The resignation of Patrick Roy as Head Coach and VP of Hockey Operations in Colorado has left Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic in the difficult position of finding a new bench boss with just over a month before training camp opens.
With vacancies filled in Anaheim (Randy Carlyle), Minnesota (Bruce Boudreau), Calgary (Glen Gulutzan) and Ottawa (Guy Boucher), the field of candidates available for Sakic to fill Roy’s position is relatively thin, which could mean the Avalanche will go with a young coach such as Sheldon Keefe of the Toronto Marlies.
According to Allan Muir of SI.com, former OHL head coach Bob Boughner (San Jose), Anaheim assistant (and former Senators head coach) Paul Maclean and ex-Columbus bench boss Todd Richards are the likely leading candidates, but some consideration has to be given to former NHLer Travis Green (who was interviewed for a few of the vacant positions the summer) and Keefe (who led the Leafs affiliate to the best record in the American Hockey League in his rookie season).
@BibeauAntoine01 #ccmhockey #newhockeymaskpainting #felixpotvin #designsylviepoitras #airbrushzap pic.twitter.com/0KdfyNqh5a
— sylvie poitras (@zonorange) August 10, 2016
The 35-year-old Keefe had an integral part in the development of the Maple leafs young prospects in his first AHL season, after three seasons with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds, where he won OHL and CHL Coach of the Year.
The Marlies went 54-16-5-1, in spite of a season where Keefe was challenged with significant roster turnover (including eight different goalies) with the parent club’s injuries and numerous trades.
Keefe’s sophomore season will be a greater test of his abilities, as the Marlies will likely be without William Nylander Zach Hyman, Nikita Soshnikov and Connor Brown‘s services (expected to challenge for NHL jobs). The departure of veterans Mark Arcobello and TJ Brennan will make Toronto rely more on Kasperi Kapanen, Brendan Leipsic and rookies Dmytro Timashov, Andrew Nielsen and Travis Dermott.
It may be too soon for Keefe to be plucked away by another NHL club and Colorado may opt for a more experienced hand with such a short window before training camp begins, but the Maple Leafs will have to be prepared for Keefe being a desirable commodity if he repeats his success this season with the Marlies.
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact… button at the top of the page.*******
Note : Continue to check back to my column on Hockeybuzz throughout the day for the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter
KINDLE USERS: Please sign up for Maple Leafs Buzz, which includes a free-of-charge 14-day trial and is just 99 cents per month afterwards. For more information click here.