The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced a late-season change to their coaching staff, revealing to the media that former NHL enforcer Colton Orr will be joining the team’s bench as a fighting specialist.

The Maple Leafs’ newfound love for dropping the gloves has come to light lately, with Sportsnet’s Luke Fox revealing recently that 11 different Maple Leafs have collected a fighting major this season. Although you would think head coach Craig Berube’s presence behind the bench is the driving force of this, he has said in the past that he doesn’t believe fighting majors equals toughness. Either way, it’s a new part of the Leafs’ identity in 2024-25, and general manager Brad Treliving says that it was a hire that was long overdue.

“Colton [Orr] has been on our radar for the coaching staff for years now, so we’re glad to finally have him on board,” Treliving told media following a mandatory fighting clinic at the Ford Performance Centre. “You all know how much I value piss and vinegar in a player, and there’s nobody who better exemplifies this trait than Orr. We’re happy to have him back in Toronto where he belongs.”

Orr, who is an NHL veteran of ten years, six of them with the Maple Leafs, was surprised to get the call for Treliving, but is excited to take on his first NHL coaching gig, having spent time behind the bench for the Connecticut Whale before the PHF dissolved, and more recently serving as an assistant coach for PWHL New York and head coach for the Harvey Cavaliers. Orr says that he’s looking forward to lending the Maple Leafs some wisdom from an area of strength.

“I mean, you don’t just walk into 1100 penalty minutes in just over 400 career games. I love to punch; that’s all there is to it,” Orr told media minutes after showing Nick Robertson how to throw an uppercut. “They actually considered me for a power play role earlier on in the season, but those guys have been cooking with the man advantage lately, so it makes sense that they’ve got me in a more violent role.”

While the Leafs’ major issues in the playoffs have largely fallen on goal-scoring and big saves in crucial moments, Orr knows that he’s not going to be much of a help in that department. Now, if the Leafs find themselves having to match up with someone like Brady Tkachuk and the Ottawa Senators or Sam Bennett and the Florida Panthers, he’ll be there to ensure they at least win the battle of hurt.

“Look, all I’m saying is that if you can’t beat ’em, you might as well beat ’em up. And that’s the motto I plan to bring to this locker room.”

April Fools. There’s no such thing as a fighting specialist. Imagine if there was, though?