The Toronto Maple Leafs are shaking things up in a bid to turn their season around.
In a move to revamp their coaching staff, the Leafs have decided to part ways with assistant coach Marc Savard. One of Savard’s key responsibilities was overseeing the team’s struggling power play, which currently ranks last in the league at a meager 13.3 percent.
When Savard initially joined the Leafs, the power play was a force to be reckoned with, boasting a solid 24.8 percent success rate in the regular season. However, recent performances have seen a decline in effectiveness, prompting this coaching shake-up.
Savard was brought on board by the Leafs in June 2024 alongside head coach Craig Berube, with whom he had previously worked at the St. Louis Blues.
Prior to his coaching career, Savard enjoyed a successful playing career, tallying 207 goals and 706 points over 800 games with the Flames, Thrashers, and Bruins.
The decision to relieve Savard of his duties comes on the heels of a disappointing winless road trip for the Maple Leafs, where the team struggled with a 0-10 power play record. To address this, the team’s top players, including Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, John Tavares, and William Nylander, have been split into two power play units.
Currently sitting at a 15-15-5 record with 35 points, the Maple Leafs are looking to improve their standing in the Eastern Conference. Their next game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday will be a crucial test before the Christmas break.
Keyphrase: Toronto Maple Leafs coaching shake-up