Guy Boucher named Toronto assistant coach

Surprising news in the field hockey world today, to say the least. A certain site that usually starts its texts with the expression “as expected” won’t be able to do so with this morning’s news!

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced the hiring of Mike Van Ryn and Guy Boucher as the team’s assistant coaches.

Sheldon Keefe was looking for new colleagues as Spencer Carbery left the organization this summer to become the new head coach of the Washington Capitals. Dean Chynoweth and Manny Malhotra will remain in place. At least for the time being…

Guy Boucher in Toronto: that sounds like a weird phrase to me. But hey. Good for him! He knows his field hockey, he’s a local guy who deserves another chance… and I can see myself hating him while he’s in Ontario.

We’ve hired Guy Boucher and Mike Van Ryn as assistant coaches

– Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) July 20, 2023

Guy Boucher was fired by the Ottawa Senators on March 1, 2019, when the Senators were going through a difficult season. This was his third season at the Senators’ helm.

Previously, he coached the Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL), Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL), SC Berne (Swiss National League) and Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL).

He was rumoured for Toronto in 2015, just before Mike Babcock was appointed. Need I remind you that Brendan Shanahan was there in 2015… and still is today?

Boucher would finally land in Toronto eight years later, in a different role.

Brad Treliving has just arrived at the Maple Leafs and is in the process of making several changes (without touching his core). It’s going to be a make-or-break situation for the Leafs‘ new GM…

And Guy Boucher could either be part of an interesting revival in Toronto, or part of a group that will fail again there.

But if Sheldon Keefe, whose contract is up in 11 months and counting, were to lose his job this year, Boucher would be a prime option to take over.