Joe Pavelski to Coach the Maple Leafs? It’s Not as Crazy as It Sounds

An unexpected name has entered Toronto’s coaching search, as former NHL star Joe Pavelski is reportedly on the team’s radar. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman broke the news on Sunday, writing that sources describe Pavelski as a “Martin St. Louis-style” candidate, drawing parallels to St. Louis’ jump from youth coaching to the NHL. Pavelski has coached son Nate in Madison, Wisc.

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Pavelski, who retired in 2024, has limited coaching experience but is well-respected across the league and isn’t dismissing the opportunity. His inclusion is notable given Toronto had previously moved away from inexperienced candidates.

While it’s unclear how serious his chances are, his emergence highlights the team’s evolving and somewhat unpredictable search process.

Pavelski as Coach Is Out There, But Not As Much as You’d Think

When Montreal hired St. Louis in February 2022, he had never been behind an NHL or AHL bench. The hockey world was quite surprised. But under St. Louis, highly touted rookie Cole Caufield transformed almost immediately, finding his game. He’s helped other young talents break out and become difference-makers, and St. Louis is touted as someone whose relationship with his players is just different. The results on the ice as a team were modest, but the cultural impact was not.

From there, the Canadiens continued to get better and better. This season, they made a run all the way to the Eastern Conference Final before being overwhelmed by the Carolina Hurricanes. While that could have been disappointing, the takeaway was how far the Habs have come and how bright their future is.

The blueprint to hire someone like Pavelski, then, exists. A Hall of Fame player with no traditional coaching pedigree can walk into an NHL locker room, earn immediate credibility from players who know exactly who he is, and create an environment that unlocks performance. Pavelski, for his part, is one of the most respected players of his generation — a two-time Stanley Cup champion, a captain, a leader whose reputation across the league is essentially spotless.

Credibility wouldn’t be in question.

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