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Bruce Cassidy appears willing to consider the Maple Leafs’ head coaching job, but any move forward depends on the Golden Knights giving their approval.
The former Golden Knights coach told The Athletic that he would “have interest in any opening” and is open to speaking with Toronto as he looks to return to coaching after being fired by the Golden Knights in March.
Cassidy has repeatedly said that he wants to get back behind an NHL bench. However, Vegas still controls whether he can interview for another coaching position. The Golden Knights have already denied interview requests from teams such as the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers.
Cassidy’s track record makes him one of the most accomplished coaches available. He guided the Boston Bruins to the Stanley Cup Final in 2019 before leading Vegas to a Stanley Cup title in his first season with the club in 2023.
Toronto meanwhile is looking for a replacement after moving on from Craig Berube following a 32-36-14 season that ended without a playoff appearance. If Vegas eventually grants permission Cassidy could become a leading candidate for the Maple Leafs’s vacancy.
John Chayka says Maple Leafs are exploring different coaching profiles
Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka recently spoke about the qualities Toronto is looking for in its next head coach. Speaking at the NHL Draft Combine, Chayka said the Maple Leafs had interviewed around 20 candidates so far.
“We’re looking for a head coach with the experience in all of those things who has some versatility in their structure and approach and can take this team to the next level and lead the group ahead,” Chayka said.
Toronto, however, does not appear to be limiting its search to coaches with NHL experience. According to Sportsnet, the Maple Leafs are expected to interview recently retired forward Joe Pavelski.
Pavelski has never coached in the NHL, though Sportsnet reported that Toronto views him similarly to Martin St. Louis, who made the jump from playing to coaching with the Montreal Canadiens.
Since retiring after the 2023-24 season, Pavelski has remained involved in the game by coaching youth hockey in Wisconsin, including his son Nate’s team.
The former Sharks captain played 18 NHL seasons with San Jose and Dallas, finishing with 476 goals and 1,068 points in 1,332 games. He also served as San Jose’s captain for four seasons before ending his playing career with the Stars.
Edited by Sonali Verma
