Maple Leafs interview former NHL star for head coaching job.

A very interesting name has just popped up in the search for the next head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, one that draws some interesting comparisons to a bitter rival.

On Sunday morning, National Hockey League insider Elliotte Friedman dropped a bit of a bombshell when he revealed that the Maple Leafs were seriously considering interviewing a former NHL star, one with no head coaching experience at the professional level, for their vacant head coach position.

"I am under the impression that Joe Pavelski is going to get an interview for this job," admitted Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast.

Friedman had previously suggested that the lack of experience from senior advisor Mats Sundin and the lack of any recent experience from general manager John Chayka would likely lead them to select a highly experienced head coach, and he addressed this while dropping this big news.

"It flies in the face of what I said the other day, but this is a player who is hugely respected," said Friedman.

Friedman also relayed how the Golden Knights may have benefitted from some coaching courtesy of Joe Pavelski during the current Stanley Cup playoffs.

"Pavelski is watching a game and he sees that [Tomas] Hertl hasn't scored in 29 games says 'that's ridiculous' calls him, tells him to relax a bit, stop overthinking, Hertl breaks the slump," revealed Friedman. "So we know that Pavelski is a slumpbuster, he is a motivational genius."

This very much comes off like the Maple Leafs trying to replicate the recent success of the Montreal Canadiens with the hiring of head coach Martin St. Louis, and Friedman even pointed out some similarities between the two.

"This is the tie in," said Friedman. "As you know Martin St. Louis was coaching minor hockey and what does Joe Pavelski do? He coaches minor hockey with the Madison Capitals"

While this may sound a little far fetched, it sounds like Pavelski is very much on board with the idea.

"I heard Pavelski is legitimately interested," said Friedman. "He will be in that next group of candidates."

Stay tuned for more details on this extremely intriguing story.