Toronto Maple Leafs add experience with Rick Olczyk and Blair MacKasey

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Wednesday that Rick Olczyk and Blair MacKasey have joined the organisation as professional scouts.

Brendan Shanahan and Kyle Dubas continue to put their stamp on the Toronto Maple Leafs, with the addition of Rick Olczyk and Blair MacKasey. Both men join the organisation with a wealth of experience in important positions, having worked in the NHL for a combined 29 years.

Olczyk joins the Leafs from the Carolina Hurricanes, where he has held the position of Assistant General Manager for the past four seasons.

The Chicago, Illinois native held the same position with the Edmonton Oilers between 2007 and 2013, while also spending one season as Director of Player Personnel for the Stockton Thunder in the ECHL.

The 48-year-old also has a World Cup of Hockey runners-up medal to his name, having worked as a scout for Team Europe during the 2016 edition of the competition.

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MacKasey  joins the Leafs having worked in the NHL for many years, most recently with the Minnesota Wild.

During his 12-year spell with the Wild, MacKasey has worked as Director of Professional Scouting and later as Director of Player Personnel.

The 62-year-old started his NHL career back in 1996, working as an amateur scout for the then-named Phoenix Coyotes.

MacKasey also has a number of medals, thanks to his time working with the Canadian Under-18 and Under-20 squads between 2002 and 2006.

He held roles as a scout, Director of Player Personnel and General Manager during his time in international hockey and picked up three silver medals (1x Under-18, 2x Under-20) and three gold medals (2x Under-20, 1x Under-18).

MacKasey also has the distinction of having played just one NHL game during his playing year, featuring once during the 1976-77 season – for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The wealth of experience the pair brings will be a great addition to the organisation and will do the team well as they enter a new era of expectations.

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What do you think Leafs fans? Are you happy with the appointments of Olczyk and MacKasey? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!