The NHL season approaches with several key figures facing make-or-break moments. Here’s a look at 10 people under intense pressure heading into 2025-26, including five players, two head coaches, two general managers, and one franchise owner.
Kevyn Adams
The Sabres GM has virtually no margin for error left.
Buffalo’s trying to snap an NHL-record playoff drought of 14 years. The Atlantic Division’s deep talent pool makes reaching the postseason even tougher. Things could unravel quickly for Adams, who’s become the primary target for frustrated fans.
Adams recently traded young core pieces Dylan Cozens and JJ Peterka for Josh Norris, Josh Doan, Michael Kesselring, and Jacob Bernard-Docker. Conor Timmins was later signed as a free agent to replace Bernard-Docker.
These moves will either bring success or more disappointment. There’s no middle ground for a franchise that’s finished 31st, 24th, tied for 19th, 22nd, and 26th during Adams’ five years as GM.
The futures of first-line winger Alex Tuch (pending unrestricted free agent) and top-four defenseman Bowen Byram (trade rumors) add more complexity.
Rasmus Andersson
Andersson’s desire to leave Calgary is public knowledge. Fresh rumors about his future surface every other week. It can’t be easy to focus while playing.
“The thing that bothers you is fake information that comes out,” the 28-year-old Flames defenseman told reporters last Tuesday.
“I saw some reports that I would only sign with one team (Vegas) and this and that. I mean, it couldn’t be further from the truth. Me and (Calgary GM Craig Conroy) have had a few conversations over the summer, and I would never handcuff him and give him one team.”
How does the pending unrestricted free agent start the season? Will Andersson boost his trade value by performing his usual role – eating minutes and contributing offensively from the right side of Calgary’s defense?
His involvement with Sweden’s Olympic roster adds another layer of pressure.
Andersson’s $4.55-million cap hit won’t be difficult for a Stanley Cup contender to absorb. The Golden Knights make sense as an aggressive team with a hole at right-handed defense now that Alex Pietrangelo is out long term.
Andrew Brunette
Brunette might have the hottest seat among all 32 head coaches.
The Predators collected only 68 points last season after being crowned winners of the 2024 offseason. They’d signed free agents Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei.
Nashville’s offense slumped from 10th in goals scored to 31st. They dropped from 12th in expected goals generated to 20th, according to Sportlogiq.
Brunette doesn’t deserve all the blame. Management hasn’t assembled a Cup-contending roster. Virtually every player on the 2024-25 squad had a down year, including star goalie Juuse Saros.
The pendulum could swing positively in Nashville.
If it doesn’t, GM Barry Trotz will likely consider a coaching change.
Connor Hellebuyck
The numbers tell a troubling story.
Hellebuyck has a .918 save percentage through 568 regular-season games. He won the Hart and Vezina trophies last year after posting a .925 save percentage when the league average settled at .900.
But the longtime Jet’s playoff performance drops significantly. He has a .903 save percentage in 58 career playoff games, including a .866 mark across 13 games against St. Louis and Dallas this spring.
Hellebuyck tried adjusting during the 2025 playoffs. It backfired.
“I thought maybe I could add something here, tweak something there. That’s typical stuff you do during the regular season too. But once I did that, I didn’t like it. I didn’t like the look of the game. I thought I was out of what makes me, me.”
The upcoming season could offer playoff redemption or provide more evidence he struggles under pressure.
The 32-year-old is the presumptive starting goalie for Team USA at the Olympics. Jake Oettinger, Jeremy Swayman, and Thatcher Demko could challenge for the job.
Craig Leipold
The Wild owner said in early September that the club and superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov were “not that far off” regarding a contract extension.
A week later, NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported that Kaprizov turned down what would’ve been the richest contract in league history – $128 million over eight seasons.
Owners typically aren’t directly involved in negotiations. This is different.
Leipold’s influence looms large because Kaprizov is clearly testing the team’s commitment level. Either the financial stakes rise enough to convince the Russian to stay, or Leipold and GM Bill Guerin must pivot.
If Kaprizov wants to test free agency, the Wild can try trading him midseason. His current deal includes a no-move clause. They could also keep him and treat 2025-26 as a “last dance.”
The Wild’s mediocre existence complicates things. They’ve missed the playoffs or lost in Round 1 each of the past 10 seasons.
Mitch Marner
Without context, Marner shouldn’t be on this list.
With it, he’s obvious.
The 28-year-old playmaker recorded a career-high 102 points last season. He showed well for Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off. He’s starting an eight-year, $96-million contract after Vegas acquired him in a June sign-and-trade with Toronto.
Marner’s no longer in a hockey-mad market or angling for a massive deal.
But he still needs to overcome his playoff struggles.
Regardless of market size, the winger must finally elevate his game late in playoff series. The pressure continues until he breaks through.
Auston Matthews
Matthews’ reputation has dimmed over the past 12 months. Multiple injuries limited him to 67 games and 33 goals in 2024-25. The Leafs again failed to advance past the second round.
Toronto has just two series wins in the captain’s nine seasons.
If you asked hockey people to list the NHL’s top five players, Matthews would be left off many ballots. This despite scoring 69 goals two years ago. He’s somehow become underrated.
Three questions remain: Can Matthews return to his dominant two-way form without Marner? What impact will he have on the Olympics as a top-six center for Team USA? Can Matthews and William Nylander carry Toronto to its first deep playoff run?
Elias Pettersson
Pettersson doesn’t need to fly out of the gate. He doesn’t have to outproduce ex-teammate J.T. Miller – now in New York after their fallout. He doesn’t need to set personal bests.
He just needs to show progress and look like himself again.
It sounds simple for an $11.6-million player. Maybe it is. Being a solid top-line center would remove the target from his back in Vancouver and beyond.
Pettersson’s currently overpaid for his production. He’s accumulated 59 points in 84 games since signing an extension in March 2024.
Yes, he’s a strong defensive player. At that cap hit, he also needs to lead the offense.
Captain Quinn Hughes expects a rebound: “He’s a competitive guy. I don’t think he gets that stature without having some intangibles inside you. I’ve seen it before.”
Joel Quenneville
Quenneville last coached in October 2021. He resigned from the Panthers following the Blackhawks’ sexual abuse case. The NHL determined Quenneville and other staffers inadequately responded in 2010 to allegations that player Kyle Beach had been assaulted by Chicago’s video coach.
Reinstated by the league in July 2024, Quenneville was hired in May to coach the Ducks.
His behavior will be under scrutiny, especially early on. It’s fair to wonder if the sport has passed him by. He’s 67 and hasn’t worked in four years.
Quenneville has inherited a team on the rise. Anaheim jumped from 59 points in 2023-24 to 80 last season. Its core has untapped potential. Management has steadily added useful veterans.
Steve Yzerman
Armed with the Yzerplan for rebuilding an Original Six franchise, Yzerman enters Season 7 as Red Wings GM.
Detroit hasn’t made the playoffs. It’s uncertain if their nine-year skid ends given the competition for Eastern Conference wild-card spots.
Yzerman’s job should be in jeopardy. But he’s a franchise icon who’s managed expectations well.
Detroit’s forward group is roughly NHL average. The blue line is a question mark beyond Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson. Goaltending’s been upgraded through the John Gibson acquisition.
Todd McLellan can showcase his coaching in his first full season.
