Season’s greetings: Teams have given NHL coaches a head start on holiday wrapping. The Leafs kicked out Mike Babcock first, then Bill Peters resigned following accusations of racism and physical abuse and the Devils ended John Hynes’s five-year tenure last week. The Stars fired Jim Montgomery, blindsiding the team, for “unprofessional conduct.” There aren’t too many other coaches who have to worry—Bruce Boudreau’s hot seat has chilled with Minnesota’s winning spurt and Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill should win an award for the league’s best tank.
How have interims faired in the past? It’s a mixed bag: Craig Berube, of course, lead the Blues to the Stanley Cup, but all other interims combined for a 129-133-31 record and zero playoff appearances in 2018–19.