Toronto Maple Leafs

Get Ready for the Bruce Boudreau as a Maple Leafs Coach Rumors

There’s been rumors that former head coach Bruce Boudreau is interested in coming to the Maple Leafs. With a job opening, will that happen?

by
Old Prof
June 25, 2021

In a post on Yahoo Sports today, hockey writer Thomas Williams wrote a piece titled “Leafs fans desperately want Bruce Boudreau to replace Dave Hakstol on coaching staff.” I’m not certain how he knows that, but I’ve also heard the rumor that Boudreau has had the Maple Leafs on his radar for more than a year now.

That said, I’m not sure that this rumor will turn into a reality; however, it might be interesting. What we do know is that the Maple Leafs have a job opening for an assistant coach and the word is that Boudreau might be interested. But, is it mutual?

There’s a Job Opening with the Maple Leafs: Of Course Boudreau’s Coming

When the Seattle Kraken announced that Dave Hakstol would be the team’s first head coach in its history, that left Hakstol’s job as an assistant coach working with the Maple Leafs’ defense and penalty kill open. Those who promote Boudreau as a possible replacement are not likely thinking Boudreau would take over the defense, but more that he’d focus on the offense and perhaps Manny Malhotra might move from offense to defense. As Maple Leafs’ fans know, the team’s power play needs to be better.

The truth is that, although Boudreau’s teams have a good record of making the playoffs, they’ve relied more on scoring lots of goals more than holding the other team off the score sheet. Until this past season, that was the Maple Leafs’ MO.

Boudreau’s Never Been an Assistant NHL Coach

Boudreau’s held a few NHL jobs – but none at the assistant level. His first head coaching job was with the Washington Capitals and his last job was with the Minnesota Wild. In total, he’s coached 984 games, winning 567 of them. He stands 22^nd on the all-time list of NHL head coaches.

Interestingly, in his five seasons with the Capitals, his five seasons with the Ducks, and his four seasons with the Minnesota Wild, he never had a losing record as a head coach. Furthermore, he’s only missed the playoffs two times during his coaching career.

Alex Ovechkin Upper Deck Washington Capitals

Boudreau’s had success in the NHL coaching an up-tempo style and he’s consistently used that style all of his coaching career. Such a style works well given the players he’s coached such as Alex Ovechkin with the Capitals and Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry when they were in their prime with the Ducks. From 2007-08 to 2015-16 (not counting the 2011-12 split season), Boudreau coached eight consecutive division winners.

Boudreau’s Regular Season and Postseason Record

Boudreau’s record includes eight 100+ point seasons and 90 games of playoff experience. His teams have played high-tempo and relied on the star players to carry the offense by being both exciting and creative. Given the Maple Leafs’ level of talent, who’s to say that wouldn’t work here?

Where Boudreau’s career record comes up short is that he hasn’t been that successful during the playoffs. His postseason record sits at 43-47. Although his teams have entered the Stanley Cup Playoffs 10 times during his 11 full seasons as a coach, six of those times Boudreau’s team never made it past the first round. A cynical person might suggest that makes him a perfect fit for the Maple Leafs’ organization.

Before last season, Boudreau was a head coach in the NHL for 13 consecutive campaigns for three different franchises. It didn’t matter if it was the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks, or the Minnesota Wild, most of the time his team made the playoffs. He split 2011-12 season between the Capitals and the Ducks and was unemployed only about a week after he left the Capitals before the Ducks quacked at him.

It Sounds Like Boudreau Wants to Come to the Maple Leafs

The last time Boudreau was an assistant coach was in the International Hockey League during the 1995-96 season for the San Francisco Spiders. Boudreau played over 100 games for the Maple Leafs during the 1970-1980s. In fact, his best season was in 1977-78 season he played 40 games, scoring 11 goals and 18 assists (for 39 points).

During the offseason prior to 2020-21, he was vocal about being a Maple Leafs’ fan (it’s his hometown team). Obviously, many Maple Leafs’ fans have interpreted that hint into the belief that he would soon be hired as a Sheldon Keefe assistant. But really, is there a chance?

So far this time, there have been only a few rumors to connect Boudreau to the Maple Leafs. However, but they’ll likely soon be coming.