The turnover behind the Maple Leafs bench continued on Saturday with Guy Boucher the latest to exit Toronto.
The club announced on Saturday that the 52-year-old would not be returning to the coaching staff for the 2024-25 season. He was only with the club for one season.
Boucher may have had his eyes on the Maple Leafs' head coaching position following the firing of Sheldon Keefe, and Craig Berube's hire on May 17 could have affected Boucher's decision to leave, according to Elliotte Friedman.
"I think Boucher had indicated that if a coaching change was made, he would like to be considered for the position," Friedman said on Sunday's edition of 32 Thoughts. "I don't know how seriously Toronto did it or if he was a candidate, I don't have an answer to that question, but the moment that they hired Craig Berube I had a few people saying: 'just watch this one' ... I don't think it comes as a huge surprise."
Boucher follows assistant coach Dean Chynoweth out the door, having announced his exit on June 5.
Chynoweth could be a candidate to join the Winnipeg Jets' bench with new head coach Scott Arniel, according to Friedman.
"The word is that (Chynoweth) could end up as an assistant coach on Scott Arniel's staff in Winnipeg," said Friedman.
Since the departure of Chynoweth, the club hired former New York Islanders head coach Lane Lambert as an associate coach on Berube's staff.
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