An unconventional, big-ticket name has entered the Toronto Maple Leafs’ search for their next head coach.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that former San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars forward Joe Pavelski will get an interview for the job.

“I’m under the impression that Joe Pavelski is going to get an interview for the job,” Pavelski said on Sunday’s edition of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast. “It flies in the face of what I said the other day. I don’t know all the connections here, about how everybody knows everybody. But number one: this is a player who is hugely respected, hugely respected. Number two: what’s one of the stories we heard about the playoffs? Tomas Hertl. Pavelski is watching a game, he sees that Hertl hasn’t scored in 29 games, he says ‘that’s ridiculous!’ calls him, and Hertl breaks the slump. We know that Pavelski is a slump-buster, a motivational genius.”

“I’ve heard Pavelski is legitimately interested, and I’ve heard he will be in that next group of candidates.”

Peter Laviolette and Patrick Roy are also in the running, while David Carle has been ruled out of consideration. Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka told reporters at the NHL Scouting Combine that there’s no timeline to appoint the next head coach.

Friedman also stated that the Maple Leafs held 15-16 Zoom meetings and are in the next phase of their search for the new head coach, while likening Pavelski to Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis. Pavelski doesn’t have any head coaching experience, which was true of St. Louis, prior to accepting the Canadiens’ job.

Pavelski was still in excellent form when he retired following the end of the 2023-24 season. He’s been lauded for his leadership and is a down-ballot candidate for the Hockey Hall of Fame. Pavelski could provide a new voice to a Maple Leafs’ team that is in flux, with a core led. by Auston Matthews and William Nylander, while a newer group of Matthew Knies and Easton Cowan take on increased importance. It would be an unconventional hire, but Pavelski would certainly command the attention and respect of the Maple Leafs’ room, during a year where the team is looking to get back to the playoffs, after missing the postseason for the first time in a decade.