Columbus Blue Jackets

After Columbus, Who’s Really on the NHL Coaching Hot Seat?

After Columbus fires Evason, the NHL hot seat heats up—Seravalli names the coach most at risk next. Could it be Jim Hiller?

by
Old Prof
January 16, 2026

Coaching in the NHL is a weird game. One week you’re praised for keeping things steady, the next your team struggles, and suddenly everyone’s talking about you. The Columbus Blue Jackets just proved how fast a coaching move can happen: they let Dean Evason go, brought in Rick Bowness, and now coaches everywhere are likely checking over their shoulders.

Frank Seravalli joined the FAN Pregame Show to break down who might be next, and he didn’t hold back. For him, the list this year has been wide and unpredictable. At different points, Lindy Ruff, Craig Berube, Sheldon Keefe, and Jim Hiller were all in play. Others named Scott Arniel of the Jets. And somehow, it spun around to land on Evason. Seravalli called it “really unfortunate,” noting that plenty of other coaches could have fallen first.

So, Is Any Coach Close to Being Canned?

If anyone’s sweating right now, it’s probably the head coach of the Los Angeles Kings. Seravalli points to inconsistent play, a rough team vibe, and numbers that haven’t gone their way.

Seravalli’s takeaway: if there’s another coaching move coming, Jim Hiller might be the next name on the chopping block. It’s about the combination of team performance, expectations, and momentum. Teams that consistently underperform and lose dressing-room energy often face midseason changes—and the Kings fit that mould right now.

Hot-seat chatter changes fast. One week, a coach is in; the next, they’re out. A couple of wins can calm things down, but the NHL is all about results. Evason’s exit shows that even a solid track record isn’t a guarantee.

Dean Evason, now the Blue Jackets’ ex-head coach

Could the Blue Jackets’ Move Signal a Wave of Action?

In the end, the story isn’t just about who gets fired next. It’s about what teams value—momentum, culture, and performance under pressure. As Seravalli points out, the Blue Jackets’ move could signal a wave. Coaches everywhere are quietly taking stock, and one thing is certain: the hot seat keeps moving.

As the season heads toward the cutting point between making the playoffs and not, coaching jobs get more iffy. Someone will likely be tossed, but who that somebody is – well, who knows right now?