Report: Leafs to hire Bruce Boudreau

The veteran coach finally comes home to Toronto!?

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 3 years ago
Report: Leafs to hire Bruce Boudreau
Zuma Press

Bruce Boudreau had his heart broken on Valentine's Day. 

That's the day the veteran head coach was dismissed by the Minnesota Wild and replaced by interim and now full-time head coach Dean Evason. All Boudreau could do was watch while his Wild team thrived under Evason and ultimately made a strong push for a Stanley Cup Playoff position. Then the pandemic hit and put everything up in the air. For Boudreau, this meant not only the NHL season was in doubt but also his career. Would he ever get hired again? 

Well, according to a report from 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 reports that Boudreau could 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 head coach Sheldon 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.

The Toronto Sun's Lance Hornby also reported that Boudreau himself has expressed interest in the position.

Check it out:


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.

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. Again... seems like the perfect fit. Thoughts, Leafs fans?