After Flames Fire Geoff Ward, Travis Green Still Favored to Be Next NHL Head Coach Fired

Buffalo Sabres’ head coach Ralph Krueger stands behind his bench during the first period of the team’s NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, in this Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, file photo.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

• In the wake of the firing of Geoff Ward by the Calgary Flames, Travis Green of the Vancouver Canucks remains perched as the favorite to be the next NHL head coach fired
• John Hynes has remained steady as a shortening second favorite, but value exists further down the odds, with Ralph Krueger emerging as an intriguing +700 bet
• We’ve got you covered with all the odds and insight on who will be the next NHL bench boss to lose his job

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The ax fell once again this week in the NHL, with Geoff Ward getting relieved of his duties as Calgary Flames bench boss less than six months after being anointed as the team’s full-time head coach. Ward is the second NHL coach to lose his job this season, joining Claude Julien, who was fired by the Montreal Canadiens late last month. While neither Ward nor Julien were considered to be favorites to lose their jobs, their departures have sparked death watches around the league. Not surprisingly, Vancouver Canucks head coach Travis Green continues to lead the way as a strong +300 favorite to be the next NHL coach fired. However, there is no shortage of contenders emerging to claim the dubious distinction of next coach fired.

Here’s a look at which NHL coaches currently find themselves on the bubble, and the best bets to be the next ones to lose their jobs.

Odds to Be the Next NHL Head Coach Fired

Odds as of March 6, 2021

Patience Wearing Thin in Vancouver

Patience is starting to wear thin in Vancouver after the Canucks posted just two wins in 13 February contests. The Canucks now sit four points adrift for the fourth-place Montreal Canadiens, who also hold five games in hand, but showed signs of improvement this past week, posting big wins over Winnipeg and Toronto.

It’s been a few hours since Jim Benning took questions from media and I still don’t understand why he bothered?

There was absolutely no benefit to his availability & if anything just further cemented the fact he’s lost.

Don’t praise the organization for this, it was a disaster.

— Rob Fai (@RobFai) March 5, 2021

A fixture atop the odds to be the next coach fired this season, Green has been fortunate to see his boss Jim Benning publicly take the heat for the team’s failings. That said, it appears it is only a matter of time before the Canucks make a coaching change. And the upcoming week will be crucial for Vancouver, with four games coming up vs the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, and Edmonton Oilers that could define the remainder of the team’s campaign.

Hynes Well Positioned to Weather Storm in Nashville

But as we have already seen this season, with the firings of Julien and Ward paying at out on +800 and +2000 odds respectively, better value is available further down the odds board. John Hynes has vaulted to a +400 second favorite as the Nashville Predators have quickly fallen out of playoff contention.

Losers in 10 of 16 outings, the Predators now lag in sixth place in the Central Division standings and have tumbled to a distant +10000 to win the Central on the NHL Divisional odds.

In five-plus seasons as an NHL head coach, John Hynes has a 176-183-46 record and 43.4 winning percentage

Should the #Preds start looking elsewhere for a new bench boss?https://t.co/uh0owFDw4j pic.twitter.com/dyfW9rRj2A

— Michael Gallagher (@MGsports_) March 6, 2021

Pegged as a +500 bet to lose his job in the wake of Julien’s firing, Hynes has seen his odds shorten as talk continues of a full-blown rebuild in Nashville. However, with just 51 games under his belt coaching a Predators team that was already in decline upon his arrival, Hynes is likely safe until at least the offseason, when GM David Poile could find himself on the chopping block.

Tocchet, Torts Still on the Bubble

Coaches like Rick Tocchet and John Tortorella also remain, strong candidates, as their teams fade from contention. A +2000 bet to lose his job as Columbus head coach late last month, Torts has shortened to a +1600 wager after receiving a dreaded vote of confidence from Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekäläinen.

🚨🚨🚨Breaking News: #CBJ GM Jarmo Kekalainen addresses the media this morning via zoom and reassures confidence in HC John Tortorella.

“I don’t believe In quick fixes that you all of a sudden blow up something we’ve been building for awhile.” pic.twitter.com/srJucsS0Ck

— Hockey Hound (@HockeyHoundShow) March 2, 2021

The Arizona Coyotes’ recent 4-2-1 run in seven straight games with the St. Louis Blues has lengthened Tocchet’s odds from +1000 to +1600. However, the team’s currently on a shaky 1-3-0 run and need to overcome huge multi-goal deficits in recent outings has been far from inspiring for a coach now living with a new boss and facing an expiring contract.

Krueger, Sullivan Offer Value

Two names to watch in the days and weeks ahead are Ralph Krueger and Mike Sullivan. A front office housecleaning in Pittsburgh and the Penguins’ continued failure to maintain possession of playoff spot could spell the end for Sullivan, who is listed as a +1800 bet.

Ralph Krueger: I don’t believe we need to reinvent our style of play. I think we want to be an attacking team with a strong defense pic.twitter.com/VNqB4fWcz4

— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) March 5, 2021

But the situation looks to be far bleaker for Krueger. Now into a second disastrous season behind the bench in Buffalo, Krueger has rocketed to a +700 bet to be the next coach fired while the Sabres have plummeted to the bottom of the NHL standings. With the Sabres now riding a five-game losing streak, Krueger has become the target of widespread criticism for his handling of both the team’s veteran stars and top prospects.

Complicating matters for Krueger is the precarious position of his boss, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams. With the team taking a step back in his first season at the helm, Adams is reportedly reviewing the situation in Buffalo. And with a fire sale looking imminent as the NHL Trade Deadline approaches, look for Adams and the Sabres to waste no time making a change behind the bench.

The Pick: Ralph Krueger (+700)

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