Former NHL defenseman Frank Corrado spoke about the three NHL teams that currently have head coaching vacancies. He ranked the Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, and Toronto Maple Leafs based on which jobs coaches would most like to take.

When TSN’s Jay Onrait asked him to rank the best coaching destinations, Frank Corrado put the Oilers at the top of his list. He feels that coaches have a chance to lead center Connor McDavid and forward Leon Draisaitl to a Stanley Cup triumph.

“Okay, so most pressure, the Edmonton Oilers, but also most desirable because how many coaches would love to say that they had the chance to coach McDavid and Dreisaitl in their prime, trying to win a Stanley Cup," Corrado said. 

Despite the tenure being possibly short, Corrado approved the team's prospects.

"It might be a short tenure if you're that head coach, but that's the one that you would want."  

The Canucks were ranked second in Corrado’s list as they offer long-term stability. According to him, the main focus here is on building culture and gradually developing the team.

Corrado added that the negligible levels of pressure at Canucks were ideal for building a squad.

“The second one would be the Vancouver Canucks, and I'll tell you why this is all about longevity," he said. "There's no pressure, no expectation to win; the only expectation and pressure that comes with that job is building a culture and cultivating something that you can build.”

And finally, he concluded his list by putting the Toronto Maple Leafs third. Corrado expressed doubts regarding the Maple Leafs’ future and how the team will change over the next few years. 

“And the third one would be the Toronto Maple Leafs, because, quite honestly, Jay, we don't know what this team is going to look like," he stated. "Are they going to double down? Are they going to keep their guys? Or is it going to look totally different?”

Corrado's ranking isn't without reason. The Maple Leafs conducted a front-office sweep after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016. They have hired John Chayka as GM and Mats Sundin as Senior Executive Advisor, and aim to rebuild the team.

To summarize, Corrado said the Edmonton Oilers are a win-now team with star players, the Vancouver Canucks offer a long-term culture-building project, and the Toronto Maple Leafs remain directionally uncertain.

Corrado Was Part of Two Out of Three Teams

Frank Corrado played for two of the teams in his ranking. He played for the Vancouver Canucks from 2012 to 2015, and then represented the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2015 to 2017.

The former defenseman ended his NHL career with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2018. Overall, he played 76 NHL games in his career.

The teams mentioned in his ranking abruptly dismissed their coaches in the offseason. The Edmonton Oilers dismissed Kris Knoblauch, while the Vancouver Canucks parted ways with Adam Foote.

The Toronto Maple Leafs' high-profile rebuild began with the firing of Craig Berube.

The managerial merry-go-round has yet to conclude, as organizations seek a new path to success.

Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Sijo Paul