Peter Laviolette's opportunities for a new head coaching job are narrowing as the Minnesota Wild recently announced the hiring of Todd Richards as their new head coach.  Richards most recently was an assistant in San Jose, but has a history with Wild GM Chuck Fletcher. 

The Devils and Flames are still needing coaches, but it doesn't seem like Laviolette, who has an offensive approach to the game, would fit in well with the defensive orientated systems.  The former Hurricanes coach still has two years remaining on his original five year deal, which reportedly pays him one million USD annually.  Earlier in the offseason, it looked like his hiring would be a slam dunk, but now with jobs already being filled in Colorado, Minnesota, and Dallas,  and with highly respected Dave Tippett also looking for a job, Laviolette will most likely have to wait until some unlucky bloke gets sacked during the season.  If Atlanta and Tampa Bay get off to slow starts, either of those teams could be possibilities.  

Perhaps Laviolette's stock dropped when Hurricanes owner, Peter Karmanos lambasted him during a local sports luncheon a couple of months ago.  The owner's outburst may have ended up costing him some money that he might not have had to pay, since it looks like the former coach will remain on the Hurricanes payroll for awhile longer.