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The Toronto Maple Leafs confirmed on Wednesday what Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported earlier in the week, that former New York Islanders head coach Lane Lambert will join Craig Berube’s coaching staff as an associate coach. The 59-year-old served in the same position under Barry Trotz in New York and replaced him in 2022, but was fired in January and replaced by Patrick Roy.
Lambert also served as an assistant coach with the Washington Capitals for four seasons from 2014 to 2018 (where he was part of the Capitals Cup-winning club in 2018) and was an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators for three seasons (2011 to 2014).
The Leafs also announced assistant coach Dean Chynoweth will not be returning. Chynoweth was hired in 2021, spending three seasons as part of Sheldon Keefe’s staff, with responsibilities primarily with the club’s blueline. With Keefe hired in New Jersey, it is possible that the 55-year-old could hook on with the Devils.
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A great deal of chatter is emanating from Buffalo, NY with prospects, agents, and NHL GM’s in town for the NHL Scouting Combine this weekend. The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun spoke to Leafs GM Brad Treliving, who indicated that he has been talking to his counterparts since the club was eliminated from the playoffs, and with agents regarding some of his pending RFA’s and UFA’s who need new contracts.
LeBrun said that the Leafs GM confirmed that he has interest in re-signing forwards Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi, but said that getting them on new deals will be dependant on other things falling into place.
“We’ve got, certainly, some issues that we have to address on the roster. There’s a pie and there’s only so much to go around.”
Treliving met with Mitch Marner’s agent Darren Ferris on Tuesday, but was very careful on saying anything, tamped down the rampant speculation, and stated the obvious that Marner controls a lot of the situation with a no-movement clause, and that he wants to make the team better, but will not be making a trade in a change for the sake of change scenario.
Treliving is saying the things you would expect him to say publicly, keeping things on a good note and accentuating the positive on an All-Star player who is a valuable asset. If the Leafs had the freedom to move Marner without any no-movement restrictions, it is my opinion that he would be on the move at some point this summer, but with some control of the situation, making a trade that is impactful and positive for both sides will take a deft touch.
The reality of the situation is, as much as some recent reports have indicated that Marner could simply play out the final year of his contract and walk in free agency next summer, that scenario would cost the 27-year-old winger close to $12 million since he can only get an eight-year extension from the Leafs in a sign-and-trade or from a new club after he is traded, but going to open market next season can only be a seven-year deal.
Another factor in a possible Marner deal could be his contract, with a signing bonus of $7.25 million due July 1. After that, his base salary is the league minimum of $775,000, with a cap hit of $10.903 million. Even for big-money clubs, avoiding paying a big lump sum payment like that is a plus, so a potential deal might be worked out before July 1 and only announced after the Leafs pay the bonus.
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