Ranking the Best Available NHL Coaching Jobs

It's going to be an interesting summer for the NHL coaching market.

A number of teams are definitely interested in bringing aboard a new head coach. Aside from the obvious clubs, we can add the Detroit Red Wings as TSN's Bob McKenzie reported Friday that they were allowing coach Mike Babcock to talk to other teams about coaching positions. 

With that in mind, it's a good idea to take a look around and evaluate how attractive the teams looking for a new coach are. Clubs that are not yet on the hunt for a coach—Boston and St. Louis are obvious possibilities—are not included in this list, but the teams actively looking for a coach are, as are the Red Wings. 

The rankings are based on a number of factors, but three criteria stood out as most important. The ability to win in the here-and-now is obviously desirable. So too is the potential to win over the long haul. Finally, a team's financial situation deserves consideration: both its ability to spend to the NHL salary cap and its flexibility under the current system. 

Read on for our full assessment of each market. 

7. Toronto Maple Leafs

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Present performance: Toronto finished 30 points out of the playoffs and looks like it is about to embark upon a long-overdue rebuild. That means that things are likely to get worse before they get better, so a coach signing on with the Leafs can probably look forward to a bunch of losses before he can return the team to the postseason. 

Potential: Most of the team's best young players are already on the roster, and there's a decent group of them. The prospect system has William Nylander front-and-centre, Stuart Percy after him and a significant drop-off after that. 

Financial situation: The Leafs have a pile of money, and that's not going to change any time soon. The team has some financial flexibility and could develop more if as expected it shops some of its significant veterans. The trouble for a coach is that Toronto isn't likely to spend that money for the next couple of seasons.   

6. New Jersey Devils

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Present performance: There are definitely things to like about the Devils, notably their goaltending and defensive presence, but those positives weren't enough to keep the club from missing the playoffs by 20 points. A popgun offence is made worse by the fact that many of the team's best forwards are getting to be past their sell-by date. 

Potential: With the exception of a handful of defensemen, both the NHL roster and the minor-league system lack good young players. The present isn't great, but the future doesn't look much better. 

Financial situation: One thing the Devils have on their side is loads and loads of cap space. It's unclear that going out and making a splash in free agency is the best approach at this point, but it's a tactic that New Jersey has the freedom to try. 

5. Buffalo Sabres

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Present performance: The Sabres were the worst team in the NHL last year, and aside from the Arizona Coyotes they were far enough below the rest of the league that there's a mountain to climb just to get to average. 

Potential: This is going to be Buffalo's primary selling point. The team has loads of top young prospects, and with the second overall pick at the 2015 draft will almost certainly add Jack Eichel to the mix. There's enough here that with solid development this team could eventually be a powerhouse.

Financial situation: Buffalo has pretty solid financial backing, and thanks to its rebuild the team doesn't have a lot in the way of albatross contracts. 

4. Philadelphia Flyers

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Present performance: Defense is a major question mark. Philadelphia got solid goaltending last year from Steve Mason, who has emerged as a legitimate stopper since coming over from Columbus in a trade. The team also has a pretty impressive group of forwards. The Flyers did finish 15 points shy of the playoffs, but there are some nice pieces here. 

Potential: The Flyers have some good young forwards on the roster and a prospect pipeline bursting with solid defensemen. This is a team that has some nice things coming down the line. 

Financial situation: This is where things get really terrifying. Paul Holmgren's apparent "You only live once" approach to free agency has burdened the club with lots of long-term contracts to under-performing players and precious little flexibility. The team has lots of money but no space to deploy it. 

3. San Jose Sharks

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Present performance: Despite missing the playoffs by 10 points, the Sharks still boast a reasonably competent roster. The team has top-end stars, albeit ones who are at the wrong end of the aging curve. The defense isn't bad, and if G.M. Doug Wilson can address depth and goaltending this is a team that could make some noise. 

Potential: There are some decent young players on the roster, most notably Mirco Mueller and Tomas Hertl. The team's prospect pipeline is not especially strong, however, and needs a boost via the draft. 

Financial situation: San Jose has some cap space to play with. Most of the Sharks' key players are locked up on modest deals, and a long list of expiring contracts gives the team the flexibility to take on both bodies and salary. The question is whether the Sharks will use that space; the team had unused money after free agency last season.  

2. Detroit Red Wings

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Present performance: They were a playoff team this year and took a very good Tampa Bay Lightning squad to seven games before bowing out. Key players are in the latter halves of their respective careers, but this is still a balanced team with significant firepower. Add in some of the most competent management in the league, and there's lots to like here. 

Potential: The Red Wings have handled their prospects expertly and consequently have a nice stock of young players both on the team and in the system. Head coach Mike Babcock, however, is skeptical the team has the pieces to replace key stars, as NHL.com reports: 

"

We have lots of good, young players, no question about it, and we've got some good ones coming. But who's going to replace [Datsyuk]? I don't think [Datsyuk] is going anywhere right away, but that's what you've got to do. You've got to have big-time players up the middle and on the back to be successful. So those are questions that our organization works towards, we've been drafting good, we've been developing good, but we've been winning too much (to get high draft picks). That's the facts.

"

Financial situation: Detroit has been a high-spending team for ages, and that isn't likely to change any time soon. 

1. Edmonton Oilers

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Present performance: The Oilers have been a bad team for ages. They were a bad team again in 2014-15. The club's defense and goaltending are major weaknesses that new G.M. Peter Chiarelli will need to find some way to address in the offseason. 

Potential: It seems like Edmonton has been selling hope forever, but this time it feels real. A surprise draft lottery win has given the team the No. 1 selection in the 2015 draft and the right to acquire Connor McDavid, the most touted prospect since Sidney Crosby a decade ago. In combination with some good young NHL players and a pipeline with some top prospects, the club's potential is limitless. 

Financial situation: The Oilers have a wealthy owner who has shown a willingness to spend. They are about to enter a new arena which will drive up their profit margins significantly. Plus, thanks to all the losing, the team has plenty of cap space with which to add talent. 

Statistics courtesy of NHL.com. Salary cap information via NHLNumbers.com.