5 NHL Coaches-in-Waiting Who Will Be Getting Calls About Open Jobs This Season

Three NHL coaches have already been fired this year, and there likely will be more by the time the season ends.

The Anaheim Ducks, Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes have gone in new directions after getting off to poor starts.

Teams such as the Montreal Canadiens, Columbus Blue Jackets and Calgary Flames could all be looking for new coaches this season, so who could they hire?

Let's look at five coaches waiting for their chance at another NHL head coaching job, or for their first opportunity.

Don Lever

Don Lever has had great success as a coach in the minors but has never had a head coaching gig in the NHL.

Lever won the AHL championship in 2006-07 with the Hamilton Bulldogs.

He has been an assistant for the Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues and Montreal Canadiens at the professional level, and is worthy of his first shot at being a head coach.

Craig MacTavish

Craig MacTavish was the Edmonton Oilers' head coach from 2000 to 2009 and led the team to a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2006.

He is one of 36 coaches in NHL history to have 300-plus wins, and is in his first season as head coach of the Chicago Wolves in the AHL.

MacTavish was also a player on multiple Oilers championship-winning teams in the 1980s.

Despite being in just his first year with the Wolves, a good head coaching job in the NHL and its salary could be too much for MacTavish to pass on.

Andy Murray

Andy Murray is the head coach of the Western Michigan University men's hockey team, and he has prior NHL head coaching experience with the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues.

Murray would be a great fit with several teams, especially ones that need help defensively.

The 60-year-old would give a team a veteran coach who knows how to deal with young and older players, which is a must in today's game with all the young stars dominating the league.

Ted Nolan

Ted Nolan is a demanding guy and has gotten the most out of his teams he's led, including at the NHL level.

Nolan was the 1996-97 Jack Adams award winner as coach of the year for his job with the Buffalo Sabres, as he led the team to a 40-win season.

He is a fantastic motivator and someone who has proven NHL head coaching success. Any team looking for a new coach soon would be foolish not to give Nolan a call.

He is currently the head coach of the Latvia men's national ice hockey team.

Pat Quinn

Pat Quinn has been a head coach with several NHL teams, including the Edmonton Oilers, who he currently still works for as an adviser.

He led the Flyers to the 1980 Stanley Cup Final where they team lost to the New York Islanders, but he won the Jack Adams award for his job that season.

Quinn returned to the Stanley Cup Final in 1994 with the Vancouver Canucks, who lost to the New York Rangers in seven games.

Quinn is a veteran coach who knows how to win and puts his team in the best position to win. He is a solid choice for any NHL team looking to get to a level of consistent success.