7 Coaches Linked to Maple Leafs Head Coach Position

The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to make headlines off the ice as the team announced on Wednesday they've fired Craig Berube from his head coaching position. Now, John Chayka and Mats Sundin get to bring in a fresh perspective behind the bench and hopefully the players will respond next season.

There's been several names already linked to the Leafs bench, including Bruce Cassidy, who recently tried to interview with the Edmonton Oilers, but was denied by the Vegas Golden Knights, who still have Cassidy on their payroll despite John Tortorella now taking over.

The Athletic's Joshua Kloke highlighted seven names to keep an eye on, including Cassidy:

Bruce Cassidy

Cassidy is respected and thoughtful, and while he can employ a similar approach as Berube — uber-demanding — he does have a resume that suggests his approach works. One thing to watch: It’s been reported this week that the Knights withheld permission for the Edmonton Oilers to interview Cassidy for a possible coaching job. Cassidy is still under contract. Would the Knights do so again if the Leafs came calling?

Peter Laviolette

If it’s experience Chayka wants in the next Leafs coach, Laviolette will have to be considered. Laviolette has spent parts of 24 seasons in the NHL, almost all of them as a head coach. He has coached for seven different teams and has a Stanley Cup (2006 with the Carolina Hurricanes) on his resume. Laviolette has also taken two other teams to the Stanley Cup Final.

Steve Sullivan

The former NHL winger quickly moved from Toronto Marlies assistant coach to the Leafs bench as an assistant in charge of the power play this season after former assistant coach Marc Savard was fired in December. At 51, Sullivan is young and could offer a fresh perspective on the Leafs. It’s not just his recent time in Toronto that puts him on this list, however: Chayka spent his entire five-season tenure with the Coyotes working with Sullivan in some capacity.

Jay Woodcroft

Woodcroft is 49 but has worked in the NHL for a long time: he began as a video coach for the Detroit Red Wings in 2005 before moving up to an assistant coach with both the San Jose Sharks and the Edmonton Oilers. His time as head coach in Edmonton was brief, but Woodcroft did lead the Oilers to the third round of the playoffs with a patient, player-first approach. Woodcroft is currently an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks.

David Carle

Long thought of as the best coach not in the NHL, Carle just won his third NCAA championship in five years with the University of Denver. Oh, he’s won two gold medals with the United States at the World Juniors, too. At 36, Carle has certainly demonstrated a winning pedigree.

Jussi Ahokas

It’s high time for the NHL to welcome more European coaches into the head coaching ranks. Could the 45-year-old Finnish-born Ahokas, who has always been upfront about his desire to move to the NHL, be one of the first? Ahokas is highly innovative. He claimed his first OHL Championship on Tuesday with the Kitchener Rangers. He’s spent three seasons in the OHL after four seasons as a head coach in Finland’s top division.

Manny Malhotra

After seven years as an NHL assistant, including four in Toronto under Sheldon Keefe, Malhotra appears on the precipice of becoming an NHL head coach. Malhotra has plenty of experience running the Leafs power play, and that’s an area that will need to improve next season. He is currently head coach of the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks and has looked comfortable developing young talent.

Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images