The Toronto Maple Leafs' coaching hunt has been as intense as ever. The hockey insider Frank Seravalli reported that the former Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft is set to interview with the organization this week.

Seravalli described Woodcroft as "one of the front-runners" for Toronto. This is significant progress for a search that had been relatively quieter in the beginning.

Woodcroft, who is currently working as an assistant coach for the Anaheim Ducks, was also interviewed by the Los Angeles Kings last week. The 49-year-old is now in between conversations with two NHL franchises.

The Leafs are conducting a "wide and deep" search. This is happening under their new general manager, John Chayka, and their senior executive advisor, Mats Sundin. 

Seravalli also mentioned that there are up to 20 interviewees with really different experience levels. And most conversations are currently taking place via Zoom. 

The organization plans to regroup around the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo. After that, regroup and bring a small group of the most serious finalists in for formal, face-to-face interviews. 

Toronto's vacancy in the coach position opened after the abrupt firing of Craig Berube. This happened after a disappointing season, and the pressure to get the next coach is really huge. 

Jay Woodcroft spent two-plus seasons with the Edmonton Oilers. He then got fired 13 games into the 2023-24 campaign, finishing with a 79-41-13 record and winning three playoff series. 

He then guided the Oilers to the Western Conference Final in his first season and then saw one of the biggest offensive campaigns in recent NHL history in 2022-23.

After two years away from NHL head coaching, Woodcroft came back this season as an assistant as a part of Joel Quenneville's staff with Anaheim, where the Ducks made it to the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

Woodcroft, Carle, and Toronto's Broader Shortlist

Woodcroft is not the only name focused on in this search. The University of Denver head coach, David Carle, has emerged as another option.

At 35, Carle does fit the younger profile that the Leafs want, and his record at the college level is pretty impressive. Carle has been part of the Denver hockey scene since 2009 and has built a major program at the University of Denver. The only concern for Toronto is that Carle has never coached a game at the NHL level.

There is a clear contrast between Woodcroft and Carle, which essentially adds pressure to Toronto's search for proven NHL experience.

NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman also mentioned that former Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy has been considered for this vacancy. But he does not appear to be part of Toronto's plans for now. 

The other names connected to this vacancy are Tampa Bay Lightning assistant Jeff Halpern and former Oilers coach Todd Nelson, although none of these have been officially confirmed.

The coming weeks will determine the direction the organization will be going for the position of finalizing the Maple Leafs' next head coach, which is beginning to take shape.

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Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Ankita Yadav