NHL coaches live their lives in a constant state of win or go home - on a game-to-game basis, but also in terms of their very livelihood. A poor start to the season means heading home a loser, tail between their legs more often than team owners and fan bases would, no doubt, like.
But, an especially poor start can also mean losing the seemingly perpetually tenuous grasp on their position altogether.
One coach, whose job status has gone from somewhat shaky to being on the verge of full collapse, is the Edmonton Oilers' Dallas Eakins, according to Matt Larkin of The Hockey News.
After last night's 4-1 shellacking at the hands of the mediocre Philadelphia Flyers, their second loss in a row, Eakins' seat has apparently begun to warm up.
Prior to the current losing streak, Edmonton had rattled off four straight victories, which had stayed the executioner's hand, according to a report from Steve Simmons of The Toronto Sun. But after losing star Taylor Hall to a knee injury that will sideline him for about two weeks, and Captain Andrew Ference to a suspension, things have gone decidedly sideways for Eakins and the Oilers.
On their recent seven-game homestand, the team managed a mediocre 4-3 record. With a five-game road trip next on the docket, what happens to Eakins if things go completely haywire for Edmonton?
Check out who else is apparently on the hot seat:
Randy Carlyle, Toronto Maple Leafs
-Carlyle's future in Toronto was already in doubt heading into the season, despite the fact that he signed a two-year contract extension in the offseason. With Toronto finding a new way to win - by improving their puck possession game - he's quieted the critics - for now.
Ted Nolan, Buffalo Sabres
-The Sabres are bad - real bad. And worse, they're bad on purpose. They're probably going to start shipping out some talented veterans in the hopes of restocking their franchise with youth fairly soon. Nolan is probably safe because they're tanking in order to get a high pick in next year's draft (Jack Eichel, ahem ahem), but Nolan and the players seem to be losing patience with one another. He, like Carlyle, got a contract extension in March, but this situation seems more volatile than it probably should be.
Craig Berube, Philadelphia Flyers
-New GM Ron Hextall is really the impetus for Berube's inclusion here. Yes, the Flyers have underperformed so far this season. But Berube helped this team make the playoffs last season after Peter Laviolette was fired three games into the year. If Hextall, who didn't promote Berube to head coach, wants to bring in his own guy, then "Chief" as he's affectionately known, may not last the year. But Hextall is also a GM who preaches patience with players - whether or not that same thought process extends to his coaches remains to be seen.
Dave Tippett, Arizona Coyotes
-The Coyotes are bad, and they're particularly poor in an area of supposed strength. They're allowing more goals than any other team in the league, despite a talented, young blueline and a strong goaltender in Mike Smith. When your team is bad and their strongest component isn't performing up to snuff, something is wrong and something eventually has to give.
