Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio’s Morning Skate with Scott Laughlin and Andrew Raycroft on Wednesday. There, he was asked about the Toronto Maple Leafs’ coaching search now that the front office has been resolved. In addition, Friedman was asked how things are with Auston Matthews.
Writing for NHLRumors.com
Andrew Raycroft: “Well, we’ve done 12 minutes, Elliotte, without talking about the Toronto Maple Leafs there, whether it’s the coaching search, the GM search, Auston Matthews, but let’s get to that. What are you hearing with them now that they have Judd Brackett? They have a scouting job in place?”
NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs Coaching Search Continues
Elliotte Friedman: “Well, I think they have, I heard that they started reaching out, so I heard that they are doing like negotiations to round 16, and I heard that they started reaching out to people and narrowing down the list a little bit. I know that there was a report in the morning, I talked about Peter Laviolette last night, and I did not confirm, but there was a report that I read about Patrick last night 100% true, and I think that Roy is a competitor official, but I would suspect the list is a bit longer than that.
Like I said, I heard there were 15 or 16 picks, and now the Leafs find out, do they bring in another team. But I think Laviolette is one, I think Roy is another, and we’ll see what happens with the other candidates, but I heard that a couple were told that they were there, they didn’t make the second cut.
As for Matthews, I think that’s where he had the Zoom call with the Leafs a week or two ago. And one thing he passed on, and I think Sundin was on the phone, and Chayka was on the phone, and his agent, and I heard that Matthews as his first choice is to win in Toronto. So that’s where they’re going now, and Andrew, to be honest, unless something really happens here, I expect him to start next season in Toronto.”
NHLRumors.com Note: Elliotte Friedman on Wednesday’s FAN Hockey Show on Sportsnet in Toronto detailed Patrick Roy. The interview went well, and you are a strong candidate for a job in Toronto. But the Maple Leafs will run through the process before choosing their next head coach.
NHL Rumors: Chicago Blackhawks, and Toronto Maple Leafs
Give credit to Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, as we’ve written here at NHLRumors.com, words may be a little sloppy when it comes to Auston Matthews, but the goal from the start was to win in Toronto. Unless he can see a path to that with the Maple Leafs, he will stay.
However, the best course of action is to get a decision sooner rather than later. The Maple Leafs continue to let the players dictate the terms of how things are done in Toronto. Management should try to restore power. However, the thought of Gavin McKenna or another respected prospect could prevent any superstar from leaving.
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