After announcing last week that former Stanley Cup winner Craig Berube was hired as head coach, the Toronto Maple Leafs are making adjustments behind the bench.
Many people have been speculating that the Toronto Maple Leafs coaching staff may undergo a change after Berube’s hire.
When asked whether there will be staff changes at his news conference, Berube said that he had not yet determined who would join him but that he had previously worked with Mike Van Ryn of the Maple Leafs bench.
The Vancouver Canucks announced on Friday afternoon that they had hired Manny Malhotra to be the head coach of their American Hockey League affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks. Malhotra jumped at the chance to advance in his coaching career, given the likelihood of the staff changes.
Manny Malhotra and the Toronto Maple Leafs part ways
Working under current Ottawa Senators coach Travis Green, Malhotra was the Canucks’ assistant coach for three seasons. The Mississauga native also played forward for the Canucks for three seasons, appearing in 159 games and scoring 48 points.
Along with Paul MacLean and Dave Hakstol, Malhotra became a member of the Sheldon Keefe staff when he signed with the Maple Leafs in September 2020. Malhotra seen the team qualify for the playoffs each of his four seasons on the staff and win one postseason series.
The former seventh overall pick will be heading the first professional team for the first time.
Numerous rumors and conjecture have surfaced around Berube’s benchwarming companion. He had previously collaborated with Van Ryn, one of the current staff members, as he stated in his news conference.
Before signing with the Maple Leafs this past season, the former NHL defenceman spent a portion of five seasons in St. Louis working under Berube.
