The day eventually comes for many NHL coaches, where they receive the phone call, or tap on the shoulder to go see the GM or owner.
A summons where the usual things are said, "you gave it a good shot, but we're going in a different direction", or variations of the theme.
Of the thirty members of the NHL coaching and managerial fraternity, sometime this year, maybe early, maybe late, the word will come that their services are no longer required.
We will provide the compilation of the summoned from this spot, listing those unlucky members of the club that find themselves outsourced in this 2011-12 season. The archive of our list can be quickly referenced on our right hand side bar, in the GM's Office section.
January 9-- Columbus Blue Jackets -- New Year's resolutions don't last long it seems, as the Columbus Blue Jackets management showed little patience with the stumbling performance of their team. The Blue Jackets announced the dismissal of Scott Arniel on Monday morning, making him the seventh NHL head coach to be fired so far in the 2011-12 season. (details) . Todd Richards has been tapped to take over the Blue Jackets on an interim basis, Richards the former head coach of the Minnesota Wild is expected to hold the post at least until the end of the season, when the larger issues of the Blue Jackets will no doubt be reviewed. We review the dismissal and offer up the snarly mood from the Columbus media with our post to the portal here.
December 17-- Montreal Canadiens-- Perry Pearn got a head start on the packing back in October, but Jacques Martin wasn't too far behind in Montreal, as Les Canadiens called out the guillotine for another public execution, sending Martin to the unemployment lines one week before Christmas. Scrooge it seems goes by a new name, and that name is Pierre (details). Martin couldn't coax wins out of a struggling Canadiens squad, so GM Pierre Gauthier has turned the reins over to Randy Cunneyworth, a unilingual coach in a city that demands their press clips in both languages, one gets the feeling it may be a long season for the temporary coach in more than just hockey ways. Our HockeyNation review of Martin's dismissal can be found here.
December 12-- Los Angeles Kings-- Terry Murray makes it two out of three for California franchises (Todd McLellan may soon be looking over his shoulder), as the LA Kings decide that the less than successful run on the ice means that the coach must go (details). That despite the fact that GM Dean Lombardi says that Murray's departure is because of their efforts, however, as always it seems its easier to get rid of a coach than the non performing players. Our HockeyNation review of the dismissal can be found here.
November 30-- Anaheim Ducks -- Randy Carlyle didn't get much time to savour his victory over the Montreal Canadiens, by 10:21 Wednesday night Carlyle had been informed that his time with the Ducks had come to an end, Anaheim having decided to snap up Bruce Boudreau (recently dismissed by Washington) before anyone else. Boudreau joins an Anaheim team that would seem to have some of the same problems as the one he left behind, yet its believed that Anaheim feels that a new voice might better resonate among the troops as they struggle to salvage their season. (details) Our Grim Reaper review (OT claims by the Reaper would seem likely considering this weeks developments) can be found here.
November 28-- Carolina Hurricanes -- Jim Rutherford added to the Black Monday mood around the NHL as the Hurricanes President and GM dismissed Paul Maurice for the second time in his NHL coaching career. The announcement which came on the heels of the Bruce Boudreau dismissal in Washington had a similar theme to it, a non performing team that it seems had tuned out their coach. Rutherford is hoping that Kirk Muller can provide the right tone for the Canes', Muller an oft mentioned name when it comes to potential new NHL coaches gets his opportunity to make his mark in the league with his arrival behind the Carolina bench (details). We review the dismissal of Paul Maurice with this post to our HockeyNation portal.
November 28-- Washington Capitals-- George McPhee wields the axe in Washington, bringing to an end the reign of Bruce Boudreau behind the Capitals bench, the atrocious start and lack of passion of the Capitals players seemingly playing the main role in the Boudreau dismissal. Former Capital Dale Hunter, takes over behind the Capitals bench, the hope it would seem that he can transfer the kind of passion that he played with during his playing days to some of the Caps under performing players. (details) You can read our review of the Capitals decision with this link to our HockeyNation post on the story.
November 6-- St. Louis Blues-- John Davidson and the rest of the executive team with the Blues brought an end to the reign of the league's youngest coach on Sunday. The Blues announced that Davis Payne would be let go as head coach of the struggling Blues, with Ken Hitchcock returning to the NHL as his replacement. (details). You can read our overview on the firing from this link to the HockeyNation post.
October 26-- Montreal Canadiens -- The Habs management bid adieu to Perry Pearn, dismissing the assistant coach and close friend of head coach Jacques Martin. Pearn was relieved of his duties prior to the Canadiens October 26th game with the Philadelphia Flyers. (details). You can read our view on the firing from this link to the HockeyNation post.
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