Maple Leafs Eyeing New Coach to Join the Team

3 years ago  /  NHL Trade Rumors  /  Read Time: 57 seconds

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a hole in their bench as assistant coach Dave Hakstol has moved out west to be the first head coach of the Seattle Kraken. Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe needs another coach to round out his group now, and according to Elliotte Friedman, there's one name the team is quite interested in.Rick Tocchet, previously the head coach of the Arizona Coyotes is on the team's radar and word is Kyle Dubas is very interested in getting a deal done. There’s a lot of linkage with Toronto and Rick Tocchet for the open assistant coaching job. It sounds like the Maple Leafs reached out pretty quickly.Perhaps Dubas leans on his ties to the Sault St Marie Greyhounds to seal the deal, as Tocchet was a junior star for the team back in the 80's. His resume on the ice speaks for itself and he's turned his post-playing career into a fine coaching pedigree. He's spent time as the bench boss for the Tampa Bay Lightning and as an assistant with the Pittsburgh Penguins where he won two Stanley Cups. Recently he's served as the head coach of the Coyotes and has interviewed for both the Seattle Kraken job that Hakstol received, and the New York Rangers positions. With all the head coaching gigs getting filled, Tocchet is running out of options. Sounds like his best bet will be to sign with the Maple Leafs and hope he, Keefe and the rest of the coaching staff can motivate this Leafs team to a first round series victory.Photo credit:  Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports ...

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