Maple Leafs rumors: Joe Pavelski enters head coaching chat

The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking for a new head coach. It appears a new candidate is entering the mix for that job. Former NHL player Joe Pavelski is reportedly set to interview with the team, per Sportsnet.

“According to multiple sources, the Future Hall-of-Famer is on the Maple Leafs’ radar as the team begins the next phase of its interview process, with one describing him as a “Martin St. Louis-style candidate,” Elliotte Friedman wrote.

Pavelski retired from professional hockey following the 2023-24 season. In his long NHL career, he skated for the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars. He appeared in 1,332 NHL games.

The center posted 1,068 points in his career. Pavelski scored 476 goals. He first played in the NHL during the 2006-07 season. He has never been a head coach in the NHL.

The Maple Leafs fired Craig Berube following a disappointing 2025-26 season. Toronto was rumored to be paying close attention to what the Colorado Avalanche decided to do with Jared Bednar. If Bednar was fired, the Maple Leafs were reportedly interested in trying to scoop him up.

Toronto is also expected to talk to a bunch of candidates.

“There’s no timeline,” Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka said, per ESPN, about making a new hire. “There are key milestones [coming up], but we will do a wide search and talk to a lot of people.”

The Maple Leafs have had a lot of success in the NHL. Toronto has 13 Stanley Cup championships, but hasn’t won a title since 1967.

“Regardless of who the coach is, we should have an organizational vision on how we play,” Chayka said. “And the things we value and then through the process we will align on that.”

Toronto finished the 2025-26 campaign with just 78 points. The Leafs dropped seven games in a row to close out the season.

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