NHL Coach Rankings 2026: Mid-Tier Pressure Builds

Scott Arniel steered the Winnipeg Jets to the Presidents’ Trophy in 2024-25 yet reached only the second round of the playoffs.

Arniel Eyes Bounce-Back in Winnipeg

Arniel posted a runner-up finish for the 2024-25 Jack Adams Award after the Jets topped the NHL standings that season. The same coach then watched his club miss the deeper postseason runs expected from a Presidents’ Trophy winner. Winnipeg’s 2025-26 campaign produced no playoff appearance, creating direct pressure for 2026-27. Arniel retains player respect inside the locker room, yet the organization now demands first-round advancement at minimum. A second straight non-playoff year would drop Arniel below his current 20th spot.

The Jets’ core returns largely intact for the new campaign. Arniel must convert regular-season points into at least two playoff series victories to climb the list. His two-year record shows one deep run and one early exit. That contrast leaves little margin for another sub-.500 finish.

Keefe and Sturm Navigate New Environments

Sheldon Keefe arrived in New Jersey in 2024 and posted nearly identical records across his first two seasons. The Devils slipped from third to seventh in the Metropolitan Division between 2024-25 and 2025-26. Keefe owns a prior first-place finish with Toronto in 2020-21, yet zero deep playoff series wins followed that achievement. New general manager Sunny Mehta has placed Keefe on the hot seat entering 2026-27. A playoff berth in the weakened Metro would stabilize his position.

Marco Sturm completed his first NHL head-coaching season with a 45-27-10 record and a playoff appearance. Boston fell to Buffalo in that postseason series. Sturm logged 938 regular-season NHL games as a player and served as an assistant with the Kings before his Bruins promotion. The Bruins roster remains in transition under new management, limiting immediate expectations. Sturm’s early results already place him on an upward trajectory.

McLellan and Montgomery Carry Heavy Expectations

Todd McLellan holds 1,274 regular-season games of NHL coaching experience. He returned to Detroit in December 2024 and inherited a franchise still seeking consistent postseason qualification. The Red Wings have missed the playoffs in each of McLellan’s full seasons behind the bench. A return to the postseason in 2026-27 would raise his ranking; another miss would erase the benefit of his extensive résumé.

Jim Montgomery replaced Drew Bannister in St. Louis five days after becoming available in November 2024. He previously guided Boston to a 65-12-5 mark and the 2022-23 Jack Adams Award. The Blues finished 37-33-12 in 2025-26 under Montgomery. New general manager Alex Steen oversees a roster shift toward younger players. Montgomery must elevate the club inside the competitive Central Division while developing prospects or risk a steep decline in standing.

The middle tier of the 2026 coach rankings therefore hinges on concrete postseason delivery rather than prior reputation alone.