The Toronto Maple Leafs are targeting former interim head coach Joe Sacco, Boston, and are replacing Lane Lambert after moving to Seattle.
Will Joe Sacco be able to join the Toronto Maple Leafs coaching staff?
The Toronto Maple Leafs coaching staff can quickly have a new face. He may be a familiar face to NHL fans.
According to SportsNet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Maple Leafs are considering Joe Sacco, the interim head coach of the Boston Bruins, as the candidate to leave the team last week to become the head coach of Seattle Kraken.
With extensive experience as both an NHL assistant and head coach, Sacco reportedly won’t return as head coach in Boston after stepping into the midseason for fired Jim Montgomery.
It opens the door for new opportunities – and Toronto may be his next destination.
“I’m wondering if he’ll be able to go to Toronto instead of Lane Lambert,” Friedman said. 32 thoughts Podcast. “I’m under the impression that he was told not to stay.”
Why did Lane Lambert leave the Maple Leafs?
Last summer, Lambert, hired as the Leafs’ first-ever associate coach, ran a penalty kill for Toronto, finishing 17th in the league with 77.9%.
Despite his solid season in the role, he set out to accept a head coaching position with Seattle Kraken and returned to top job after leading New York Islanders previously.
His departure left a gap in Craig Belve’s coaching staff. This includes Mark Sabbard (Power Play/Forward), Mike Van Lin (Defense), and Curtis Sanford (Gourtending).
Joe Sacco NHL coaching experience and record
Joe Sacco brings you a rich NHL experience:
Boston Bruins assistant coach from 2014 to 2024
Interim head coach during the 2024 season led his team to a 25-30-7 finish after a midseason shakeup
Former head coach of Colorado Avalanches (2009–2013), record 130-134-30
He oversees Boston’s penalty kill and ranks seventh in the NHL last season with 82.5%
Before his time in Boston, Sacco served as assistant coach for the Buffalo Sabres, where he played a variety of development roles within the avalanche organization.
Why does Maple Leafs want to hire Joe Sacco?
Maple leaf may be drawn on Sacco:
Proven penalty kill system (a critical area of needs)
Ten years of knowledge with the Atlantic Division
Experience under pressure taking over the midseason of a struggling Bruins team
Compatible with Craig Belve’s coaching style, especially about defense and special teams.
Due to the limitations of Toronto’s CAP, improving internal staff is important, and Sacco’s profiles could potentially provide high value without high costs.
Will the Leafs hire a new associate coach?
The team has not officially committed to officially swapping the associate coach positions that are open for Lambert, but Friedman’s speculation suggests Toronto is exploring that option.
Leafs may reconstruct the title rather than replicating the same associate role, but vacancy, combined with Sacco’s availability, gives the front office an engaging opportunity to act.
