Toronto Maple Leafs Coach Sheldon Keefe Potentially on a Short Leash

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Thursday, July 20th, that they hired Guy Boucher and Mike Van Ryn as assistant coaches to head coach Sheldon Keefe’s staff.

Keefe and the Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving needed to find a replacement for the departed Spencer Carbery, who left to become the new head coach of the Washington Capitals. Boucher and Van Ryn both add a lot of experience. Although these appear to be Sheldon Keefe’s hires, I think Treliving had a hand in the selection process.

Having an assistant like Boucher on the bench could allow Treliving to keep Keefe on a short leash. Keefe and Boucher have completely different coaching styles. If things are not going the way Treliving wants them to by November or December, Keefe could be gone, and Boucher named the next head coach of the Maple Leafs.

Sheldon Keefe has been a good regular-season coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has his faults, and former GM Kyle Dubas might have let those faults slide while he was here, but Treliving might not be as generous. Adding Boucher and Van Ryn gives Keefe people with experience to lean on and learn from when things aren’t going right.

Toronto Maple Leafs New Assistant Coaches

Guy Boucher

Guy Boucher previously served as head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning (2010-11 to 2012-13) and the Ottawa Senators (2016-17 to 2018-19). During his time with the Lightning, he posted a 97-78-20 record in 195 games and reached the Eastern Conference Final in 2011. While with the Senators, he posted a 94-108-26 in 288 games and reached the Eastern Conference Final in 2017.

His time between NHL coaching jobs saw Boucher coaching in Switzerland for three seasons (2013-14 to 2015-16). He served as head coach of Bern SC (Swiss-A). They posted a 44-29-5 record during his tenure.

Boucher also served as head coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL during the 2009-10 season. He coached them to a 52-17-11 record that season, helping him win the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL’s most outstanding coach.

He also spent six seasons in the QMJHL, including three as head coach of the Drummondville Voltigeurs (2006-07 to 2008-09), and led the 2008-09 Voltigeurs to a QMJHL Championship. Boucher also spent three seasons as an assistant coach in the QMJHL. Two seasons with Rimouski Oceanic (2004-05 to 2005-06) and one with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (2000-01).

Mike Van Ryn

Van Ryn is joining the Maple Leafs after spending the previous five seasons (2018-19 to 2022-23) as an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues. Van Ryn helped the Blues capture a Stanley Cup in 2019.

Before working in St. Louis, he spent two seasons with the Arizona Coyotes organization, including one year as head coach of the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners. He coached them during the 2017-18 season, leading the Roadrunners to a 42-20-5 record and first place in the Pacific Division.

Van Ryn also spent three seasons with the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL, including one season as head coach when he guided the Rangers to a 44-17-7 record in 2015-16. He also served as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Houston Aeros for two seasons (2011-12 and 2012-13) and a year as an assistant with the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs in 2010-11.

This is not Van Ryn’s first time being in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ organization. On September 2nd, 2008, he was traded to Toronto for Bryan McCabe and a 2010 fourth-round pick. He registered three goals and eight assists for 11 points in 27 games with the Maple Leafs.