Be sure to like HockeyBuzz on facebook!

For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter

With their early exit from the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Toronto Maple Leafs have started down the road of making changes within the organization for next season.

The departure of assistant coach Paul McFarland to become head coach of the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs was made public in May, but along with the confirmation of that on Friday, the club also announced that they will not be renewing the contract of assistant coach Andrew Brewer.

Brewer worked with former head coach Mike Babcock as part of Hockey Canada at the Olympics in Sochi and joined the Detroit Red Wings staff in 2014 before moving to Toronto with Babcock in 2015. The 34-year-old survived the changeover of the Toronto coaching staff after the club’s first-round loss to Boston in 2019, but with Babcock gone and Sheldon Keefe in place, it is likely that Keefe will be allowed to bring in his own staff.

One name that has been mentioned to fill one of the vacancies is Toronto Marlies assistant A.J. MacLean. The 36-year-old Nova Scotia native worked with Keefe as part of his coaching staff with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds and made the move to the pro ranks when Keefe was hired to be the Marlies head coach in 2015.

The Leafs had an interest in former Chicago Wolves head coach Rocky Thompson before he joined San Jose’s staff earlier this summer, but Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman mentioned that another possibility might be former Washington, Anaheim and Minnesota bench boss Bruce Boudreau if the former Leaf does not get hired as a head coach by another club.

Friedman also mentioned in his “31 Thoughts” podcast that Leafs Assistant GM Laurence Gilman may be a candidate for the vacant Florida Panthers general manager’s job after the club parted ways with Dale Tallon earlier this week. Gilman was a finalist for the New Jersey Devils GM job before the interim tag was removed from Tom Fitzgerald.

*******



*******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.*******

Join the Discussion: » 311 Comments » Post New Comment

» Woll Wonderful, Knies OT Winner Extends Series For Leafs

» Matthews Doubtful, Woll In, Giordano?; Leafs vs. Bruins – Game 5

» Did You Expect Anything Different? Leafs Sign Grebyonkin To ELC

» Podcast Sunday – Off The Post Radio and The Leafs Convo

» All Signs Point To Nylander Returning; Leafs vs. Bruins - Game 4