Around this time last year, three NHL coaches had already been fired, Denis Savard (Chicago), Barry Melrose (Tampa Bay) and Peter Laviolette (Carolina).
Five others fell before Dec. 1 the two previous seasons.
But a much more competitive NHL has seen every mentor keep their heads so far.
Before last night's games, 29 of 30 teams were separated by 19 points.
The loyalty of GMs can also be traced to a plague of injuries to star players that has kept many clubs incapable of reaching full potential.
GMs such as Brian Burke, Jim Rutherford and Larry Pleau thus far have resisted calls for their coaches to be axed, while newcomers such as the Minnesota Wild's Todd Richards are getting more rope.
Ron Wilson in Toronto and the St. Louis Blues' Andy Murray also have long-term deals.
Murray's original four-year contract was to be up in June, but the Blues, who jumped to 92 points last year, picked it up before the season started.
"I never have (worried about being replaced) and never will," Murray told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
"What I worry about is how we're going to get that next win. You can worry so much about failure that it keeps you from thinking about the things you need to think about to be successful."
DIAMOND IN THE RUFF
The Buffalo Sabres are in Toronto tonight with Ron Wilson being the fourth Maple Leafs coach that Lindy Ruff has taken on since he came aboard the Sabres' bench in 1997.
To outsiders, it might seem Ruff has softened after 12 years, during which every team in the league switched coaches at least once (even the four expansion teams), though he's on the playoff road again with a record of 14-7-2.
Ruff, who will turn 50 during the Olympic break when he's helping Team Canada, has backed away from post-game rants, designated elder players to take charge in the room and been more forgiving of errors, mentioning how hard the team worked in its first 10 games.
SURVIVOR: NEW JERSEY
The New Jersey Devils are trying to stay in the fight for first place in the Eastern Conference, despite a glut of injuries, the latest to blueliner David Clarkson, who will be out four to six weeks. He joins forwards Rob Niedermayer, Dainius Zubrus, Jay Pandolfo and defencemen Paul Martin and Johnny Oduya.
Three of the injuries are broken bones.
"You're just wondering when it's going to end," said forward Zach Parise.
EMERY LOSING EDGE
Brian Boucher, who had done little of note since a five-and-a-half game shutout streak in 2002 with the Phoenix Coyotes, is bidding to take Ray Emery's starting job with the Philadelphia Flyers.
After Emery dropped four straight and gave up 16 goals, the team turned to Boucher who has now allowed five goals in four games after a 1-0 loss to the Atlanta Thrashers Saturday.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Chicago survived its often deadly 'circus trip' -- a stretch of road games while the big top is at the United Center -- with nine of a possible 12 points. The Blackhawks now have just three short-hop trips between now and Christmas Day ... Brad Boyes, who averaged 38 goals for the St. Louis Blues the last two seasons, picked up just his sixth on the weekend ... Ex-NHLer Mark Pederson will coach the Serbian team at the 2010 world championships...The Nashville Predators have a new dark blue third jersey with a lace-up collar and striping similar to Original Six teams such as the Torontoo Maple Leafs. There is also a blue and black checkerboard on the sleeves as a nod to the University of Tennessee's football endzones.
THE WEEK AHEAD
The top two picks of the past two years meet on Saturday in Tampa, the Lightning's Steven Stamkos against the Isles' John Tavares. The last time two Ontario-born No. 1s would have clashed in such a game for the first time would've been 1977, Rick Green of Washington against Detroit's Dale McCourt.
LANCE.HORNBY@SUNMEDIA.CA
