Assessing the Six Fresh NHL Head Coaches and Their Chances for Success

The term “success” carries different meanings across the NHL landscape. For certain franchises, simply reaching the playoffs represents a triumph. For others, only a Stanley Cup championship justifies the effort. And then there are organizations whose sole objective is player development and gradual improvement.

With six new head coaches entering the league this season, plenty of questions surround their ability to meet organizational expectations. Here they are ranked from least to most likely to achieve their stated goals.

6) Ryan Craig, Vegas Golden Knights

Unpleasant as it may be, Craig occupies this spot for good reason. His inaugural season with Vegas comes with immense pressure, as the franchise’s standard remains Cup contention.

Craig inherits an aging roster plagued by goaltending uncertainties. Carter Hart and Adin Hill, the primary netminders last season, combined for 18.4 goals above expected according to MoneyPuck. Hart’s Stanley Cup Final performance was particularly troubling — 5.67 goals above expected with an .863 save percentage.

The Golden Knights remain a deep, talented squad, but they lost Pavel Dorofeyev without adequate replacement. This is a playoff-caliber team, though not a genuine Cup favorite unless Craig delivers something unexpected.

5. Jim Hiller, Toronto Maple Leafs

Should the Maple Leafs consider playoff qualification sufficient success?

Hiller reached the postseason in each of his first two seasons with Los Angeles before getting dismissed, despite posting 90 points. Toronto possesses considerably more offensive talent than those Kings squads, and the season hinges on two factors: Sergei Bobrovsky’s performance and Auston Matthews’ health.

If Matthews returns to full strength — as he claims — the struggling offense stabilizes. Darren Raddysh on the power play instead of Morgan Rielly offers marginal improvement, though another 20-point campaign seems unlikely.

The bigger concern is Bobrovsky at age 38. If he reverts to Vezina-caliber form, Toronto thrives. If his decline is permanent, the Leafs struggle regardless. Don’t expect a full recovery.

4. Mike Babcock, Edmonton Oilers

Babcock’s recent track record doesn’t inspire confidence, though his extended absence from head coaching complicates any assessment. Edmonton’s decision to bring him back suggests desperation rather than strategy.

The silver lining is Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, still approaching their primes, possess the individual brilliance to carry a team deep into postseason play.

This feels like a Cup-or-bust roster, though they’ve reached the Western Conference Finals with similar talent before. The goaltending situation, however, raises serious concerns — Tristan Jarry was ineffective last year, Frederik Andersen rarely maintains full health, and Devon Levi lacks NHL provenance.

The regular season barely matters for this squad; simply reaching the playoffs would constitute a successful campaign. Whether Babcock can deliver remains an open question.

3. Peter Laviolette, Los Angeles Kings

Los Angeles hired Laviolette believing they could remain competitive in the Pacific Division, though recent roster losses and questionable tactical decisions undermine that confidence.

The Kings intend to deploy Adrian Kempe as their top center despite his lack of recent center experience and poor faceoff percentage (36.2%). Meanwhile, the defensive corps shows its age, and the goaltending pairing of Darcy Kuemper and Anton Forsberg inspires little faith.

On paper, they might rank third in their division, though reality could differ. Still, Laviolette consistently delivers strong initial seasons at new stops throughout his lengthy career, making a playoff appearance a reasonable expectation.

2. Manny Malhotra, Vancouver Canucks

Malhotra’s positioning here surprises only on the surface. Consider what Vancouver actually expects from him.

The organization likely prioritizes draft pick accumulation above all else. If management truthfully revealed their intentions, they’d admit the goal centers on maximizing younger players’ trade value — particularly on defense — while ensuring veterans maintain worth for future deals.

The risk involves Malhotra’s coaching ability. Finishing last would trigger roster overhauls, but languishing between 18th and 23rd proves most damaging long-term. If he coaches too well, the roster composition becomes problematic.

1. Peter DeBoer, New York Islanders

Like Laviolette and Malhotra, DeBoer inherits an Islanders squad with minimal expectations.

This represents a significant upgrade from last season’s coaching. DeBoer ranks among the league’s most consistently effective helmsmen, despite Dallas parting ways due to goalie conflicts and playoff ceiling limitations. Islanders supporters would welcome that standard during the Matthew Schaefer era.

If the benchmark is simply reaching the postseason, DeBoer clears it effortlessly. His playoff appearances are nearly automatic outside of one subpar season. This feels like a guaranteed positive outcome.

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