Quenneville has to be the top target and if you bring in coach Q you might as well bring in Stan Bowman for the GM job.
Who should be the next coach?
- Thread starter LEAFANFORLIFE23
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Quenneville is definitely the best option out there. Sacco would be another option for me.
Mirtle: With Kyle Dubas gone, prepare for more Maple Leafs front-office fallout
The Maple Leafs' parting ways with Kyle Dubas is likely the beginning of front-office upheaval with the team.
theathletic.com
As for the coaching staff, it’s believed that Joel Quenneville is intrigued by the idea of coming to Toronto. He has yet to meet with the league to be granted re-entry to the NHL after resigning as Panthers coach in October 2021 following the Blackhawks investigation into the sexual assault of former player Kyle Beach by video coach Brad Aldrich, however. As such, it feels unlikely the Leafs would be willing to make such a controversial hire at this time.
But it is safe to say that it will likely be a high-profile, experienced coach who replaces Keefe.
There’s a feeling high up in the organization that the team’s core players may benefit from a significant shakeup, including having less of a “players” coach and by trading a significant piece of the core.
While Shanahan will need a new GM in place to make moves like that, it’s apparent that whoever joins the Leafs in that role will likely be informed that more than cosmetic changes are required.
Given how complex the Leafs roster decisions are going to be this offseason, getting that GM hire right will be imperative. Without Dubas, the Leafs front office is low on experienced hands, and with so many currently in place contemplating their futures, the exodus could create even more uncertainty as the draft and free agency approach at the end of next month.
As for Dubas’ future, while he stated on Monday that he didn’t anticipate quickly relocating to a new role, the thinking around the league right now is that his views may change if he receives a significant offer in a role with full autonomy in the coming months. The situation in Ottawa, in particular, could be intriguing, with new, deep-pocketed ownership and a young roster on the rise.
A front office with the rival Senators that included Dubas as president and Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson in supporting roles would certainly make things interesting in the Atlantic Division.
Not that the Maple Leafs will need any help creating headlines at this point given the organizational upheaval that is going to continue to unfold this offseason.
Menzinger
Kessel4LadyByng
They're not going to go with Quenneville after how stuff went down with the Dubas' exit. It would make an even bigger media circus
It'll still probably be a bigger named veteran coach though
It'll still probably be a bigger named veteran coach though
LeafalCrusader
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Dare I say John Tortorella? May just be what this group needs.
It'll just be a Sutter situation where all our best players ask out.
Peace Frog
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Yeah them not totally bailing in the playoffs would of helped.
Definitely need one if not 2 of them gone and have to start a retool with players who actually give a f***.
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keonsbitterness
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No, if he was good enough he wouldn't be in Europe, he'd already be in the NHL, or at very least under contract to an NHL team as their AHL coach.
SeaOfBlue
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These guys probably make more money at home than being an AHL coach, if they are truly good enough.
And then they do not have the connections to come over to the NHL right away. There is a reason why we get a ton of the same re-treads in the NHL even after they fail and get fired time after time with little to no success or adaptation.
I don't think we need to go the European HC route for us, but if we were a rebuilding team, or it was something like an assistant/goalie coach, I would certainly be open to it.
We mostly just need a guy who can figure out how to get his guys to execute (and honestly, there may not be a coach who can do that with our top guys because there are some real basics that a coach shouldn't need to deal with) and ensure we continue having a system where we getting good chances. Experience is nice, but I could care less if he can't do those two things. Keefe is still a better option than most of the names thrown around but I also understand that we may change things up just because that is the easiest route to go down and the new GM may have his own preference. Highly doubt Keefe will have to wait very long to get another good shot in the NHL though.
SeaOfBlue
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Has Dan Byslma been thrown around yet?
Pros:
- He won a Cup with a core of Crosby, Malkin, Letang, etc., and also coached Eichel, so he is familiar with top talent.
- Won a Jack Adams, although I don't think that means much when Sutter won last year and was fired this year. In fact, other than Rod, most guys were fired soon after winning.
- 565 games of NHL regular season experience + another 78 games in the playoffs. Lost in the first round twice, 2nd round twice, and Conference Finals once in the other times he made the playoffs (never missed the playoffs as HC in PIT).
- Has led Coachella Valley to a great deal of success this year based on competing hard and getting the most out of every player.
- Fastest coach in NHL history to 250 career wins (still stands).
- Some international experience as assistant coach at WC's and HC of 2014 US Olympic team.
Cons:
- Hasn't HCed in NHL since getting axed by Buffalo in 2016-2017.
- Was fired by PIT because they were playing too undisciplined defensively (caveat being that this has still been a trend with that team in the decade since he has left, and they won 2 Cups regardless).
- Lost the room in BUF and Eichel effectively said he would not re-sign there if he was not fired (another caveat, BUF was a tire fire long before and long after Bylsma was there, so was he really to blame?).
- Stylistically, he is not a guy who got the most out of skilled players (at least in the past). Hence the rift with Eichel. Could that be a problem for our other top guys? Could also be exactly what they need.
- How bad of a coach was Dan Bylsma
Not saying I love him, or even that he is better than Keefe, but he may be the perfect balance of experience, success, failure, and someone who is still able to present some fresh ideas. He is a name people should recognize, but is also not just a "shiny" name or an old retread who is unlikely to adapt. He is hungry for another opportunity in the NHL, especially after having higher hopes with BUF. Also, there is some kind of chance that we could be looking at Jason Botterill and Ray Shero as GM's, and both hired him in the past (Buffalo and PIT respectively).
Pros:
- He won a Cup with a core of Crosby, Malkin, Letang, etc., and also coached Eichel, so he is familiar with top talent.
- Won a Jack Adams, although I don't think that means much when Sutter won last year and was fired this year. In fact, other than Rod, most guys were fired soon after winning.
- 565 games of NHL regular season experience + another 78 games in the playoffs. Lost in the first round twice, 2nd round twice, and Conference Finals once in the other times he made the playoffs (never missed the playoffs as HC in PIT).
- Has led Coachella Valley to a great deal of success this year based on competing hard and getting the most out of every player.
- Fastest coach in NHL history to 250 career wins (still stands).
- Some international experience as assistant coach at WC's and HC of 2014 US Olympic team.
Cons:
- Hasn't HCed in NHL since getting axed by Buffalo in 2016-2017.
- Was fired by PIT because they were playing too undisciplined defensively (caveat being that this has still been a trend with that team in the decade since he has left, and they won 2 Cups regardless).
- Lost the room in BUF and Eichel effectively said he would not re-sign there if he was not fired (another caveat, BUF was a tire fire long before and long after Bylsma was there, so was he really to blame?).
- Stylistically, he is not a guy who got the most out of skilled players (at least in the past). Hence the rift with Eichel. Could that be a problem for our other top guys? Could also be exactly what they need.
- How bad of a coach was Dan Bylsma
Not saying I love him, or even that he is better than Keefe, but he may be the perfect balance of experience, success, failure, and someone who is still able to present some fresh ideas. He is a name people should recognize, but is also not just a "shiny" name or an old retread who is unlikely to adapt. He is hungry for another opportunity in the NHL, especially after having higher hopes with BUF. Also, there is some kind of chance that we could be looking at Jason Botterill and Ray Shero as GM's, and both hired him in the past (Buffalo and PIT respectively).
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TMLBlueandWhite
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I'll nominate Brunette.
I don't know if Brunette is the answer.
At this point I don't think it matters who the sucker behind the bench is. But the players can't coach themselves. Even though they want too, I'm sure.
I'm no expert at hockey.
All those X's and O's may as well be a tic tac toe game to me. I can't even pretend to know the first thing about coaching at the NHL level. It's pretty clear Keefe can't either.
That's part of the problem.
The most credit Keefe gets all these years is for helping the players build better skills. Too bad skill building isn't game strategy. They need someone who can coach at the NHL level.
Someone who can win hockey games.
Not someone that can build skills. If the best thing Keefe can do is improve skills, then he should be back in juniour. It's a very important thing to develop young players skills for the NHL.
Keefe, being so good at it, shouldn't have any problem finding a job in juniour hockey with all the skill building experience he has.
At minimal, not having him around would be one less problem for this team.
I don't know if Brunette is the answer.
At this point I don't think it matters who the sucker behind the bench is. But the players can't coach themselves. Even though they want too, I'm sure.
I'm no expert at hockey.
All those X's and O's may as well be a tic tac toe game to me. I can't even pretend to know the first thing about coaching at the NHL level. It's pretty clear Keefe can't either.
That's part of the problem.
The most credit Keefe gets all these years is for helping the players build better skills. Too bad skill building isn't game strategy. They need someone who can coach at the NHL level.
Someone who can win hockey games.
Not someone that can build skills. If the best thing Keefe can do is improve skills, then he should be back in juniour. It's a very important thing to develop young players skills for the NHL.
Keefe, being so good at it, shouldn't have any problem finding a job in juniour hockey with all the skill building experience he has.
At minimal, not having him around would be one less problem for this team.
TMLBlueandWhite
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One problem the team will be facing is that all the best internal candidates for the job have moved on.
Hakstol didn't even get an interview for the position after Babcock was fired. It was handed to Keefe on a silver platter. No other candidates were interviewed.
When they hired MacLean I thought he wasn't a bad idea to replace Keefe at the time. MacLean was a former player who had experience as head coach with the Ottawa Senators, including winning the Jack Adams award. I don't know what happened to him, he just disappeared, kinda weird actually, but if you can find him he might still be a thought.
An average NHL coach's tenure is two and a half years. Keefe has had more than his fair amount of time to prove his worth. The new GM will likely want to choose his own coach.
If sure Keefe understands it's nothing personal, just business.
Whoever it is will have their work cut out for them. This team has had the stick. Now they've had the carrot. I'm not sure what's left to motivate these coach killers.
I don't envy the next "first in line to be fired" guy behind the bench.
Whoever that's gonna be.
Hakstol didn't even get an interview for the position after Babcock was fired. It was handed to Keefe on a silver platter. No other candidates were interviewed.
When they hired MacLean I thought he wasn't a bad idea to replace Keefe at the time. MacLean was a former player who had experience as head coach with the Ottawa Senators, including winning the Jack Adams award. I don't know what happened to him, he just disappeared, kinda weird actually, but if you can find him he might still be a thought.
An average NHL coach's tenure is two and a half years. Keefe has had more than his fair amount of time to prove his worth. The new GM will likely want to choose his own coach.
If sure Keefe understands it's nothing personal, just business.
Whoever it is will have their work cut out for them. This team has had the stick. Now they've had the carrot. I'm not sure what's left to motivate these coach killers.
I don't envy the next "first in line to be fired" guy behind the bench.
Whoever that's gonna be.
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Quenneville only if he makes a complete and sincere apology for his actions and shows he's done the work to correct it moving forward.
What he did disgusts me and I'd rather that stain not be on the team.
LeafalCrusader
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This. Want nothing to do with him and Bowman.
SprDaVE
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Andrew Brunette right now seems really intriguing. He's got some head coach experience and has worked with a lot of different veteran coaches. Probably the right mix of experience to take over.
Gerald Gallant always seems to get the job done from Florida to Vegas to the Rangers. He got the Rangers to the conference finals last year. He's a bit of a hot head and never lasts very long where he lands so I don't know if he's great for this market.
Spencer Carbery is on the rise and seems to be on track for an NHL job soon. AHL coach of the year in 2021. He really made our PP so much better after taking it over. Knowing parts of the Leafs without major attachment to the team could work very well.
There are quite a few other options that could work depending on a lot of different things. I just hope they don't go with a dinosaur retread, they need to have some form of recent success.
Gerald Gallant always seems to get the job done from Florida to Vegas to the Rangers. He got the Rangers to the conference finals last year. He's a bit of a hot head and never lasts very long where he lands so I don't know if he's great for this market.
Spencer Carbery is on the rise and seems to be on track for an NHL job soon. AHL coach of the year in 2021. He really made our PP so much better after taking it over. Knowing parts of the Leafs without major attachment to the team could work very well.
There are quite a few other options that could work depending on a lot of different things. I just hope they don't go with a dinosaur retread, they need to have some form of recent success.
