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In this edition of the hotstove we discuss which head coach is in the hottest seat entering the 2015-16 season.

Todd Cordell: Claude Julien

Claude Julien's seat has to be as hot as the sun right now. Owner Jeremy Jacobs is adamant about being competitive every year and he won't shy away from big changes if the team isn't winning.

On top of that GM Don Sweeney was rumored to have been considering a coaching change during the off-season. Sweeney has said countless times he believes this Bruins squad is a playoff team (I don't believe that to be the case) so a slow start could be enough for him to make a change.

Tim Chiasson: Ken Hitchcock

After leading the Blues to the (tied-for) best record in the Western Conference last year, Hitchcock was nearly fired after another disappointing playoff performance. He was kept on with a one year contract extension.

There is no other coach on a hotter seat than Ken Hitchcock.

The Blues just haven't had the playoff success that you'd think of when associating their strong play in the regular season with actual results. They've under-performed when it counts and that's going to rest on Hitchcock, whether it's right or wrong.

If the Blues flame out again in the playoffs - or struggle early in the season - there could be a change behind the bench in St. Louis.

James Tanner: Dave Tippett

I gotta say Dave Tippett. The Coyotes scored a single goal at 5v5 in six games in the pre season, and the Coyotes just seem like they could use a new voice. I just don't see him surviving the rebuild.

I know it'd be easy to say no one cares how they do this year because they seem to be tanking, but the thing is, I don't believe they think that. I think they see Vermette as a top six player and Grossmann as a top four dman.

They'll be out of it by November and Tippitt will pay the price, though nothing is his fault at all.

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