Dec 18, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube (L) and assistant coach Derek Lalonde (R) look on from behind the bench against the Washington Capitals during the second period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

NHL Insider Reveals Multiple Candidates Interviewed as Maple Leafs’ Coaching Search Moves Forward

May 31, 2026, 1:34 AM CUT

The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking for a new head coach, and they have already started making moves inside the organization. The team parted ways with Craig Berube recently, and since then, the search has started for the new bench boss.

Now, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has revealed that the Toronto Maple Leafs have already interviewed several coaches within the organization. Speaking on Sportsnet’s The Hockey Fan Show, Friedman confirmed earlier reports and said the team has already looked at two internal candidates for the role.

"I know they've interviewed their internal guys," Friedman said. "I think they interviewed (Derek) Lalonde. I think they also interviewed Mike Van Ryn."

Apr 13, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Max Domi (11) celebrates at the bench after scoring a goal against the Dallas Stars during the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Both Lalonde and Van Ryn worked on Craig Berube’s coaching staff last season, so they already know the team well. Their interviews show that the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking at internal options before choosing their next head coach.

Lalonde joined Toronto as an assistant coach before the 2025–26 season and managed the penalty kill. The Maple Leafs’ penalty-kill unit was one of the team’s strengths and finished in the NHL’s top 10 with an 81.2% success rate.

Before joining the Toronto Maple Leafs, Lalonde was the head coach of the Detroit Red Wings for two and a half seasons. He coached the team through the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons before Detroit fired him in December 2024.

Before that, he worked as an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning and helped them win Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021.

Van Ryn has spent the last three seasons as a Maple Leafs assistant coach. He first joined under Sheldon Keefe and stayed on Berube’s staff. He managed the team’s defense, which struggled last season as Toronto allowed 295 goals, the second-most in the NHL.

Two Candidates, Two Different Coaching Paths

Both candidates have very different backgrounds. Lalonde has coached at many levels of hockey. He worked as an assistant coach in college hockey before moving to junior hockey. He led the Green Bay Gamblers to a championship and won USHL Coach of the Year in 2012.

Later, he coached the Toledo Walleye to two straight Brabham Cups and won ECHL Coach of the Year. He also coached the Wild in the AHL. In the NHL, he won two Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning and later became head coach of the Detroit Red Wings.

On the other hand, Van Ryn started his coaching journey in junior hockey with the Niagara IceDogs and later the Kitchener Rangers. He became the head coach of Kitchener and led the team to a 95-point season and a playoff series win.

Later, he moved to professional hockey with the Houston Aeros and then joined the Arizona Coyotes organization. He helped the Tucson Roadrunners win a Pacific Division title.

In the NHL, he spent five seasons as an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues and helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2019 before joining the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Now that NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has confirmed both coaches interviewed for the job, Toronto’s coaching search is moving forward. The big question is whether the Maple Leafs will hire from inside the organization or choose someone else.

What do you think? Who will be the Leafs’ next head coach? Either from these two or someone else? Comment your opinion below.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Souvik Roy