Leafs got advice from rival GM to help shape coaching staff

When Craig Berube took the job as the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs in July, he had the chance to shape his coaching staff to his liking.

Though Leafs general manager Brad Treliving and president Brendan Shanahan would also have major input in the team’s hires, it was clear that Berube would be heavily involved in choosing his assistants.

And it turns out the team got some outside help, too.

One of the first additions was former New York Islanders head coach Lane Lambert, who has been tasked with running the team’s penalty kill this season.

And while some NHL general managers wouldn’t be too kind giving advice to the other 31 teams in the league, Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz felt fine giving the nod of approval to his longtime pal.

“He has been a very good coach in this league for a long time going back to his time with Barry Trotz,” Berube told reporters on Tuesday night.

Lambert served under Trotz for 11 seasons across three franchises during the latter’s time as an NHL head coach, working with him in the Predators, Islanders, and Washington Capitals organizations. It was also in New York where Lambert would pick up his first head coaching gig, spending the 2022-23 and first half of the 2023-24 campaign

“I know Trotzy well. Trotzy and I talked about it,” Berube added. “He thought it would be a great fit. I have heard nothing but great things about him as a coach and as a person. It is all true. He is detailed, a great guy to work with, and he fits in very well with the coaching staff. Very intelligent.”

It’s clear that Lambert has made some sort of impact in his work so far, with the team’s penalty kill rate at 86%, good enough for sixth in the league. Compared to 76.9% a year ago and the 23rd mark in the league, Berube just might have nailed this hire with the help of one of his friends.

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