Former NHL coach offered job in Toronto, turns down the Leafs
It's been uncharacteristically quiet surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs of late, as we await the opening of the floodgates ahead of the draft on June 28th and free agency on July 1st. We all know how much work the Leafs have ahead of them this summer, but rather than panicking and making moves for the sake of making moves, new Leafs GM Brad Treliving seems intent on taking his time and leaving no stone unturned so that he can make the best decisions possible for the future of the franchise.
One major storyline coming into this summer was the coaching situation in Toronto. Many had speculated, following the Leafs' listless performance against Florida, that Sheldon Keefe may be on the chopping block for the Leafs. However, recent reports have suggested that Keefe may be back next season after Dubas was let go. Not only that, but he might actually end up with an extension in all of this.
The Leafs did suffer a loss behind the bench this summer, as Spencer Carbery has left the organization for greener pastures as head coach of the Washington Capitals, leaving a hole for the Leafs to fill next to Sheldon Keefe next season. As it turns out, the had extended an offer to a former NHL head coach, but that offer was somewhat surprisingly turned down.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Leafs are believed to have extended Travis Green, former Vancouver Canucks coach, an offer to join the Leafs' coaching staff. Green instead opted for a job in New Jersey with a red-hot Devils team. Friedman also mentioned that Green had an option available to him in Calgary, which he had also passed up.
Friedman's 32 Thoughts counterpart, Jeff Marek, also spoke of the Leafs' assistant coaching vacancy and brought up 3 names whom the Leafs are potentially looking at to fill that hole. Those 3 names are Karl Taylor (AHL Milwaukee), Todd Nelson (AHL Hershey), Mitch Love (AHL Calgary).
We'll have to wait and see where this all goes.
