Drastic turn of events in Jay Woodcroft to Toronto rumors.

For weeks now there have been rumors strongly linking former Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft to the vacant head coaching position behind the bench of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but as it turns out those rumors may have been nothing more than hot air.

The National Hockey League's top insider, Elliotte Friedman, has just shed his insight into the recent rumors linking Woodcroft to the Maple Leafs and to say that Friedman's comments have changed the narrative would be a massive understatement. According to the insider, Woodcroft isn't even a name the Maple Leafs are considering... at least not at this current time.

"I just heard Toronto has not asked for permission to talk to him," revealed Friedman on The Fan Hockey Show. "Right now he's not on their list of people to interview, I don't know why, I don't know if there is anything there, I just heard that they haven't asked for permission to talk to him and they may not... at all."

Those are pretty definitive words from Friedman who is usually careful about making definitive statements when he's not 100% sure. Another indication that Woodcroft isn't likely to land in Toronto is the fact that Woodcroft is currently interviewing for jobs elsewhere in the NHL.

"That's where it stands right now," said Friedman. "He did interview in [Los Angeles], that's accurate. With his history with Ken Holland I would think he would be legit there."

Friedman reiterated his belief that Woodcroft isn't the man for the Maple Leafs, citing multiple sources with knowledge of the team's coaching search.

"I've heard from a couple of different places that he hasn't interviewed in Toronto and they haven't asked for permission to talk to him and it isn't guaranteed they will," said Friedman.

Stay tuned for more on this developing story.