On top of plotting strategy for the NHL Draft on June 26-27 in Philadelphia, PA, discussing potential roster-altering deals with other NHL GM’s, re-signing or qualifying numerous free agents and targeting possible hidden gems who may be on the market this summer, Maple Leafs Team President Brendan Shanahan, GM Dave Nonis, assistants Dave Poulin and Claude Loiselle and head coach Randy Carlyle have the task of putting together a new coaching staff.
Assistant coaches Greg Cronin and Scott Gordon (carryovers from former coach Ron Wilson's staff) and longtime Carlyle assistant Dave Farrish were relieved of their duties last week and the search for new assistants will include some input from Carlyle, but primarily will be from a candidate search put together by Shanahan and Nonis.
One possible option has already been grabbed up, as former Carolina coach Kirk Muller agreed to a two-year deal in St. Louis to be part of Ken Hitchcock’s staff. Hall of Famer Adam Oates, who before his two-year stint as head coach in Washington was praised for his rapport with players as an assistant in New Jersey, could be an option as a buffer between the players and Carlyle.
“I actually like what the Toronto brass did yesterday extending him,… Oates said regarding Carlyle’s extension last week. “because he’s proven to be a good hockey coach and now it tells the fans to be quiet in Toronto, they’ve got a guy and they are gonna stand by him.…
It would be expected that Carlyle will have at least one assistant who he knows and is comfortable with. Names who would fit that description would be Providence Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy(with whom Carlyle served as an assistant in Washington from 2002-04), former Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Scott Arniel(currently part of Alain Vigneault’s staff in New York) who worked with Carlyle in Manitoba. Former Ducks assistant Newell Brown(currently an assistant in Phoenix) and former Leaf Mike Foligno, who played junior with Carlyle in Sudbury and was part of the Anaheim house cleaning in November, 2011. Foligno is currently an assistant in New Jersey under head coach Peter DeBoer.
Marlies head coach Steve Spott could be in the mix, but the organization is pleased with his work in developing their young prospects. Marlies assistants Gord Dineen and Derek King could also considered by Toronto and could be Edmonton bound to join former boss Dallas Eakins’ staff.
An interesting option floated by the Toronto Star’s Rosie DiManno is former Leafs great Doug Gilmour.
Gilmour had a brief stint as an assistant with the Marlies in 2008 and served as head coach of the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs for two seasons before becoming their GM in 2011. The Hall-of-Famer is poised to sign a three-year deal to stay in Kingston, but expressed interest in being an assistant coach for his former club.
“Food for thought.… Gilmour said. “If somebody approached me, I’d have to consider it.…
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The Leafs announced that goaltender Jonathan Bernier, defenseman Carl Gunnarsson and forward Joffrey Lupul have undergone “successful surgeries… at the end of the season and that all are expected to be fully recovered in time for training camp next September.
Bernier suffered a sports hernia in mid-March which was a contributing factor to the club’s dramatic downturn in the final 14 games of the season. Gunnarsson missed 11 games in 2013 with hip problems and opted for rehabilitation instead of surgery last summer. He played 80 games for Toronto in 2013-14, but his mobility appeared to be hampered by the continuing hip issue. Lupul suffered a torn meniscus in early April and missed the final three games of the regular season.
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