Joe Pavelski has now joined the discussion regarding the Leafs’ head coach, and that twist makes an already unclear search much more difficult to decipher.
On Saturday, Chris McCluskey explained it. The initial list of candidates from Toronto was already scattered throughout the map. It is further complicated by the fact that a prior star with no prior experience on an NHL bench is being added.
Peter Laviolette seems out of the Leafs race, with rumors now tying him to the Los Angeles Kings. Without him, Toronto’s hunt continues.
According to McCluskey’s top estimate for the plan, an experienced coach would serve as a backup to a young, forward-thinking coach, who would be Plan A. If nobody young completes the forms.
Possession hockey, which he identified as non-negotiable, is one of them. Anybody who assumes this position must play in a disciplined, puck-driving manner.
Then there’s the Pavelski alert, and it’s a severe one.
Since the logic develops to a conclusion that most fans won’t anticipate, it’s worthwhile to read McCluskey’s whole analysis in order.
Every appointment in Toronto is overshadowed by the Auston Matthews clock.
McCluskey captures the fundamental conflict well. It is a risky action with no safety net to entrust an unproven coach with a team that needs to win right away.
He likened it to the conversation Carle had. You should be in it for the long term if you recruit a novice, not throw them into a two-year pressure cooker.
Martin St-Louis was employed in Montreal since he took control of a team at the beginning of its construction. Toronto is not that. The Leafs want to win right away, and that changes everything.
The calendar makes it heavier. The coming season shapes up as a make-or-break year for Auston Matthews, who was limited to 60 games and 53 points.
If Matthews decides not to re-sign, the rebuild starts whether Toronto likes it or not. That’s the trapdoor under this whole hire.
McCluskey’s smarter pitch: bring Pavelski in as an assistant now, paired with a win-now head coach. If it clicks, you’ve got your staff and maybe Matthews stays.
That path has a track record in Toronto, with D.J. Smith and Spencer Carbery among the assistants who launched from there.
Here’s my read: McCluskey’s right. Hiring a first-time bench boss to chase a contender is like handing someone race car keys after a few laps in a go-kart.
The guy’s existence is unquestionable. The moment Pavelski entered, he would demand respect. Toronto’s ability to pay for his learning curve is the subject of discussion, and the Matthews clock indicates that it’s doubtful.
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