They might call it the NHL coaching pool, but the place looks a lot more like the Mariana Trench.

Since the end of the 1999-00 season, there have been 16 new coaches in the 30-team league, including seven changes this offseason. Here's a look at the new guys on their respective blocks:

2001-02 Reviews

Robbie Ftorek, Boston Bruins: A fantastic first-season performance. Ftorek walked in and succeeded when many predicted failure. The question now is can he repeat with less talent? Brian Sutter, Chicago Blackhawks: The guy counts points for preseason overtime losses (honest). You can't get more intense than that. But the Blackhawks needed exactly that intensity, and they need it again this season. Greg Gilbert, Calgary Flames: He obviously saw his share of ups and downs last season, and he might have not kept as even a keel as he could have. Expect a calmer presence this season and expect a more consistent team. John Tortorella, Tampa Bay Lightning: Gets a little bit of a pass because of the front office shenanigans that were out of his control. Seemingly has patched it up with Vinny Lecavalier, which might be his best coaching move yet. Bryan Murray, Anaheim Mighty Ducks: The on-ice product wasn't pretty, but Murray installed a defensive system that should help the Mighty Ducks win a few more games this season. He also sorted out the goaltending situation and helped develop players like Andy McDonald and Mike Leclerc. Duane Sutter, Florida Panthers (fired Dec. 2, 2001): Never really given a chance to find his way. Don't know if you blame him for not establishing a better relationship with players (Bures) or credit him for not bending. Mike Keenan, Florida Panthers (hired Dec. 3, 2001): Was much more of a players' coach than he has ever been -- and that was smart. However, he's all about results and the results haven't been there. It doesn't look much different this year. Ivan Hlinka, Pittsburgh Penguins (fired Oct. 15, 2001): Oh, were to start ... Communication problems weren't limited to Hlinka actually learning English. He failed to strike a working relationship with even the Czech players. He spent more time between periods smoking in the hallway, rather than addressing the team. Rick Kehoe, Pittsburgh Penguins (hired Oct. 15, 2001): His familiarity with the Penguins' situation and his relationship with Mario Lemieux were key cards that he used well in controlling the team. However, he has to shuffle the lineup every night, and that's not going to work.

Ken Hitchcock, Philadelphia Flyers
Even after last season's disaster in Dallas, Hitchcock has never had a losing season when given the opportunity to run a team at any level (he inherited a losing Stars squad in 1995-96). His six-plus seasons with the Stars yielded five division championships, two Presidents' Trophies, two Campbell Bowls and a Stanley Cup. That's created huge expectations in Philadelphia, and Hitchcock wouldn't want it any other way.

What will be interesting to watch is how his coaching personality unfolds in Philly. A native of Edmonton and fan of the Oilers, he coached racehorse hockey in junior and then learned all about control and defense with Bob Gainey in Dallas. Hitchcock is now viewed as a purveyor of "boring hockey," but his Flyers could be bigger risktakers than anyone dares predict.

Bryan Trottier, N.Y. Rangers
Glen Sather wanted a man who knows how to win -- and Bryan Trottier couldn't be a better fit. Trottier was a member of the 1980s Islanders (some say the heart and soul) and Sather watched those teams from up close as he positioned his Oilers to become the next dynasty. Trottier then moved on to become an important role player on the Penguins as he won his fifth and sixth Stanley Cup rings in 1991 and '92. After that, Trottier slipped into the world of coaching and eventually found himself on the Colorado Avalanche bench, where he was fitted for his seventh Stanley Cup ring as an assistant with the 2001 champs. A disciple of discipline, Trottier should bring the defensive game plan the Rangers need to compete in the East. Just getting to the playoffs would be a great improvement over his predecessors.

Dave Tippett, Dallas Stars
A first-year NHL head coach, Tippett could turn out to be the right man at the right time in Dallas. While players and management respect everything Hitchcock did for the Stars, it was clear that a veteran core had grown tired of his defensive system and grating coaching style. So Tippett enters with a mind for a more open game and the calm to keep his voice down on the bench.

Tippett coached a goal-scoring machine in Houston and won the IHL's Turner Cup in 1999. He headed up the best power play in the NHL last season as an assistant in Los Angeles. But, he was a defense-minded forward when he played, and he said his Stars team will try to play at a high tempo and still be responsible. To make that work, GM Doug Armstrong remade the team, giving Tippett a stable of bigger and faster forwards. When you consider Jason Arnott, Bill Guerin, Manny Malhotra, Scott Young and Ulf Dahlen are replacing the likes of Brett Hull, Mike Keane, Guy Carbonneau, Joe Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner, this really is a different team. Time will tell if it's better, but it really is different.

Pat Burns, New Jersey Devils
Did Pat Burns really sit out almost two full NHL seasons? It's hard to believe the three-time Jack Adams Award winner was passed over for so many open positions. That said, he might have picked the perfect place to return.

Burns knows how to coach a balanced game, and he has plenty of talent to work with in New Jersey. What Burns has done over and over again is find a way to get a struggling team on the same page for at least a little while. His Montreal team in 1988 soared to 115 points in his first year as head coach. His 1993 Toronto team gained 32 points over the previous season. His 1998 Boston team improved 30 points. The Devils don't need that kind of improvement, but despite a 41-28-9-4 record last season, they have been struggling. Losing Bobby Holik and Petr Sykora doesn't help Burns, but he's been given a team with some speed and some great passing defensemen, and he'll try to make the best of that. Don't be surprised if he does.

Bruce Cassidy, Washington Capitals
Like Tippett, Lewis and Trottier, Bruce Cassidy is walking into a dream situation for his first NHL head coaching job. Cassidy will work with a talent-laden Capitals roster led by the game's premier scorer, Jaromir Jagr. But handling Jagr is a double-edged sword -- use him well and you can cut up your competition; fail to control him, and you only cut yourself.

Cassidy at 37 becomes the second youngest coach in the NHL, behind Carolina's Paul Maurice (35), and he definitely will be mistaken for a player on a lot of occasions. However, he has skins on the wall and he has the respect of his players. A native of Ottawa, he was coach of the year in the AHL last season with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Before that, he kicked around the minors and in Europe after a 36-game NHL career.

Mike Babcock, Anaheim Mighty Ducks
If you want to place a wager on whose team shows the most improvement over last season, Babcock might head the list of best odds on the new coaches. The Mighty Ducks not only missed the playoffs last season, they fell short by a good 25 points. And while anything is projected to be better than that, Babcock has high expectations. GM Bryan Murray instilled a defensive system last season and then orchestrated some key moves by acquiring Petr Sykora, Adam Oates and Fredrik Olaussoun in the offseason. Add that to the potential of rookie Stanislav Chistov and the hopeful resurgence of Paul Kariya, and Babcock has a lot to work with. Babcock's playing career ended quickly in 1985 at age 22 and he has spent the past 16 years coaching in one form or another. Following in the footsteps of Ken Hitchcock and Bob Hartley, he was a successful coach in the Canadian Hockey League (Spokane and Moose Jaw) before moving into the minors (posting a 74-59-20-7 record with Cincinnati).

Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.