Marc Savard joins the Maple Leafs as an assistant coach

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Sunday that former NHL player Marc Savard has been appointed as an assistant coach under their new head coach, Craig Berube.

Marc Savard joins the Toronto Maple Leafs’ coaching staff, which includes associate coach Lane Lambert, assistant coach Mike Van Ryn, goalie coach Curtis Sanford, and video coaches Jordan Bean and Sam Kim.

Previously, Savard was an assistant coach with the Calgary Flames last season. He served as head coach of the Windsor Spitfires from 2021-2023, achieving an 88-35-8-5 record and leading the team to the OHL Finals in 2022. Savard’s NHL coaching debut was with the St. Louis Blues in the 2019-20 season.

During his 13-year playing career, Savard scored 207 goals and 499 assists, totaling 706 points in 807 regular-season games with the Calgary Flames, New York Rangers, Atlanta Thrashers, and Boston Bruins. After alternating between the Rangers and their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, Savard was traded to the Flames, where he honed his offensive skills over nearly four seasons. His trade to the Thrashers saw him become a point-per-game player, with 52 points in 45 games in 2003-04.

Post-lockout, Savard’s performance peaked with 28 goals and 69 assists for 97 points in 2005-06. He then signed a four-year, $20 million contract with the Bruins, maintaining high productivity with 96, 78, and 88 points in subsequent seasons.

In March 2010, Savard sustained a major concussion, sidelining him for the remainder of the regular season. He returned briefly for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, notably scoring an overtime-winning goal against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Marc Savard missed most of the 2010-11 regular season due to post-concussion syndrome and, after playing only 25 games, suffered a second concussion in January. This injury led to him being shut down for the remainder of the season. Despite his limited play, the Boston Bruins, who won the Stanley Cup that year, petitioned successfully to have his name engraved on the trophy.

Drafted in the fourth round of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers, Savard spent four seasons with the Oshawa Generals, scoring an impressive 413 points in 238 regular-season games.