Philadelphia Flyers coach Craig Berube talks to his team during a timeout in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Tuesday, March 18, 2014, in Philadelphia. Philadelphia won 3-2 in overtime. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin next week, which means we’ve almost reached the point at which grown men pack up their offices and attempt to contain their seething anger in exit interviews with the media.

Yes … it’s nearly coach firing time!

Here’s a look at some of the probable and potential coaching changes in the NHL this postseason, which may or may not be influenced by a certain Detroit Red Wings coach deciding he wants to find a new challenge. And by “new challenge” we mean getting paid the gross national product of Ghana to coach somewhere else.

Good As Gone

Peter Horachek, Toronto Maple Leafs

A good man thrown into an absolutely thankless position, the still-interim coach was like a substitute teacher trying to get a bunch of graduating seniors to give a toss about their final exams. We applaud any coach that references a team’s “give a [crap]-o-meter” and, in theory, can successfully operate a toaster. But the Leafs will have a new coach next season after Babcock rejects a billion-dollar offer.

Ted Nolan, Buffalo Sabres

He was set up to fail, and ultimately that’s what his team did, but Nolan maintained his dignity throughout the “Dishonor For Connor” campaign. One assumes Tim Murray will want his own guy behind the bench as the Sabres begin the McDavid or Eichel era – hello, Luke Richardson.

Question is whether Teddy has earned another NHL chance after years of being blackballed, or if it’s back to Latvia. (OK, the other question: Why is there so much chatter about Mike Babcock coaching whomever drafts McDavid?)

Out Of Playoffs, Out Of Job?

Craig Berube, Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers were high on Berube before he took the gig, and he helped lead their turnaround last year to the postseason. Are the team’s cap issues and injuries enough cover to keep him in a job heading into next season? Potentially, but with a short leash.

Then again, perhaps Berube’s personnel issues, including the misuse of Steve Mason that may have led to the departure of goalie coach Jeff Reese, are grounds enough to turf him. As always, the bottom line is that Ed Snider isn’t getting any younger…

Todd McLellan, San Jose Sharks

McLellan is under contract for another year. If he decided to leave the Sharks, it would cost that new team a third-round pick. Granted, it would be worth a third to hire one of the best coaches in the NHL, and one assumes this was the last ride for McLellan and the Sharks, who missed the playoffs for the first time since 2003.

Unless they do the smart thing, which is to fire GM Doug Wilson and hang onto McLellan. But they’ll undoubtably do the dumb thing, which is the opposite.

View photos Pittsburgh Penguins' Mike Johnston gives instruction to Craig Adams (27) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015. The Blackhawks won 3-2 in a shootout. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) More

On The Bubble

Mike Johnston, Pittsburgh Penguins

It’s difficult to imagine how Johnston comes back if the Penguins miss the playoffs, even if this is more a problem with construction than with coaching. They’ve made it every season since 2007.

If the Penguins make the cut, and they should, Johnston might get a stay of execution, even if they lose in the first round. But if Mike Babcock decided he wanted to coach Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin … well, Mike will get a nice severance package.

Claude Julien, Boston Bruins

Peter Chiarelli has already shown some inklings that he’s rethinking “Bruins Hockey” as we’ve known it, and if Boston misses the playoffs it could mean Julien is out of a job. He’s clashed with management for years, but had success as his ultimate defense.

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