Leafs name Stephane Robidas Assistant Director of Player Development

After spending the last two seasons as an unofficial player/coach on his own personal island, Stephane Robidas has officially been named the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Assistant Director of Player Development.

Robidas was signed by the Leafs to a three-year, $9 million deal back in 2014. But, based on where the Leafs were at in their rebuild and where Robidas was at coming off of a major injury, it was pretty obvious that this was about bringing a strong leader rather than player into the fold.

A seventh round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 1995, Robidas spent 15 seasons in the NHL, his best years coming with the Dallas Stars where he a was a mainstay on a strong blueline. In his three years under contract, Robidas only ended up playing 52 games with the Leafs. He spent all of 2015-16 and 2016-17 on the Long Term Injured Reserve, ultimately leading to the creation of the joke Robidas Island, where the team has exiled the likes of Nathan Horton and Joffrey Lupul.

Despite being paid not to play the last two seasons, Robidas spent a lot of time working with the Leafs’ young defencemen, according to David Alter of The Athletic. In this role, Robidas, who co-owns a QMJHL team in his native Sherbrooke, will continue to be able to bring his wealth of professional hockey experience to the organization as it continues to develop a crop of skilled, young players.