The Toronto Maple Leafs are undergoing changes in their coaching staff as they aim to revitalize their struggling performance on the ice. In a significant move, the team has relieved assistant coach Marc Savard of his duties. Savard's tenure with the team was marked by challenges, particularly in managing the power play.
Under Savard's supervision, the Maple Leafs' power play has plummeted to the bottom of the NHL rankings, currently sitting at a dismal 13.3 percent efficiency. This stands in stark contrast to the team's previous performance, where their power play operated among the league's best. During Savard's first season as coordinator, the power play achieved a 24.8 percent success rate, placing ninth overall in the regular season.
Marc Savard was brought on board in June 2024 when the Maple Leafs hired Craig Berube as head coach. Before joining the Leafs, Savard served as an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues during the 2019-20 season under Berube. His extensive experience as a player, having competed in over 800 NHL games for teams like the Calgary Flames, Atlanta Thrashers, and Boston Bruins, includes scoring 207 goals and accumulating a total of 706 points.
This coaching change comes on the heels of a particularly disappointing road trip, where the Maple Leafs went winless, going 0-10 on the power play. Observers noted that the team's star players, such as Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, were split into two distinct power play units, with John Tavares and William Nylander on the opposing group. This strategic shift has not yielded the expected results, prompting the decision to part ways with Savard.
This season, the Maple Leafs sit at 15-15-5, accumulating 35 points. This total leaves them just ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are currently last in the Eastern Conference standings. To close out their schedule prior to the Christmas break, the Maple Leafs are set to face off against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcasted on Sportsnet Ontario and Sportsnet+.
