6 candidates to become 1st-time NHL head coaches
The NHL is due for some new blood in the coaching ranks.
Veteran head coaches are routinely recycled around the league. There's a chance that's no different this offseason with experienced options such as Mike Sullivan, Rick Tocchet, Joel Quenneville, Peter Laviolette, and John Tortorella being available.
But with eight vacancies - Canucks, Ducks, Bruins, Blackhawks, Rangers, Flyers, Penguins, and Kraken - and potentially more coming, some teams may prefer a younger, up-and-coming bench boss. With that in mind, we'll explore six candidates who appear ready to become NHL head coaches for the first time.
David Carle
Current position: Head coach, University of Denver
Carle is the hottest name on this list. He reportedly withdrew from Chicago's search, but that doesn't necessarily guarantee he's returning to the college ranks.
It's easy to understand the interest in Carle. The 35-year-old led the Pioneers to two national championships in the last four years. He also guided Team USA to back-to-back gold medals at the World Junior Championship in 2024 and 2025. The winning pedigree is evident.
If Carle decides to return to Denver for another season, he'd likely still be coveted by NHL teams a year from now, so he doesn't need to rush a move to the pros. He can be picky about the opportunities presented to him.
Jay Pandolfo
Current position: Head coach, Boston University
It's unclear if Pandolfo even wants to coach in the NHL. It would be easy to understand if he preferred to stay in the NCAA due to the greater job security. But if he chooses to make the jump, there'd likely be no shortage of interest. He checks every box.
Pandolfo was a valuable, defensive-minded forward during his 15-year playing career, winning a pair of Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils. He spent five years as an assistant coach with the Bruins under Claude Julien and Bruce Cassidy, helping Boston reach the 2019 Stanley Cup Final. Since Pandolfo took over, BU has reached the Frozen Four three straight years, most recently losing in this year's national title game in April.
As a Massachusetts native, the Bruins' opening could be awfully tempting.
Steve Ott
Current position: Associate coach, St. Louis Blues
Ott has never been a head coach at any level, and he's only worked for one organization in his post-playing career, but something about him screams head coach material. Maybe it's because he was a heart-and-soul-type player during his 14 seasons.
It also says a lot that Ott has managed to stick around the Blues' bench under four different head coaches: Mike Yeo, Craig Berube, Drew Bannister, and Jim Montgomery.
Hiring Ott would require a leap of faith, but he has the potential to become a culture setter for a rebuilding team.
Marc Savard
Current position: Assistant coach, Toronto Maple Leafs
It seems to be only a matter of time before Savard gets a head coaching job. A gifted playmaking center during his 13-year NHL career, his offensive creativity has carried over behind the bench. Savard, who's responsible for running Toronto's power play, was able to figure out a perennially underachieving unit. The Maple Leafs started slow with the man advantage but owned the NHL's second-best power play from February onward.
Savard has only coached since 2019, but his resume is already impressive. The Blues owned the NHL's third-best power play while Savard spearheaded that unit in 2019-20. The Flames finished 26th with the man advantage under his guidance in 2023-24, though there admittedly wasn't much talent to work with.
More importantly, Savard has head coaching experience. He led the OHL's Windsor Spitfires to the best record in the Western Conference in both of his seasons on the job (2021-23). They made it all the way to the OHL final in 2022.
Mitch Love
Current position: Assistant coach, Washington Capitals
Love isn't the sexiest name on this list, but he's arguably the most qualified. Before joining Spencer Carbery's staff in 2023, Love was the back-to-back AHL Coach of the Year with the Calgary Flames' affiliate. Prior to that, he put together a stellar 95-44-12-4 record over a three-year stretch as head coach of the WHL's Saskatoon Blades.
The 40-year-old never made it to the NHL as a player, but he spent six years in the WHL and five in the AHL. The former enforcer would bring an element of toughness behind the bench to an NHL team.
Olli Jokinen
Current position: Head coach, HIFK (Liiga)
Jokinen is without question the biggest wild card on this list. The chances of him becoming an NHL head coach next season seem highly unlikely, but don't rule out the possibility down the road.
The 17-year NHL veteran has coached overseas since 2021. He previously spent three years with Jukurit in Liiga, Finland's top professional league, and took over Timra IK in the SHL, Sweden's top league, a year ago. He's committed to return to Liiga in 2025-26 with HIFK - where he played two seasons before coming to the NHL.
Jokinen went viral in January for giving a fiery, profanity-laced speech to motivate his team. He said it would be "a dream" to coach in the NHL one day. However, that may prove difficult without prior North American coaching experience, and it seems unlikely he would back out of his new HIFK gig for an NHL assistant position or an AHL head coaching job.