While it remains unclear which external head coaching candidates Maple Leafs GM John Chayka has spoken with so far, it appears there are a pair of internal options for the position as well. In a recent appearance on The FAN Hockey Show (video link), Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Derek Lalonde has been interviewed for the job while he believes that Mike Van Ryn has also been interviewed. Lalonde spent parts of three seasons running the bench in Detroit from 2022-23 through 2024-25, leading the team to an 89-86-23 record. On the other hand, Van Ryn’s head coaching experience is rather limited, just 2015-16 with OHL Kitchener and 2017-18 with AHL Tucson, making him a less likely candidate for the role. There remains no timeline in place for when Toronto might hire their next bench boss but they’d likely want the hire in place before next month’s draft.
More from the Maple Leafs:
- At a time when there has been plenty of speculation of how Toronto could shake up its roster, winger William Nylander made it clear in a video on his YouTube channel earlier this week that he has no desire to leave. The 30-year-old has spent 11 seasons with the Maple Leafs already and has six years left on his contract, one that carries an AAV of $11.5MM and has full trade protection. Nylander is coming off a career year in terms of points per game as his mark of 1.22 was a personal best, although he missed 17 games due to injury. Barring the team embarking on a longer-term rebuild, it’s hard to see a scenario where Nylander is asked to consider waiving his trade protection but the veteran has made his intentions clear preemptively.
- Winger Easton Cowan wasn’t in the lineup on Friday as the Marlies continue their playoff run in the minors. Speaking postgame, head coach Jon Gruden indicated to reporters including Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun that the rookie is dealing with an upper-body injury. It’s more of a maintenance thing but his status for Monday’s game is uncertain. Cowan sits ninth in AHL playoff scoring with five goals and four assists in 14 contests.
there is a piece in the Toronto Star today that outlines the final demise of the Leafs
Keith Pelley is selling them out to AI
R.I.P.
I hope they fail in a way that I would reserve for Epstein types
You hope that a hockey team that relied on or used artificial intelligence to gain an edge in their hockey department is treated like serial paedophile and sick human beings? Seek immediate help and please don’t procreate.
Nylander stays in Toronto, I’m done. No longer possible for me to follow or support a team with such an @ss 🤡. Enough is enough. Start the full rebuild as needed. Stop with this ridiculous circus.
It is only hockey yet it gets an entire clan of folks spewing a constant stream of bitterness and anger across these forums. Amazingly entertaining stuff!
I wouldn’t dismiss Van Ryn out of hand, it wasn’t so long ago he was one of those assistant coaches widely thought to be the next in line to get a head job. I think Chayka was the one who hired him for that AHL job in Tucson too.
Watching the same group of losers year after year isn’t bitterness it’s insanity and more than embarrassing. Enough is enough. I want to see a FULL REBUILD from scratch. Don’t care about wins and losses. There’s hope if things are done right. This leafs organization hasn’t done anything right for over 20 years. And if you really want to go deeper not since 1967!!
Thank you for confirming my point. You again got angry, then added a dash of embarrassment. Over a hockey team!