Maple Leafs hire Marc Savard To Coaching Staff as an assistant

The Toronto Maple Leafs have made a significant move by hiring former NHL player Marc Savard to their coaching staff as an assistant. This decision comes at a crucial time for the team, as they look to improve their performance and make a strong push towards the playoffs.

Savard brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role, having played in the NHL for over 13 seasons. His insight and understanding of the game will undoubtedly benefit the players he works with, helping them to develop their skills and reach their full potential.

The hiring completed head coach Craig Berube’s staff for the upcoming season.

Berube’s coaches includes associate Lane Lambert, assistant Mike Van Ryn, goaltending coach Curtis Sanford, and video coaches Jordan Bean and Sam Kim.

Savard joins the Maple Leafs after serving as an assistant coach with the Calgary Flames last season, following two seasons as head coach of the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires.

Berube’s staff in his first year as Leafs head coach after taking over a month ago from Sheldon Keefe, who was fired in the wake of the Leafs’ first-round loss against the Boston Bruins, includes associate coach Lane Lambert, assistants Mike Van Ryn and Savard, goaltending coach Curtis Sanford and video coaches Jordan Bean and Sam Kim.

Van Ryn, Sanford, Bean and Kim kept their jobs after Keefe was let go. Gone from Keefe’s staff are Manny Malhotra (hired as coach of Abbotsford of the American Hockey League), Dean Chynoweth (hired as an assistant coach of the Winnipeg Jets) and Guy Boucher.

During his playing career, Savard established himself as a star junior forward with the Oshawa Generals before beginning his NHL days with the New York Rangers, who drafted him in 1995. After parts of two seasons in New York, Savard was acquired by the Flames in 1999.

Savard spent three full seasons in Calgary, where he emerged as a top-six NHL centre. But amidst a clash with then-head coach Greg Gilbert early in the 2002-03 season, the Flames traded Savard to the Atlanta Thrashers.

As a player, Savard suited up in 807 regular season games and 25 playoff contests with the New York Rangers, Calgary Flames, Atlanta Thrashers and Boston Bruins, collecting 706 points (207 goals, 499 assists). He made two NHL All-Star Game appearances (2008 and 2009) and captured one Stanley Cup championship with the Boston Bruins in 2011.

Savard was drafted by the New York Rangers in the fourth round (91st overall) of the 1995 NHL Draft.

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Sarah H

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