Following a significant exodus from the coaching ranks of the Toronto Maple Leafs, head coach Sheldon Keefe has been relieved of his duties, along with assistant coaches Manny Malhotra and Dean Chynoweth. In the latest announcement on Saturday, assistant coach Guy Boucher has also been confirmed not to return for the upcoming season.
Boucher, who was brought on board in July the previous year primarily to oversee the team’s power play, became the latest casualty as the Maple Leafs continue to undergo major offseason restructuring in hopes of bolstering their on-ice performance for the 2024-25 season.
Despite the Leafs’ power play being a dominant force in previous seasons, ranking first in the NHL in 2021-22 and second in 2022-23 (just behind the Edmonton Oilers), its effectiveness dropped significantly last season under Boucher’s guidance, landing them seventh in the league with a 24% success rate. This decline was particularly evident during the playoffs, where they struggled with a dismal 4.8% success rate in the first-round series against the Boston Bruins, contributing to their early exit.
With their special teams, including a faltering penalty kill, proving pivotal in their playoff shortcomings, Boucher’s departure was perhaps inevitable following the disappointing end to the Leafs’ season.
Previously, Boucher had stints as head coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2010 to 2013 and with the Ottawa Senators from 2016 to 2019. His overall coaching record includes 191 wins, 186 losses, and 46 overtime losses in the regular season, along with a playoff record of 22 wins and 15 losses. Prior to joining the Maple Leafs last season, Boucher had been out of the NHL.
With the exits of Chynoweth, Malhotra, and now Boucher from the coaching staff for the upcoming season, it is clear that new head coach Craig Berube is assembling his own team to guide the Leafs moving forward.
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