Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche finished 11th in the Western Conference last season and missed the playoffs by seven points.

Unless injuries to key players derail another season in Denver, the Avalanche will be expected to make the playoffs.

The team's already impressive roster was bolstered by some smart offseason acquisitions, including the signing of free-agent winger P.A. Parenteau.

If the team is healthy but doesn't make the playoffs, Sacco could be fired.

Mike Yeo, Minnesota Wild

Injuries were a valid excuse for Mike Yeo and the Minnesota Wild last season as they finished 12th in the Western Conference, but there will be no excuses for Yeo after the free-agent signings of Ryan Suter and Zach Parise.

After ownership made some marquee free agent signings, Yeo must make the playoffs or his job status will be in doubt.

The Wild need to make the second round of the playoffs to have a successful season. Yeo will have to prove this year that he's the right man to lead the franchise forward at a championship level.

Alain Vigneault, Vancouver Canucks

Alain Vigneault's Vancouver Canucks have won the President's Trophy two consecutive years, but the team's playoff performance has failed to equal its regular season success.

I realize that Vigneault signed a new three-year contract extension in May, but another first-round playoff exit would be completely unacceptable for the Canucks. Anything less than an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final would be a failure.

This is a huge season for Vigneault and the Canucks. If they don't have success in the playoffs, then some major changes might need to be made.

If the Canucks don't make it past the first round of the playoffs, then Vigneault should be fired.

Joel Quenneville, Chicago Blackhawks

Joel Quenneville was not fired at the end of last season following the Chicago Blackhawks' second straight first-round playoff exit, which was the right decision.

However, if the team does not play well this season and doesn't win a round in the postseason, then Quenneville should be fired.

Quenneville needs to find ways for Chicago to play better defensively and improve the power play for the team to get better next year.

Randy Carlyle, Toronto Maple Leafs

Randy Carlyle's coaching seat entering the 2012-13 season isn't scorching hot, but it is a bit warm.

General manager Brian Burke's job is probably more in danger than Carlyle's, but both men need the Leafs to make improvements next season.

Making the playoffs shouldn't be a requirement for Carlyle to keep his job, but making sure the team's talented young players such Jake Gardiner continue to develop certainly is.

The Leafs need to be in playoff contention for much longer than they were last season because finishing 13th in the Eastern Conference again is not going to be tolerated.

Toronto will be under immense pressure next season, and if Carlyle's team struggles for most of the first few months, his future with the team may have to be re-evaluated.

Glen Gulutzan, Dallas Stars

Glen Gulutzan is a good young head coach with a bright future in the NHL. After the Dallas Stars finished with the 10th best record in the Western Conference last season, the goal for the upcoming season is to make the playoffs.

The offseason signings of forwards Jaromir Jagr and Ray Whitney should be the missing pieces in the team's quest for the playoffs, and with a talented, underrated goalie in Kari Lehtonen, there's no reason for Dallas to watch the playoffs from home again.

Failing to make the playoffs might not be enough for Gulutzan to lose his job at the end of next season, but finishing worse than they did last year isn't acceptable.

This is a big year for the Stars, who have finally spent money in free agency that will allow them to make a strong push for the playoffs.

Todd McLellan, San Jose Sharks

Time might be running out for many people in the San Jose Sharks organization. The franchise needs to win a few rounds in the playoffs next year or several important people could lose their job, and one of them is head coach Todd McLellan.

Fair or not, this is a make or break year for McLellan, who needs his Sharks to advance to at least the second round to have any hope of saving his job. Another first-round exit would be disastrous for him.

Since McLellan took over the Sharks for the 2008-09 season, the team's end-of-the-year points total has decreased each season since. Another year with little to no improvement will likely cost McLellan his job.

Michel Therrien, Montreal Canadiens

Michel Therrien will begin his second stint as head coach of the Montreal Canadiens this fall, and he will be expected to return the team to playoff contention in year one.

If Therrien's Canadiens finish with the third worst record in the league again, there will be many fans wishing for his exit from the team.

There's always a ton of pressure on the head coach of the Canadiens, and with a healthier and improved team heading into next season, there will be no excuses for the team if significant improvements aren't made.

Bruce Boudreau, Anaheim Ducks

The underachieving Anaheim Ducks need to make positive strides next season or head coach Bruce Boudreau might be in trouble.

This team has way too much talent, especially offensively, to not be in playoff contention late in the season.

Finishing 13th in the Western Conference again would be a failure for the Ducks, who should realistically finish next year anywhere from 7th to 10th in the conference.

Boudreau doesn't have a good history of playoff success, so if the Ducks struggle for most of the 2012-13 season, a change might have to be made.