Photo credit: Bob DeChiara Imagn Images
The Maple Leafs lost Associate Coach Lane Lambert to a head coaching gig with the Seattle Kraken, but may have already found his replacement from a division rival.
Lambert joined the Leafs in June of last year and was given the title of Associate Coach to go along with the added responsibilities and sway he had in terms of lineup and roster decisions, but primarily focused on the Maple Leafs’ penalty kill.
While the 60-year-old moves on after one season in Toronto, the Leafs may already have a replacement lined up.
On Monday’s edition of ’32 Thoughts’ Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Boston Bruins have informed interim coach Joe Sacco that he would not be staying on as the club’s Head Coach.
“I believe Joe Sacco was told he will not stay as the head coach of the Boston Bruins. I’m wondering if he could end up in Toronto replacing Lane Lambert.”
Joe Sacco Returning to Where His NHL Career Began?
Sacco was a former fourth-round pick of the Maple Leafs in the 1987 entry draft and spent the first three years of his professional career bouncing between the NHL and AHL.
Prior to taking over for Jim Montgomery in November this past season, Sacco had served as an Assistant and Associate Coach with the Bruins since 2014.
Like Lambert, Sacco had been responsible for the Bruins’ penalty kill. Over the past three seasons he had their penalty kill ranked in the top-10, and as high as first in the league.
While Lambert did an admirable job lifting the Leafs’ penalty kill from 23rd to 17th, it pales in comparison to what Sacco was able to accomplish in Boston.
Hopefully, the Leafs are able to persuade their former player to return to the blue and white to elevate their special teams further, albeit behind the bench.
Previously on MapleLeafsDaily