Nation Sites
The Nation Network
The LeafsNation has no direct affiliation to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
TheLeafsNation Top 25 of 2020: #17 — Six possible candidates for the assistant coach vacancy
Photo credit: Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
By Zach Laing
Dec 9, 2020, 14:41 ESTUpdated: Dec 9, 2020, 16:51 EST
Welcome to the yearly wrap up of the top read articles over the last year!
A day after the Toronto Maple Leafs announced that assistant coach Paul McFarland would leave the organization, the shift focused on who could replace him.
An article published on May 9 by Scott Maxwell took a look at six different people who could step behind the bench.
It was the 17th most-read article on TheLeafsNation this year.
While the eventual hire was Manny Malholtra, Maxwell took a look at six very viable options: Bruce Boudreau, A.J. MacLean, Rob Davison, Hayley Wickenheiser, John Dean and Rocky Thompson.
Here was a bit of what Maxwell wrote about it:
That means that once this season is over, we’ll have a new assistant coach to run the power play for the Leafs, something that McFarland didn’t do the best job of. He had some good ideas (putting William Nylander in front of the net, giving Tyson Barrie an opportunity on the top unit), but the few that he did were probably more Sheldon Keefe’s ideas than his.So, this vacancy gives the Leafs an opportunity to bring in someone that Keefe wants and can work with, and maybe shares a similar philosophy with him. Let’s take a look at some possible candidates for the position.
On Twitter: @zjlaing
Breaking News
- Maple Leafs reportedly receive permission to speak to Wild’s Judd Brackett for AGM
- Goaltender Artur Akhtyamov showed steady growth in second pro season
- Phil Housley praises Maple Leafs defenceman Jake McCabe: ‘You can count on him’
- 5 potential trade partners should Maple Leafs deal goaltender this summer
- Daily Faceoff breaks down puck-moving defencemen targets for Maple Leafs