Elliotte Friedman lists former Oilers coach as a potential Sheldon Keefe replacement.
Elliotte Friedman lists former Oilers coach as a potential Sheldon Keefe replacement.
EDMONTON -- The annual game of musical chairs for NHL head coaches keeps on playing.
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Former Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft is reportedly in consideration to take over coaching duties for the New Jersey Devils. Before he gets to any NHL coaching duties he will need to finish his stint with team Canada at the World Championship.
Another former Oilers head coach has become a hot commodity as well this off season. Todd McLellan has reportedly had some meetings with some NHL teams - two of those teams have made hiring announcements since then.
On the most recent 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman revealed that he believes it's a two horse race for the head coach position with the Toronto Maple Leafs, "I think the two lead candidates for this position are Craig Berube and Todd McLellan. I think Berube has had serious talks with New Jersey (Devils). I think Toronto would be the fifth team to have interviewed McLellan this cycle."
This is interesting - but lines up with the Maple Leafs management desire to have a more experienced coach as the next head coach of the team.
There's also a connection between McLellan and one of the Maple Leafs executives, "Don't forget (Brendan) Shanahan played for Detroit (Red Wings) for a year when McLellan was there as an assistant coach."
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The longer the Maple Leafs go without a new head coach - the longer the speculation will continue.
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