Following the 4-3 shootout loss that capped another failing season for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Brendan Shanahan announced the firing of general manager Dave Nonis and interim head coach Peter Horachek, along with numerous other members of the Leafs coaching and management staff.
Leafs announce firing of Nonis, Horacek, Spott, Dennis and St Croix. Staios remains. As per release.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) April 12, 2015
Ownership spent no time cleaning house, as along with Nonis and Horachek, assistant coaches Steve Spott and Chris Dennis, as well as goaltending coach Rick St. Croix, were all relieved of their duties. The firings have left the Toronto Maple Leafs without a coaching staff, allowing Brendan Shanahan and management to weigh their options in the summer and decide who shall lead their team heading into the 2015-16 season.
Nonis has been with the Maple Leafs since 2008, starting off as senior vice-president and director of hockey operations under Brian Burke, marking the third time Burke and Nonis would work together. Five years later, Nonis was named the new general manager of the Leafs, following the firing of Burke. In his first season as GM the Leafs made their only post-season appearance since 2004.ToThey would drop out in the first round against the Boston Bruins, in seven games.
Peter Horachek was named the interim head coach following the firing of Randy Carlyle, mid-season. Under Horachek’s coaching, the Leafs posted a 9-25-8 record, and fell to a 15th place finish in the Eastern conference. Toronto placed in fourth-to-last place in the entire league, earning them a top-5 draft pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, however it will not be Nonis who speaks with the scouting staff, nor will Horachek be his coach.
Assistant coaches Chris Dennis and Steve Spott both stood behind the bench with both Carlyle and Horachek, serving just one season before their release. Rick St. Croix joined the Maple Leafs in 2012, following the resignation of Francois Allaire and worked with James Reimer and Jonathan Bernier. St. Croix was formerly the goaltending coach in Dallas, when the Stars won their Stanley Cup in 1999.
Steve Staios, who retired following the 2011-12 regular season, will remain on board with Toronto as a player development adviser.
The bloodletting didn’t stop at coaching though as the Leafs relieved multiple scouts from their duties. They will head into the 2015 NHL draft and off-season with Mark Hunter, Kyle Dubas, Brandan Shannahan and a whole new group of talent evaluators.
