32 Thoughts:
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Process moved very quickly with Berube
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Seems like Berube interviewed last Saturday/Sunday, McLellan interviewed Monday/Tuesday, Gallant interviewed on Wednesday. All flew out to Toronto.
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Friedge wonders who else may have been considered and singled out Dale Hunter as someone he thinks they may have had conversations about but doesn't think he would have wanted to come or an official conversation was ever held.
CJ Show:
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There is real smoke about Marc Savard coming as an assistant coach (he ran St Louis's pp in 19-20 as Berube's assistant) although CJ doesn't know how that would work as he has 2 more years on his contract as an assistant (running the powerplay) in Calgary.
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Thinks there is also very real smoke to the DJ Smith returning to Toronto. He mentioned that it's likely both sides that are interested in a reunion as assistant coach. DJ Smith has the option to stay in LA and it's been noted by David Pagnotta that if Jim Hiller is converted from interim to full time coach he's likely to stay and if not then Toronto would be the likely destination.
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CJ also made very very sure to note that it's still early in the assistant coach search and nothing is expected to be finalized soon as teams are still playing and there are 5 open head coaching positions.
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Expects Mike Van Ryn (ran our defence) to stay as he was with the Blues for years including the cup winning team, not sure what happens with Guy Boucher (powerplay) as this was only his first year and our powerplay fell apart when it mattered, expects Manny Malhotra (auxiliary/forwards/faceoffs) and Dean Chynoweth (PK) to move on.
CJ also did a staying or going with every player on the Leafs roster with a scale of 1-8 on how confident he is in his assessment.
Staying: Matthews (8), Nylander (8), Rielly (8), Knies (8), Reaves (8), Woll (8), Benoit (8), McMann (8), McCabe (8), Domi (7), Tavares (7), Holmberg (7), Jarnkrok (6), Kampf (6), Dewar (5), Robertson (5), Lyubushkin (4)
Leaving: Giordano (8), Brodie (8), Samsonov (8), Murray (7), Klingberg (6), Liljegren (5), Bertuzzi (5), Edmundson (5), Jones (5), Marner (4), Gregor (4), Timmins (4)
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Notes that Tavares said Max Domi felt like a part of the Leafs fabric
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Said that John Klingberg was seen skating with the Leafs medical staff for rehab on the Leafs locker room cleanout day
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Noted that when Lyubushkin came back he said it felt like coming home and speculated if he would want to stay here longer term as he's moved around a lot