After another disappointing Toronto Maple Leafs playoff loss, it's time to break up the core four forwards and that might mean moving on from Mitch Marner, who becomes a free agent at the end of the 2024-25 season. One day after the Toronto Maple Leafs announced that Guy Boucher would not be returning to the club comes word that the assistant coach indicated he wanted to be considered for the head coaching spot that became available following the dismissal of Sheldon Keefe. "I think Boucher had indicated that if a coaching change was made he would like to be considered for the position," Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said on the latest episode of the '32 Thoughts Podcast [https://www.sportsnet.ca/podcasts/32-thoughts/]'. "I don't know how seriously Toronto did it or if he was a candidate." The Maple Leafs ended up hiring Craig Berube who has since tinkered with the coaching staff. He brought in Lane Lambert as the club's first-ever associate coach, while assistant Manny Malhotra departed the club to become the new bench boss of the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks and Dean Chynoweth also parted ways with the team. Boucher joined the Maple Leafs last season to run the power play and help with the offense. Asking for consideration for the top job from Boucher is understandable as the coach was close to becoming the head coach of the Maple Leafs in 2015 just before Mike Babcock accepted the position. "I had a few people telling me watch this one," Friedman said following Berube's hire. "How's he going to feel? So I don't think it comes as a huge surprise to people and we'll see where Boucher's next move is going to be." In Boucher's lone season as an assistant, the Leafs finished with the seventh-best power play at 24 percent. However, in the playoffs, they scored just once and finished at 4.8 percent in the first-round playoff series loss to the Boston Bruins. There is still no word on who may replace Boucher on the bench with names like Marc Savard still out there and previously linked to the position. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTk1MTUxMDE2NDM2ODQ0/cf1808c0-6a82-4298-9049-3eb2eae105b0.jpg] Related Why Guy Boucher Will Not Return to the Maple Leafs' Coaching Staff Next Season And What's Next? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/why-guy-boucher-will-not-return-to-the-maple-leafs-coaching-staff-next-season-and-whats-next] Report: Maple Leafs Targeting Panthers' Brandon Montour and Stars' Chris Tanev in NHL Free Agency [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/report-maple-leafs-targeting-panthers-brandon-montour-and-stars-chris-tanev-in-nhl-free-agency] Report: Maple Leafs Will Attempt to Acquire ‘Two Really Good Defensemen’ in Free Agency [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/report-maple-leafs-will-attempt-to-acquire-two-really-good-defensemen-in-free-agency] News from THN.com Dallas Stars' Jim Nill Joins Elite Company With GM of the Year Award Win [https://thehockeynews.com/news/dallas-stars-jim-nill-joins-elite-company-with-gm-of-the-year-award-win] Opinion: Is Joe Pavelski a Hockey Hall of Famer? Sorry, But No [https://thehockeynews.com/news/is-joe-pavelski-a-hockey-hall-of-famer-sorry-but-no] Five of the Most Surprising 50-Goal Seasons in NHL History [https://thehockeynews.com/news/five-of-the-most-surprising-50-goal-seasons-in-nhl-history]
