Toronto Maple Leafs: Pros and cons of Bruce Boudreau joining team
By Paul Taylor
Bruce Boudreau is reportedly willing to accept an assistant coaching role if it means being able to work for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but would it work?
David Morassutti suggested a few months ago that Bruce Boudreau would be an ideal replacement for the departing Paul McFarland. If the latest news is any indication, the Toronto Maple Leafs would be wise to look into this possibility.
According to the Toronto Sun‘s Lance Hornby, Boudreau would consider demoting himself, to apply for the opportunity to join the Leafs. His love for them is well-know, having been born in the Toronto area.
Boudreau was drafted by the Leafs in 1975 and played for them at the NHL level between 1976-82. During that time he played 134 games, scoring 69 points (27 goals and 42 assists) in the process.
The Leafs need to make some changes following their play-in series loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. If Boudreau’s coaching experience is anything to go by, he could prove to be an invaluable addition to the staff.
Boudreau has an impressive resume as a head coach, including 13 seasons in the NHL. During that time he has coached the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild.
The 65-year-old has a 567-302-115 in 984 regular season games, including leading the Capitals to the Presidents’ Trophy in 2009-10. He has qualified for the playoffs in 10 of his 13 seasons as an NHL head coach and won the Jack Adams award in 2008.
Where Boudreau could specifically help the Leafs, is his tremendous ability as a defensive coach. As much as you also need to have the talent to succeed, his knowledge and schemes would still help the blue line.
For what it’s worth, Boudreau is also an engaging personality who is actually liked by the Toronto media. He could prove to be a useful buffer during challenging times for the organisation.
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In this respect however, you imagine there could also be some issues if Boudreau does join the Leafs. In theory, he would be there for Sheldon Keefe to lean on, as he continues to develop as an NHL head coach.
If the Leafs hit any rough patches however, i.e. experience a poor run of form, it is all but certain that certain fans and media members will call for Boudreau to take over as head coach. This could be a distraction for Keefe and the organisation, not that we believe Boudreau would do anything to antagonise such a scenario.
Overall though, the positives far outweigh the negatives. Whether this actually results in Boudreau joining the Leafs’ coaching staff remains to be seen, but it would make a lot of sense.
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What do you make of Boudreau’s apparent interest in joining the Toronto Maple Leafs’ coaching staff? What impact do you predict he would have on the team? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.