The most recent on the Maple Leafs coaching search, Auston Matthews and other roster movements
Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period joined NHL Tonight with Erika Watcher on NHL Network and was asked in regards to the Toronto Maple Leafs, their coaching search, and the longer term of Auston Matthews and Morgan Rielly.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
Auston Matthews Trade Outlook Stays Complex
Erika Watcher: “So let’s now usher in the guy who knows all about all these happenings. Our NHL Network Insider Dave Pagnotta. Dave, great to see you. Lots to dive into here. Let’s start with the Maple Leafs. At all times a ton of chatter out of Toronto. What’s the most recent that you just are hearing with their coaching search and naturally players like Auston Matthews and Morgan Rielly?”
Dave Pagnotta: “Yeah, Erika, never a dull moment in Toronto inside the hockey season or within the off season. Yeah, they’re going through the method, the primary steps of their coaching search in the meanwhile, and while they’re narrowing down candidates or attempting to get to a listing of candidates that they need to succeed in out to, they’re just starting that process, really, this coming week.
I consider that the interviews are going to begin to start this week with quite a few candidates. I consider they’ve had some conversations backwards and forwards, however the formal interviews are going to begin to start. And I might imagine they’re going to begin reaching out to just a few clubs to see whom they may have the option to talk with, who they’ll get permission from with a view to interview for the emptiness.
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I consider Jay Woodcroft is certainly one of the fellows on their list. He’s the previous head coach of the Oilers and an assistant with the Anaheim Geese. In order that’s the calibre of coach that they’re . They’re going to, they’ve said it, John Chayka has said they’re going to forged a large net. But at the identical time, as much as they’re going to take a look at a few of the veteran coaches which are on the market, I believe they’re also going to take a look at a few of the first-year potentials, or those who have had experience, a bit of little bit of experience behind the bench already.
And as you mentioned, along with that, they must refer to their captain, Auston Matthews. Have that face-to-face in Arizona; they haven’t had that yet. Mats Sundin and John Chayka will meet with Auston Matthews and his agent, Judd Moldaver, in Arizona within the not-too-distant future. There’s no definitive timeline just yet, but they wish to have that face-to-face, ensure everybody’s on the identical page with the direction of this club.
His position, to my knowledge, hasn’t modified. He desires to win in Toronto. He desires to stay there. He desires to ensure that that’s the trail that this team goes to begin to take again in Toronto. If it’s not the case, then yeah, he’s going to have a distinct decision. And either side really could have a distinct decision to make, but they’re going to get to that.
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Considered one of the choices the team may need to make is the longer term of Morgan Rielly, as you alluded to. He was the topic of trade speculation leading into the trade deadline. I consider that they’re going to have a conversation with him as well. He has a full no-move and dictates where he can go, but I believe they’re going to explore that over the course of this offseason.”
NHLRumors.com Note: The Toronto Maple Leafs, in keeping with Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, have talked with Auston Matthews. Straight away, it is hard to have that face-to-face conversation, provided that the player just had surgery and the team goes through a training search. Now, with Zoom, they did have everyone on the identical page. It’ll be interesting to see how the Maple Leafs upgrade their team outside of getting the first overall pick to speed up the retool.
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