The Toronto Maple Leafs firing coach Sheldon Keefe prompted plenty of pundit guesswork regarding his potential replacement.
Stoking the speculation was the Ottawa Senators hiring Travis Green while the St. Louis Blues removed the interim label from Drew Bannister’s job title. With coaching vacancies in New Jersey, San Jose, Seattle and Winnipeg, some Leafs followers believe their club must act quickly before the best candidates are hired away.
The Hockey News’ Nick Barden listed former Blues coach Craig Berube, former New York Rangers bench boss Gerard Gallant and former Los Angeles Kings coach Todd McLellan as his top candidates for the Leafs job.
The Toronto Sun’s Terry Koshan had Berube at the top of his list, followed by McLellan, Gallant and former Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft. He also included Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour, Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan and former NHL coach Bruce Boudreau.
Brind’Amour was the preferred choice of the Toronto Star’s Kevin McGran. He also listed Berube, Gallant, former Minnesota Wild bench boss Dean Evason, former Seattle Kraken coach Dave Hakstol and McLellan.
The Athletic’s Joshua Kloke has Berube as the favorite for the Leafs coaching job. However, he also has Brind’Amour on his list.
It was reported earlier this month that the Hurricanes withdrew their contract extension offer to Brind’Amour, sparking rumors of his uncertainty about his future in Carolina. Both sides quickly dismissed that notion, claiming they were close to a deal.
With Carolina on the brink of elimination in their second-round series with the Rangers, the questions about Brind’Amour’s availability aren’t going away. He could jump to the top of the Leafs’ wish list if he were to part company with the Hurricanes.
They won’t be the only club pursuing Brind’Amour. The Seattle Times’ Geoff Baker believes Kraken GM Ron Francis could be up for a reunion with his former coach. The New Jersey Devils could be another, though they recently sought permission from the Leafs to speak with Sheldon Keefe.
Jett Luchanko Is a Solution to the Toronto Maple Leafs Problems
Jett Luchanko could be a sollution to at least some of the Toronto Maple Leafs problems.
Ok, I know what you’re thinking. There is no way that an 18 year old relatively unknown (or at least not as hyped) prospect from the Guelph Storm is going to make a significant impact on the Toronto Maple Leafs roster.
While I agree, Luchanko may not make a significant impact next season, he will make a significant impact in years to come.
Put it this way, why Luchanko? Why not a player like Henry Mews? A fairly large and defensively sound right-handed shot from the Ottawa 67’s sounds like something every Leaf fan (and management) want and desperately need.
It’s true, Mews would be a great addition to this new young core that the Leafs seemingly have brewing through clever drafting. Talented prospects such as Robertson, Liljgren and McMann adorn the roster (with a nice cameo from Cowan and Minten now and again), so why would the Leafs want, or even need Jett Luchanko?
Leave a Reply