News regarding the Maple Leafs filling out their coaching staff has been scant in the weeks following the dismissal of assistants Dave Farrish, Greg Cronin and Scott Gordon last month, but Sportsnet hockey insider John Shannon reported Friday that former NHL head coaches Craig Ramsay and Rick Tocchet are in the mix for spots on Randy Carlyle’s staff.
The 63-year-old Ramsay scored 20 goals or more eight times during his 14-year NHL career and was known as one of the league’s top defensive forwards. The former Selke Trophy winner successfully transferred his cerebral approach to his coaching career, serving as a head coach in Buffalo, Philadelphia(leading the Flyers to an Eastern Conference Final) and Atlanta, as well as stints as an assistant in Boston and Tampa Bay, where he won a Stanley Cup and served as a buffer to the caustic and critical John Tortorella.
Hearing the names Craig Ramsay and Rick Tocchet as possible assistant coaches in Toronto with the Maple Leafs.
— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) June 7, 2014Ramsay is known as a superior technical coach, who communicates well with players and that may be a good complement to the Leafs head coach, who may be more like the “Crusty… Carlyle of his days in Anaheim after being more reserved in his first two seasons in Toronto.
Tocchet played for 7 teams during his 18-year NHL career and served as an assistant in Colorado, Phoenix (during Wayne Gretzky’s tenure as head coach) and Tampa Bay, taking over as head coach after Barry Melrose was fired. He lasted two seasons, compiling a 53-69-26 record before being dismissed along with GM Brian Lawton in April 2010. The former Flyer has been working as an commentator for Comcast Philadelphia, but has recently expressed interest in getting back into coaching.
Shannon also reports that Rockford Icehogs head coach Ted Dent is also in the mix. The 44-year-old Dent has been head coach of the Blackhawks AHL affiliate for three seasons and has been successful in developing Chicago prospects. He worked previously with Carlyle in Washington, as part of Bruce Cassidy’s coaching staff.
CBC’s Elliotte Friedman in his recent 30 Thoughts column floated the name of longtime NHL assistant Perry Pearn, who served with Carlyle in Winnipeg in the 90’s and also coached Brendan Shanahan during his stint with the New York Rangers.
Former Washington head coach Adam Oates may still be a consideration, but the Hall-of-Famer may be holding out hope of snagging one of the vacant head coaching positions still available.
Marlies assistants Gord Dineen and Derek King also continue to be candidates for a position on Carlyle’s staff, as they are known to work well with the club’s young prospects, who are expected to have a great opportunity to make the big club next season.
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