When a team just isn't performing, the bench boss is often the person to go. This season alone there have been seven head coaching changes, but which of these changes have resulted in the most success?

When Lindy Ruff joined the New Jersey Devils on July 9, 2020, he became the first coach hired since the NHL's pandemic pause — for a team that would not be participating in that summer's playoff bubble.

When Ruff was let go by Tom Fitzgerald on Monday, he became part of the 40th head-coaching change in the NHL since his hiring less than four years ago. That's an average of 1.25 coaching changes per team in that time.

Only five teams have the same coaches that they did before the bubble: the Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins, Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Meanwhile, a whopping 14 coaching changes have taken place since Rick Tocchet joined the Vancouver Canucks just over 13 months ago, on Jan. 22, 2023.

The Canucks were the only team that made a change during last season. There were seven during the 2023 off-season — including two by the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

Two of those changes have paid impressive dividends: Peter Laviolette taking an already-good New York Rangers team even higher, and Andrew Brunette molding a dramatically different Nashville Predators roster into playoff contenders.

Last Monday, the Devils became the seventh team to make an in-season change this year.

It's often said that the NHL is a copycat league, and this year's enthusiasm to make changes behind the bench seems to affirm that belief. The Edmonton Oilers did it first, back in November, and it worked so well that other GMs hoped they could do the same. 

So far, the Oilers are in a class of their own this year. Of the other teams with new coaches, one has improved its position and, tantalizingly, one is making a legitimate push to steal a spot down the stretch.

Here's how the numbers shake out, through the completion of Saturday's games.

1. Edmonton Oilers hire Kris Knoblauch on Nov. 12, 2023

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The Oilers' 73 points in 49 games under Knoblauch projects out to a .735 points percentage or 120 points over a full season. That would put Edmonton in Presidents' Trophy position for this year, and set a new franchise record.

As things actually stand, they're on pace for 104 points. Not bad, considering: that's just five fewer than last year. 

After putting together that historic winning streak leading into the All-Star break, the Oilers have had a couple of stumbles, including road losses to Columbus and Buffalo in their last two games. All that matters now is whether they'll be in top form against what promises to be a tough first-round opponent at playoff time.

2. Minnesota Wild hire John Hynes on Nov. 27, 2023

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Evason was the casualty for a Minnesota team that couldn't keep the puck out of its net, allowing a horrific 3.95 goals per game and giving up a goal on every third penalty kill. 

Hynes has brought the goals against down to 3.00 and got the penalty kill up to nearly 80 percent while restoring the players' confidence and getting them playing for each other. 

The Wild's 96-point pace under Hynes would have them knocking at the door of a wild-card spot if they'd had the whole season. But that's nowhere near what the Oilers have accomplished, so they've been unable to make up any ground in the Western wild-card race.

3. St. Louis Blues hire interim head coach Drew Bannister on Dec. 12, 2023

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Bannister came into a tough situation, replacing beloved Cup-winner Craig Berube. The Blues have shown promise at times, but this week's three road losses to the New York-area teams could prove to be the final nail in the coffin of St. Louis's season.

Has the first-time NHL bench boss done enough to have the interim tag removed, or will Doug Armstrong bring in a fresh face this summer?

4. Ottawa Senators hire interim head coach Jacques Martin on Dec. 18, 2023

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The Senators' record is marginally better since Martin took over, but they're still tied for last place in the Eastern Conference.

Ottawa is probably best served by embracing its high draft lottery spot and looking toward next year when another new coach will likely take the reins.

5. New York Islanders hire Patrick Roy on Jan. 20, 2024

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The Islanders have played with more fire in their bellies since Roy's arrival. 

They also won five straight games before the trade deadline, incentivizing Lou Lamoriello not to make any tweaks to his roster as Roy preaches the importance of protecting team chemistry. 

It also helps that Ilya Sorokin is back to being a brick wall.

The Islanders haven't actually moved any closer to a playoff spot since Roy took over in January. But they have already leapfrogged the Devils and Capitals and at this point, the slumping Red Wings, Flyers and Lightning all look like they could potentially be ripe for the picking. 

6. Los Angeles Kings hire interim head coach Jim Hiller on Feb. 2, 2024

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The only team this season that was in a playoff spot when its coaching change was made, Los Angeles might have played its way out of its uncharacteristic January slump even if Todd McLellan had stayed behind the bench. 

But for the most part, the Kings have looked impressive under Hiller — leaning into their trademark defensive structure and providing a goalie-friendly playing environment for Cam Talbot and David Rittich. Unless the Islanders can get themselves over the playoff cut line, the Kings are the only team other than Edmonton that has actually improved its playoff position since changing its coach.

At this point, it looks like L.A. and Vegas are going to be duking it out for third place in the Pacific. Regardless of how the battle ends, Hiller's real test will be to try to get his group out of the first round for the first time since hoisting the 2014 Stanley Cup.

7. New Jersey Devils hire interim head coach Travis Green on March 4, 2024

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The Devils did not receive the immediate new-coach bump that every team hopes for. But they did pick up a win against the Blues on Thursday — and that's two more points than the slumping Red Wings acquired this week.

Playoffs remain a long shot, but this is a valuable audition period for Green to show that he could be a long-term solution in New Jersey.