Maple Leafs coaching search widens with reported interest in Joe Pavelski

Toronto’s head-coaching search took an unexpected turn Sunday when Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the Maple Leafs are planning to interview retired forward Joe Pavelski as part of the next phase of their process. Friedman’s report frames Pavelski as a candidate who has popped up “out of nowhere,” but also points to a broader theme in Toronto’s search, where GM John Chayka has emphasized thoroughness and patience rather than rushing to fill a vacancy.

The report adds structure to the timeline. Chayka, speaking on Sportsnet’s “32 Thoughts” podcast, said the club has completed the first round of applicants and is not working under a strict deadline. That matters in a league where coaching turnover often accelerates once a franchise finds its preferred profile. For Toronto, the message is that the remaining interviews could broaden the pool further, even if it means considering someone without prior NHL head-coaching experience in the conventional way.

Pavelski retired from the NHL after the 2023-24 season, ending an 18-year career that included 1,068 points in 1,332 regular-season games. Dallas Stars communications, in its official retirement release, highlighted what the organization viewed as his leadership and preparation, including mentoring and continual desire to improve. Sunday’s reporting suggests those traits now extend beyond playing, with Pavelski having coached his son Nate at the youth level in Madison, Wisconsin. Sportsnet also states that multiple sources described him as a “Martin St. Louis-style candidate,” a comparison that hinges on the idea that a nontraditional track could still earn an NHL opportunity.

That “blueprint” framing is also tied to the larger context of this particular Maple Leafs opening. Toronto relieved head coach Craig Berube of his duties on May 13, 2026, and the team’s official statement said the move reflected an organizational shift and an opportunity for a fresh start. In other words, the vacancy was not just a staffing change, it was positioned as part of a reset. Chayka’s appointment as Maple Leafs general manager came earlier in the offseason, with MLSE naming him GM on May 3, alongside Mats Sundin’s new role as senior executive advisor.

Pavelski’s name entering the mix is likely to be viewed through two lenses inside Toronto’s decision-making. The first is fit, meaning whether the candidate can build buy-in and systems in the pressure-cooker environment of the NHL, where “learning on the job” comes with real consequences. The second is the organization’s appetite for risk. Sportsnet reports that Toronto has backed away from some other options because of a perceived lack of experience, so selecting a candidate like Pavelski would suggest the Maple Leafs are willing to weigh character, communication, and coaching instincts at least as heavily as résumé length.

The reporting also places Pavelski among other names discussed in the coaching cycle. Sportsnet notes that another interviewee, Peter Laviolette, is among Los Angeles’s finalists for its own vacancy, alongside incumbent D.J. Smith and Jay Woodcroft. That detail underscores how multi-team searches can shape the availability of certain candidates and can force franchises to adapt. For Toronto, it means the next round of interviews is not just about finding the “best” coach on paper, it is also about finding the best timing and path to an agreement.

What to watch next is fairly specific. The Maple Leafs have said they want to be thorough and patient, and Sunday’s reporting implies that interviews are moving forward without a public cutoff date. If Pavelski is interviewed, the next test will be whether Toronto treats the interview as a serious track toward an NHL bench hire, or as part of a broader evaluation of leadership candidates who may need additional seasoning elsewhere first. Either way, the decision will report how much the Leafs value the “player-to-coach” pipeline compared with established NHL experience as the primary credential.