Will Bruce Boudreau Actually Join the Toronto Maple Leafs?

How Likely is it that Boudreau becomes a Toronto Maple Leafs assistant coach?

Bruce Boudreau is the Toronto Maple Leafs biggest fan. The ex-player turned coach spent the entirety of his junior career in Toronto, was drafted by the Leafs, 42nd overall, in 1975, and he spent the majority of his modest playing career within the blue and white organization. His fandom goes all the way back to his youth and he is unashamed to admit it, even during his coaching career.

And now, all signs seem to indicate that the veteran coach is looking to come and help his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs win a Stanley Cup. Let’s take a look at the evidence pointing towards Boudreau accepting a position with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

First and foremost, it must be stated that the only way Bruce Boudreau will become an assistant coach in Toronto is that A) Kyle Dubas makes him a job offer and B) No other head coaching jobs around the league are offered to him, at least ones that intrigue him as much as the opportunity he would have in Toronto.

The intrigue and allure of a job with the Leafs is a very big component to all of this. In an interview with Kevin McGran of The Toronto Star, Boudreau stated the following:

"I mean, I think the idea is cool… My goal is to become a head coach but the idea of being an assistant in Toronto is really intriguing. That’s because it’s Toronto… Even though they haven’t had the success they’d like, I think they’re good enough that they could be a Stanley Cup contender any year, and I mean, my goal has been to win the Stanley Cup before I retire … I mean that’s very intriguing."

Another reason to bring Boudreau in, albeit one bordering on superstition: his dad apparently cursed the Leafs to never win a cup until Boudreau came back, per his appearance on Leafs Lunch earlier this week.

The interest is very clearly there, simply because it’s an opportunity to come home to Toronto. Assuming that Dallas, San Jose, and Calgary keep their interim head coaches (a no-brainer call for Dallas, more questionable for the other two, though apparently, both interim coaches are in their respective GM’s good books), the only head coaching vacancies around the league right now are Seattle and Washington.

I don’t see Washington wanting to bring him back and I don’t see Boudreau choosing to sit out another full NHL season (whenever it starts) to coach an expansion team. So at this point, it may simply be a matter of Kyle Dubas making a phone call.

The final point I’ll mention is that, even though Boudreau would only be an assistant to Sheldon Keefe, his coaching style is a perfect fit for what the Leafs need. Furthermore, his personality is what they need: the kind of guy who’s passion can rally a group that sometimes seems apathetic and push them over the hump into glory.

There’s nothing left to say except “Kyle… bring Bruce home”