Best Landing Spots for Coaches in the NHL Amid Rumors
The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs began with the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights being led by interim head coaches. D.J. Smith had been behind the Kings' bench since March 1, while John Tortorella took over as the Golden Knights coach on March 29.
Determining their fates will be the first order of business for both clubs once the postseason ends. It remains to be seen if they'll stick with their interim bench bosses, as the Columbus Blue Jackets did with Rick Bowness, or find permanent replacements.
Meanwhile, a handful of teams eliminated from the playoff races will also be searching for new head coaches.
There is no shortage of candidates to choose from. Some of them already have established NHL credentials as head coaches, while others come from the ranks of NHL assistant coaches and minor league coaches.
Here's a look at five candidates and the best potential landing spots for each one.
Los Angeles Kings: D.J. Smith
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On March 1, the struggling Los Angeles Kings fired head coach Jim Hiller and promoted assistant coach D.J. Smith as their interim bench boss. Under Smith, the Kings went 11-6-6 in their final 23 games, clinching the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 90 points.
Considering that the Kings were floundering during Hiller's final games behind the bench, their improvement down the stretch under Smith could convince general manager Ken Holland that he might be worth keeping in the job. He is reportedly among the contenders for the role.
Smith has previous head coaching experience, spending nearly five seasons with the rebuilding Ottawa Senators from 2019-20 to 2023-24. He played a key role in the development of Senators stars Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle. Despite a lack of roster depth, the Senators were competitive under Smith's tutelage.
Named an assistant coach with the Kings in Feb 2024, he now has two years behind their bench. That familiarity could give him an advantage in keeping the head-coaching gig on a full-time basis. Helping them get back on track and into a playoff spot for the fifth straight year could also work in his favor.
Maintaining familiarity behind the bench could be useful for the Kings after this season. They're going through a transition with long-time captain Anze Kopitar retiring and long-time defenseman Drew Doughty approaching the end of his career.
Having Smith remain as head coach could make the off-season roster changes go more smoothly. He could also bring some flexibility to his lineups, encouraging his offensive players to play their strengths, especially young center Quinton Byfield, who has yet to have the big offensive breakthrough.
New Jersey Devils: Jay Woodcroft
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After missing the playoffs for the third time in the last six seasons, changes are afoot for the New Jersey Devils. On Apr. 7, they fired Tom Fitzgerald as their general manager and replaced him on Apr. 16 with former Florida Panthers assistant coach Sunny Mehta.
That leaves Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe facing an uncertain future in New Jersey. He was hired as their bench boss in 2024 after five seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He guided the Devils to the playoffs last season, but his role is now under evaluation.
If Mehta decides to replace Keefe, he could choose a head coach with NHL experience, especially someone who's coached a club to the Stanley Cup Final.
Jay Woodcroft could be a noteworthy possibility. The former head coach of the Edmonton Oilers guided them to three straight second-place finishes in the Pacific Division, including second overall in the Western Conference in 2023. They also reached the Conference Final in 2022 and the Stanley Cup Final in 2024.
A slow start by the Oilers in 2024-25 cost Woodcroft his job, but he was hired last summer by the Anaheim Ducks as an assistant coach. His efforts helped the rebuilding Ducks qualify for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, ending a seven-year postseason drought. They've since advanced to the second round.
Woodcroft has proven that he can get the most out of his players, especially his offensive stars. His efforts could help to bolster a Devils offense that ranked 27th this season. His ability to work well with promising young players could also bring out the best in Devils like Luke Hughes and Šimon Nemec.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Bruce Cassidy
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The Toronto Maple Leafs missed the playoffs this season for the first time since 2015-16. It raised questions about the future of head coach Craig Berube, who told reporters on Apr. 16 that he expected to return in the role, though he admitted it would depend on whoever becomes the club's next general manager.
On May 3, the Maple Leafs announced John Chayka had been hired as their new general manager. Five days later, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that Chayka intends to meet with Berube to discuss the coaching situation.
The Maple Leafs intend to retool their roster to regain their place as a playoff contender next season. Chayka could decide to replace Berube with another experienced NHL coach with a proven record of success, who could thrive under the pressure of coaching in the NHL's biggest market.
Bruce Cassidy could be their best choice. He spent six seasons with the Boston Bruins from 2016-17 to 2021-22, followed by four seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights from 2022-23 until relieved of his duties on March 29.
Cassidy coached the Boston Bruins to the 2019 Stanley Cup Final and the Presidents' Trophy in 2019-20, earning the Jack Adams Award as Coach of the Year. In his first season with the Golden Knights, he guided them to their first-ever Stanley Cup.
Rumors abounded in 2022 that Cassidy was fired by the Bruins for "losing the room", though there was no concrete evidence of this. On March 30, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the relationship between Cassidy and the Golden Knights players was "frayed" following their elimination from the 2025 postseason.
Despite the speculation, Cassidy was successful in Boston and a winner in Vegas. Given the pedigree, he could be just what the Maple Leafs need to turn things around.
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Vancouver Canucks: Manny Malhotra
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The 2025-26 season will go down in Vancouver Canucks' history as one of the worst in franchise history. They're already rebuilding their roster, having traded away Quinn Hughes, Kiefer Sherwood, Tyler Myers, and Conor Garland for draft picks, prospects, and promising young players.
Changes are also sweeping through their front office. On Apr. 17, the Canucks fired general manager Patrik Allvin. On May 4, Jim Rutherford said he would step down as president of hockey operations following the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo (June 26-27).
Rutherford indicated that whoever replaces Allvin as GM will evaluate head coach Adam Foote and his staff. That could result in yet another coaching change for the Canucks, their fifth since 2017.
If Foote is replaced, the new Canucks GM could look within the club's system and promote Manny Malhotra into the role. A 16-year NHL player, including three seasons with the Canucks, Malhotra went on to become an assistant coach with the Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs from 2017-18 to 2023-24.
Malhotra returned to the Canucks organization in 2024 when he was hired as head coach of their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford, BC. In 2024-25, they won the Calder Cup, boosting his stock as a name to watch in the coaching ranks.
The Canucks likely wouldn't want to risk losing Malhotra to another NHL team. He'd also have an advantage in that he's coached several of their young players, including Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Tom Willander, and Victor Mancini.
With the Canucks rebuilding, Malhotra could be the right person to have behind the bench. He's garnered a solid reputation, he's respected within the organization, and several of their young players already know him.
Vegas Golden Knights: John Tortorella
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On March 29, the Vegas Golden Knights fired head coach Bruce Cassidy and replaced him on an interim basis with John Tortorella. At the time, the Golden Knights were struggling and in danger of falling out of playoff contention. After Tortorella's hiring, they went 7-0-1 and clinched the Pacific Division title.
Tortorella brings nearly 25 years of NHL coaching experience to the Golden Knights. He won a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Jack Adams Award in 2003-04. He won the latter again with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2016-17. Tortorella is ninth all-time among NHL coaches with 777 wins.
While Tortorella has a well-earned reputation for improving teams, he's also known as a demanding and mercurial coach who eventually wears out his welcome. He's mellowed somewhat over the years, especially during his tenures with the Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers, but the notoriety persists.
Still, there's no denying that Tortorella has had a positive effect on the Golden Knights, who are in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He implemented an aggressive "north-south" game with an emphasis on strong forechecking. Tortorella also made Carter Hart his starting goalie during that stretch.
After hiring Tortorella, Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon indicated that they would discuss the future once their season was over. Based on his performance thus far, he has made the case to be brought back next season.
On Apr. 11, Jesse Granger of The Athletic acknowledged the possibility that Tortorella's style might eventually wear thin with the Golden Knights players. However, he believes that it won't be much of a concern for a club trying to keep its championship window open.
Stats, standings, and trophy info via NHL.com. Coaching histories via Hockey-Reference.com.
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