Each week, theScore looks at the teams, players, and other hockey figures trending upward and taking a step back.

The Toronto Maple Leafs won't win the Stanley Cup this season, but their coach could soon take home a little hardware of his own. He's one of four key bench bosses to make headlines this week:

▲ Mike Babcock

Babcock's trophy case is well decorated. From two Olympic golds, a world junior win, a World Cup, and a Stanley Cup during his time with the Detroit Red Wings, there's just one thing missing.

The Maple Leafs bench boss has never captured Coach of the Year honors, but has a chance to do so this season. Babcock was nominated for the Jack Adams Award alongside Edmonton Oilers coach Todd McLellan and John Tortorella of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Babcock's best selling point may be the quick turnaround he pulled off with the Maple Leafs. After finishing dead last a year ago - and earning the top odds to draft Auston Matthews first overall - Toronto rebounded in a big way this season, qualifying for the playoffs for just the second time since 2004.

No team has gone from last place to the dance in less time since the Philadelphia Flyers did so in 2008.

▼ Bruce Boudreau

Boudreau dominates in the regular season. It's spring hockey that continues to be a hurdle for the Minnesota Wild coach.

After piecing together a 106-point season for the best finish in franchise history - including a 12-game win streak through December - the Wild face-planted in the opening round of the playoffs, losing out to the St. Louis Blues in five games.

The elimination ended another season abruptly for Boudreau, who - despite his regular-season success (his teams have won their divisions in eight of 10 seasons) - hasn't quite figured out how to win in the postseason.

Through stints with the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks, and now the Wild, Boudreau has advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs just once.

▲ Bruce Cassidy

Win and you're in.

The Boston Bruins made a change behind the bench this season, relieving veteran bench boss Claude Julien - the longest-tenured coach at the time of his firing - replacing him with Cassidy, who previously led the Bruins' farm team in Providence.

The adjustment paid off, as the Bruins went 18-8-1 under their new coach, putting together a performance that snapped a two-year skid where Boston was on the outside of the playoff picture.

Despite falling to the Ottawa Senators in the opening round, Cassidy earned his keep, and the Bruins were quick to drop the interim tag from his title and grant him the full-time gig.

▼ Joel Quenneville

Nobody saw this coming.

Knocked out of the playoffs in a four-game sweep to the Nashville Predators, the Chicago Blackhawks were quick to evaluate their early exit. While general manager Stan Bowman noted his longtime coach was safe, changes quickly followed behind Quenneville's bench, much to his chagrin, as the team fired his longtime assistant Mike Kitchen.

After capturing three Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks, it's hard to find fault with Quenneville's performance in Chicago. Still, he wasn't able to get his top players going against the Predators to reverse the tide, as the Blackhawks netted just three goals in the four-game set.

It marked the first playoff sweep against Quenneville since 2008 when he coached the Colorado Avalanche.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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