from Adam Proteau of The Hockey News,

... This coming season is no different: before a single game is played, there are coaches who understand full well the stakes of their job could not be higher, and they could find themselves on the unemployment line before so much as a quarter of the regular season is completed.

Which bench bosses are feeling the heat? And which currently unemployed head coaches are keeping their eyes peeled, just waiting for the opportunity to jump back in hockey’s top league? Here are five hockey men from each group:

Jeff Blashill, Detroit Red Wings

Detroit GM Steve Yzerman has earned his stripes as one of the NHL’s most savvy team architects, and guess how many years he just signed Blashill to on a contract extension? That’s right – two years, just like Colliton and Green. Blashill has been the Wings’ head coach for more than six years, and that’s a near-eternity in NHL coaching circles. Many believe Detroit will not be notably better in 2021-22 and likely miss the playoffs again – and if there’s a hockey man out there Yzerman feels will be a better fit for this rebuilding team, everyone should expect he hands Blashill his walking papers and moves on without him.

more coaches plus those waiting to replace them...