After much speculation, the Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that head coach Randy Carlyle will be back behind the bench for the team at the start of the 2014-15 season.
However, new president Brendan Shanahan and general manager Dave Nonis didn’t stop there. Carlyle was entering the final year of his contract, but now he has a new two-year contract extension, giving him financial security for the next three years.
However there will be changes behind the Leafs bench as assistant coaches Dave Farrish, Scott Gordon and Greg Cronin will not be returning next season. No new assistants have been hired yet.
“It was important, after a disappointing end to the season and the arrival of Brendan as team president, to conduct a thorough review of the organization as we continue the work of building a winning tradition and culture for the Maple Leafs,” said Maple Leafs genereal manager Dave Nonis in a statement. “That process started with the head coach, and as we analyzed it, we decided together that Randy Carlyle was the right person to lead this team.
“In Randy we know that we have a leader who has enjoyed a high level of success as both a player and a coach, including a Stanley Cup championship. It was important that the positives Randy brings to our team were not overshadowed by a finish to the season that we all must take responsibility for.”
Carlyle’s Leafs made the playoffs in the lockout shortened 2012-13 season, only to suffer a disastrous game 7 collapse in the first round against the Boston Bruins.
This year they looked likely to return to the playoffs as late as March, however a disastrous eight game losing streak highlighted a late season collapse that saw Toronto tumble down the standings, and left many fans and analysts questioning Carlyle’s future with the team.
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Main Photo Credit: Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images
