According to a report from James Mirtle of The Athletic, the Toronto Maple Leafs have formally requested permission from the Minnesota Wild to speak to and potentially negotiate a contract with former Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau. If you're wondering why the Leafs need the Wild's permission after the team fired Boudreau earlier this season, it's because technically Boudreau is still under contract with the Wild, he's just been stripped of his head coaching duties. In effect, they're bound to the terms of his contract and must pay him accordingly until another team (like the Leafs) signs Boudreau to a new contract.
Boudreau, of course, would not replace Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe, but he'd be a compliment to his coaching staff and would likely serve as an assistant coach with powerplay coaching responsibilities. The 65 year old Boudreau has been coaching pro hockey since 1990 and been in the NHL since 2007-08. He's a Jack Adams Award winner and has run the bench for the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks and Wild. Throughout his career though he has openly maintained his fandom for the Leafs. He's Toronto born and bred and he'll unabashedly show his support for the Leafs to anyone.
From Mirtle's most recent column for The Athletic:
The Leafs asked the Minnesota Wild for permission to talk to Boudreau at some point in the past few months. No formal interview has taken place, but the news got back to the 65-year-old coach fairly quickly.
Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, not only is Boudreau about to get a new gig, but it's a pretty plum gig with his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs.
On his most recent 31 Thoughts column for Sportsnet, Friedman reported that Boudreau would fill the an opening on the Leafs' coaching staff recently vacated by power play specialist Paul McFarland. McFarland recently accepted a general manager's position with the OHL's Kingston Frontenacs. Meanwhile, Boudreau could add some much needed experience for rookie coach Keefe.
Check it out:
The Maple Leafs have an opening on their coaching staff, as power play specialist Paul McFarland heads to OHL Kingston. Out-of-the-box thought: Bruce Boudreau. He will want to be a head coach, first and foremost. That’s what he is. However, he’s always had a fascination with the team he grew up watching and played for.
I have to say, it's an intriguing proposition and not entirely without merit.
Where there's smoke, there's bound to be fire so I'm inclined to believe this rumour. Now, does that mean it's a slam dunk? Of course not, but it appears to be a perfect fit between the coach and the team.
For the full article from Mirtle:
