The Anaheim Ducks surprised very few when they announced the firing of head coach Bruce Boudreau Friday.
The 61-year-old was shown the door less than 48 hours after his team fell in Game 7 to the Nashville Predators.
For Boudreau it marked the fourth straight season that his team has been booted from the postseason in a pivotal Game 7. He concludes his time with the Ducks with a 209-104-40 record and an outstanding .648 winning percentage.
The Ducks felt the need for a change behind the bench and they are not alone. Boudreau is bound to be a hot commodity on the open market with several teams waiting idly by.
Here are three teams that should inquire about his services immediately.
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are currently in the midst of an extensive search for the team's next head coach.
The club has already spoken with former Minnesota Wild head coach Mike Yeo and Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the team has scheduled interviews with Guy Boucher and Marc Crawford.
The latter have both been absent from the NHL for the past three and four years respectively and while successful - both should be secondary options next to Boudreau.
The #Sens are expected to reach out to Bruce Boudreau for an interview now that he's been fired. Believe there is interest.
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) April 29, 2016
Boudreau has had success turning the Ducks into a defensive powerhouse, and the fact that the free agent head coach has family in the area should only make the prospect that much more appealing.
Minnesota Wild
John Torchetti fared admirably after taking over for Mike Yeo after his dismissal from the Wild. He went 15-11-1 in the team's final 27 games, helping to pump the breaks on a terrible skid and get his team into the postseason.
His club ultimately fell at the hands of a far more superior Dallas Stars team and now he sits awaiting a final decision by management.
He received a vote of confidence Thursday from general manager Chuck Fletcher who insisted he's 'a serious candidate' to take over as head coach going forward. Fletcher also noted that he is looking for a coach who will hold players accountable.
Then Boudreau became available and after rumblings that the Wild team failed to buy into the club's system, they could use a fiery personality behind the bench to set things straight.
Calgary Flames
Bob Hartley's job appears to be safe - especially after capturing the Jack Adams Trophy last season - but once again he could be a casualty of a hot ticket item now on the market.
After a stunning 2014-15 campaign that saw the team not only make the playoffs, but reach the second round, the club saw a large regression.
Though many expected such a trend, the 20-point regression was steep. Hartley has been with the team since the 2012-13 season and has only reached the playoffs on the back of last year's over-performance.
The team has fared adequately offensively thanks to an emerging core headed by the likes of Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. However, defensively the team is in shambles.
The club ranked last in 2015-16 with 260 goals against and a change to their defensive systems is needed. Boudreau could do that - the Flames just need to make room for him.
