The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to add some experience to their coaching staff.
The club reached out to the Minnesota Wild at some point over the last few months about interviewing Bruce Boudreau for a role as an assistant, reports The Athletic's James Mirtle.
Those close to Boudreau say he is intrigued by the idea, Mirtle added.
Boudreau spent parts of four seasons as the Wild's head coach before his dismissal in February. Prior to his stop in Minnesota, he was the Washington Capitals' bench boss for parts of five seasons before serving as the Anaheim Ducks' head coach for parts of five campaigns.
During the seasons in which Boudreau has started and finished the campaign as his team's bench boss, he's made the playoffs nine out of 10 times. His clubs have a track record of defensive success, too, which is an area of needed improvement for the Leafs.
In his three full seasons in Minnesota, the Wild owned a league-best 1.94 expected goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick. Minnesota also posted an NHL-best 1.91 xGA/60 before Boudreau's firing.
The 65-year-old still wants to be a head coach, according to TSN's Darren Dreger. Jobs may be scarce, though. The Seattle Kraken are the only franchise without a head coach. However, the Calgary Flames' Geoff Ward, the Dallas Stars' Rick Bowness, and the San Jose Sharks' Bob Boughner are all interim bench bosses. Proven coaches Mike Babcock, Peter Laviolette, and Gerard Gallant are also without jobs.
Boudreau has ties to Toronto. Not only was he born in the city, but he also played his junior hockey with the Toronto Marlboros and was the Maple Leafs' third-round pick in 1975. He played 134 of his 141 NHL games in a Leafs uniform. His mother, Theresa, is in her late 80s and still lives in Toronto, too.
The Maple Leafs have openings on their bench after losing two assistant coaches. Paul McFarland took a head coaching gig with the OHL's Kingston Frontenacs, and Andrew Brewer was let go.
The club's search for an assistant is focused on finding a veteran with experience as an NHL bench boss in order to help Sheldon Keefe, sources told Mirtle. Keefe, who will be entering his first full season as an NHL head coach, is reportedly heavily involved in the interview process.
The Leafs are also apparently willing to flex their financial muscles in order to hire their top candidate, as the role would likely make whoever accepted it the highest-paid assistant coach in the league, Mirtle added.
