Former Maple Leafs coaching candidate just landed a new job

The Toronto Maple Leafs had a head coach search that lasted months and months. We were getting little bite-sized pieces of information about who they were interviewing before eventually hiring Jim Hiller to be the team's 42nd head coach in franchise history.

Joe Pavelski was one of the names that popped up and it was shocking, and then it was even more shocking when he was named a finalist for the job after not ever coaching a game of professional hockey. The long-time NHL veteran has only have had been behind the bench for his son's team in his home state of Wisconsin.

After not getting the Leafs job, he has decided to stay home and land a job with the University of Wisconsin, as the school announced earlier this week.

Joe Pavelski joins Wisconsin after not getting Leafs job

Pavelski's official title will be the Director of Player Development and it seems like a perfect fit and perfect situation for the 42-year-old.

"I'm excited to help out at Wisconsin, a place that's close to my heart. Growing up in the state and being a Badger fan, then being able to spend two years winning a national title for the Badgers, it was such a big stepping-stone in my career. I learned so much in how to train and how to be a professional," Pavelski said via the University of Wisconsin's press release.

"Then when you get to experience the game at the highest levels, to have an opportunity to give back to kids that are all aspiring to get to those same levels, it's very rewarding. You're trying to share as much experience and help some kids along the way to achieve their dreams."

Pavelski has played in 1,332 NHL games, scoring 476 gpoals and 1,068 points split between the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars. He has always been known as one of the premier two-way forwards during his 18-year career and even fniished on a high, with 27 goals and 67 points in 82 games at 39 years old during the 2023-24 season. A pure example of consistency.

And to get that consistency, he must have had some tireless work ethic and an undying drive for the game.

"Joe has an incredible understanding of what it means to be a Badger, having helped lead Wisconsin to a national championship in 2006 and then going on to have an outstanding career at the NHL and international levels," Wisconsin head coach Mike Hastings said. "He has been a captain and leader at every level of the game, and those experiences have shaped him into the person and leader he is today. His hockey knowledge, competitive drive and ability to connect with players will be invaluable to our program. We're excited to welcome Joe back to Wisconsin and have him play an important role in the development of our players, both on and off the ice."

Coud we see Pavelski get a job with the Leafs eventually?

While this role feels perfect for him right now, there is no doubt that Pavelski is going to eventually get a job with an NHL team and it might as well be with the Leafs.

If he continues down this path of player development, we could see him link up back in Toronto in a similar role. The Leafs recently hired Patrick O'Sullivan as their Director of Player Development, so it's not going to be anytime soon, but things change and maybe in several years, Pavelski is looking to either move up the NHL ladder or jump into the pro waters.

And you never know, it's not like Jim Hiller is a prime candidate to have a decade-long tenure behind the Toronto bench. It's a job that might just be open for Pavelski to interview again in a handful of years.

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