Editor's Note: This story last updated Oct. 16, 2024.
The 2024-25 NHL season started in full force last week, and while the regular season runs through April 17, not every coach is guaranteed to keep their job until then. The league has gone through a tumultuous period for those behind the bench, as keen observers using Ontario betting sites will note.
There has been a lot of turnover since the beginning of last season, as 14 coaches have been hired – or rehired in Lindy Ruff's case at Buffalo – in the past 11 months. That's 43.8% of all NHL head coaches. It's unlikely 2024-25 will have such upheaval, but odds are there will still be some movement in the months ahead.
So, just as we did last season, OntarioBets.com is bringing back the Next NHL head coach fired odds board. If this is your first time here, these odds are for information purposes only. You will not find them at any approved Ontario sports betting operator, such as Pinnacle Ontario Sportsbook or 888 Sport.
Team | Coach | Odds | Percent Chance |
Pittsburgh Penguins | Mike Sullivan | 18.2% | +450 |
Montreal Canadiens | Martin St. Louis | 16.7% | +500 |
Chicago Blackhawks | Luke Richardson | 13.3% | +650 |
Detroit Red Wings | Derek Lalonde | 13.3% | +650 |
Anaheim Ducks | Greg Cronin | 10.0% | +900 |
Philadelphia Flyers | John Tortorella | 9.1% | +1000 |
Buffalo Sabres | Lindy Ruff | 6.3% | +1500 |
Colorado Avalanche | Jared Bednar | 5.4% | +1750 |
Other |
| 7.7% | +1200 |
Mike Sullivan has the second-longest tenure of any active NHL coach with his current team, having been hired by the Penguins in December 2015. While his three-year contract extension kicked in this season, he signed that in August 2022. Since then, the Pens have missed the playoffs for two straight seasons.
Pittsburgh also enters the season with the third-oldest roster, according to NHL Rosters, which publishes lineups for The Hockey News.
It's not just Sullivan that has a long-term deal. Center Sidney Crosby has three years left on his contract and Evgeni Malkin, Crosby's longtime teammate, has two remaining on his. However, at some point, Pittsburgh will need to begin rebuilding and move on from its most successful coach and two of its greatest players ever. The question is, will that process begin this season if the Penguins fall out of playoff contention early?
Sports Interaction Ontario Sportsbook has the Penguins' season point total set at 89.5, with the over being a slight favorite (-115) to the under (-105).
Despite finishing last in the Atlantic Division for three straight seasons, the Montreal Canadiens chose to give coach Martin St. Louis a two-year extension in April, retaining him through the 2026-27 season. The Canadiens have improved their record in each full season under the guidance of the Hall of Fame player, and the Habs have the second-youngest squad, according to NHL Rosters.
So, it seems unlikely St. Louis would be sacked so soon after getting an extension. However, the Habs need to build upon the improvement the team has shown in the past couple of seasons. That doesn't mean they need to get in the playoffs this season, especially since bet365 Ontario Sportsbook gives Montreal odds of +700 to end its three-year postseason drought. That said, St. Louis' seat may start to get warm if the team once remains in last place.
While our oddsmakers have Sullivan and St. Louis as the favorites, I think the more likely candidates to be the first coach fired this season are among the next three on our list.
Luke Richardson has another year on his contract after this season, but this one is the last guaranteed year on his deal, and his Chicago Blackhawks are coming off a 52-point, last-place season in the Central Division. Now Chicago has spent some money to boost the roster around Calder Trophy winner Connor Bedard. Like Montreal, Chicago doesn't need to be a playoff team for Richardson to keep his job – the DraftKings Ontario sports betting app set the Blackhawks odds at +20000 to win the division – but his seat is one to keep an eye on should the Blackhawks struggle out of the gate.
Last season, Derek Lalonde coached the Detroit Red Wings to their first winning campaign since 2015-16. Still, that was not good enough, as the once-mighty Wings missed the postseason for the eighth straight year. There will be plenty of competition in the Eastern Conference to make the playoffs, and LeoVegas Ontario Sportsbook prices the Wings' chances to win the conference at +2500. Lalonde, though, is in the final year of his contract. Should Detroit remain on the outside looking in, Lalonde could find himself out of a job.
Meanwhile, in Anaheim, longtime NHL assistant coach Greg Cronin starts his second season leading the Ducks. They have the sixth-youngest roster per NHL Rosters and are coming off a 59-point, seventh-place finish in the Pacific Division. It might not be fair to axe the 61-year-old midway through the second year of his first head coaching stint, but the Ducks, who haven't made the playoffs since 2019, might move on if the team is on pace for its third consecutive sub-60-point season. At +750, Caesars Ontario Sportsbook has the Ducks as its third choice to finish the season with the fewest points.
There's one more name to watch on the board, the one at the bottom. Jared Bednar has had a great run in Colorado. The third-most tenured coach in the league led the Avalanche to the Stanley Cup in 2022, and the Avs have made the playoffs seven straight years under him. He's also under contract through the 26-27 season.
However, no team has had as bad of a stumble to start this season as the Avalanche have. They've given up 20 goals to start the season 0-3-0. It's not an ideal start for a team that had +1100 odds at BetMGM Ontario Sportsbook to win the Stanley Cup this season.
Bednar shouldn't be the first change Colorado makes. That should be goalie Alexandar Georgiev, who may be showing signs of wear after leading the NHL in wins the past two seasons. If the Avs can't find a way to stop opponents, the team may be forced to consider taking a drastic step.
Our guide to NHL betting helps you get the 2024-25 NHL season started with all the information you need for wagering.
USA Today photo by Philip G. Pavely
Author
Steve is an accomplished, award-winning reporter with more than 20 years of experience covering gaming, sports, politics and business. He has written for the Associated Press, Reuters, The Louisville Courier Journal, The Center Square and numerous other publications. Based in Louisville, Ky., Steve has covered the expansion of sports betting in the U.S. and other gaming matters. He shares his expertise on OntarioBets, among other sites.
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