According to a Sunday report from Sportsnet, the Toronto Maple Leafs are planning to interview recently retired NHL veteran Joe Pavelski as a potential candidate for their head coaching position.
The 41-year-old former center concluded his playing career following the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, finishing with impressive career statistics of 1,068 points, including 476 goals and 592 assists across 1,332 regular season games. His professional tenure spanned time with the San Jose Sharks from 2006 to 2019, followed by five seasons with the Dallas Stars through 2024.
The report characterized Pavelski as a “Martin St. Louis-style candidate,” drawing parallels to St. Louis’ smooth transition from playing professional hockey to successfully coaching the Montreal Canadiens.
Since retiring, the former Sharks captain has been working with youth hockey, specifically coaching his son Nate’s team in Madison, Wisconsin, according to the reporting.
Toronto’s search for a new bench boss has been extensive, with the organization reportedly conducting virtual interviews with no fewer than 15 potential candidates. The list of interviewees includes Patrick Roy, Peter Laviolette, and David Carle.
The coaching vacancy opened after the Maple Leafs dismissed Craig Berube following a disappointing 2025-26 campaign that saw the team post a 32-36-14 record for 78 points, placing them at the bottom of the Atlantic Division and second-to-last in the Eastern Conference standings.
