11 NHL head coaches on expiring or interim contracts.

Coaching in the National Hockey League can be a ruthless business, one that is extremely results oriented. Coaching changes have seemingly become the norm for most teams around the league when things don't go according to plan, and in this upcoming offseason that could mean a large number of changes with 11 NHL coaches currently either on an expiring contract or in an interim head coaching position.

Here are those 11 coaches:

Dallas Eakins - Anaheim Ducks

Martin St-Louis - Montreal Canadiens

Derek King - Chicago Blackhawks

John Hynes - Nashville Predators

Mike Yeo - Philadelphia Flyers

Jeff Blashill - Detroit Red Wings

Rick Bowness - Dallas Stars

Bruce Boudreau - Vancouver Canucks

Jay Woodcroft - Edmonton Oilers

Dave Lowry - Winnipeg Jets

Andrew Brunette - Florida Panthers

During Saturday night's NHL broadcast, analyst Jeff Marek discussed the impact that so many coaches in limbo could have on the landscape of the NHL moving forward.

"With that many coaches on either interim or expiring deals, we expect it to be a turbulent offseason among the coaching fraternity," said Marek on the broadcast.

Not all of these coaches find themselves in a similar position however, and some definitely seem more safe than others. Jay Woodcroft has helped lead the Oilers back into a playoff spot and should they manage to do any damage in the Stanley Cup playoffs it will be hard to make a case against him. Andrew Brunette finds himself in a similar position after a very successful season with the Panthers, and barring any playoff disasters it's hard to think of him not getting another deal in Florida. 

You would think that the same would apply for Bruce Boudreau in Vancouver given how much better the Canucks have performed since he was hired, but NHL insider Elliotte Friedman indicated that Boudreau remaining in Vancouver was not guaranteed.

"I have to tell you I'm surprised this is even a conversation," said Friedman. "With the record he has and the how much fans definitely love him out there. The math is not good for them to make the playoffs but their record has been excellent. I'm surprised we're at this point but there appears to be something going on."

Both Derek King with the Blackhawks and Martin St-Louis with the Canadiens have seen their respective teams perform better since the coaching change, and with both those teams headed for a rebuild I would wager there's a good chance they will stick around. 

Some of the more vulnerable names on this list haven't been so successful though and perhaps that will result in a coaching change. In Anaheim Dallas Eakins has the Ducks 13 points out of a playoff spot and newly appointed general manager Pat Verbeek could desire to appoint a head coach of his own choosing. Detroit Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill will once again miss the playoffs with the Red Wings 23 points out of a playoff spot. Blashill was not hired by current general manager Steve Yzerman and this could be the season that Yzerman appoints his first head coach as GM of the Red Wings.