Leafs hire Guy Boucher and a former Leafs defenseman as new assistant coaches
Plenty of experience behind the Leafs' bench in 2023-24.
HockeyFeed
This just in, the Toronto Maple Leafs have hired former Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators head coach Guy Boucher to join Sheldon Keefe's staff as an assistant coach. Additionally the team has also hired former NHL defenseman and St. Louis Blues assistant coach Mike Van Ryn to join Keefe's coaching staff, as well.
Both coaches will join Keefe, Dean Chynoweth and Manny Malhotra on the Leafs' bench in 2023-24.
"One of my goals every offseason is to put together the best staff possible to help give us the greatest opportunity for team success," said Sheldon Keefe in a prepared statement. "With Spencer Carbery's departure to become the head coach of the Washington Capitals, I'm thrilled to add experienced and accomplished coaches like Guy and Mike, as well as how the roles and responsibilities will now be shared amongst our coaching staff moving forward."
More from the Leafs' official press release announcement:
Boucher, 51, previously served as head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning (2010-11 to 2012-13) and the Ottawa Senators (2016-17 to 2018-19), posting a combined record of 191-186-46. Under Boucher's guidance, the Lightning reached the Eastern Conference Final in 2011 while the Senators made the Eastern Conference Final in 2017.
Author Attribution
Prior to joining the Senators, Boucher spent three seasons in Switzerland (2013-14 to 2015-16) where he served as head coach of Bern SC (Swiss-A). The club posted a 44-29-5 record during his tenure.
Boucher also served as head coach of the American Hockey League's Hamilton Bulldogs in 2009-10, where he coached the team to a 52-17-11 record. He went on to win the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL's most outstanding coach that season. Boucher also spent six seasons in the QMJHL ranks, including three as head coach of the Drummondville Voltigeurs (2006-07 to 2008-09) and three as an assistant coach with the Rimouski Oceanic (2004-05 to 2005-06) and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (2000-01). Boucher led the 2008-09 Voltigeurs to a QMJHL Championship.
Internationally, Boucher has served as a coach for Canada on several occasions. As an assistant coach, Boucher helped Canada capture a gold medal at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship. The Notre-Dame-du-Lac, Quebec native also served as Canada's head coach at the 2014 and 2015 Spengler Cup, leading the team to a gold medal at the 2015 tournament.
Van Ryn, 44, joins the Maple Leafs staff after spending the previous five seasons (2018-19 to 2022-23) as an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues. Van Ryn helped the Blues capture a Stanley Cup in 2019.
Prior to joining the Blues, the London, Ontario native spent two seasons with the Arizona Coyotes organization, including one year as head coach of the club's AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, in 2017-18. Van Ryn led the Roadrunners to a 42-20-5 record and first place in the Pacific Division.
Previously, Van Ryn spent three seasons with the Ontario Hockey League's Kitchener Rangers, including one season as head coach when he guided the Rangers to a 44-17-7 record in 2015-16. He also served as an assistant coach with the AHL's Houston Aeros for two seasons (2011-12 and 2012-13) following a year an assistant with the OHL' s Niagara IceDogs in 2010-11.
As a player, Van Ryn was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the first round (26th overall) of the 1998 NHL Draft and would go on to skate in 353 NHL games, including 27 with the Maple Leafs in 2008-09. He also represented Canada at the 1998 and 1999 IIHF World Junior Championships.
