Former NHL HC Peter DeBoer explains what it’s like coaching Maple Leafs
Former NHL head coach Peter DeBoer did not hold back when describing the challenge of coaching the Toronto Maple Leafs during a lost season. Speaking on Leafs’ Morning Take, DeBoer called it “the hardest job in hockey” when a team has little left to play for. Toronto finds itself in that exact position.
The team sits near the bottom of the Atlantic Division, with playoff hopes all but gone. Injuries to Auston Matthews and roster changes have only deepened the slide, leaving the final stretch of games with limited stakes. MORE: Maple Leafs’ $46.
5M forward gives no ‘excuse’ despite injury DeBoer explained that the mental side becomes the biggest test. A coach must convince players to stay engaged despite the standings. “It’s the hardest job in hockey being in that position,” DeBoer said.
“I haven’t been in that position much. I was in that position in Florida, my first job in the NHL, a couple of times where, you know, we unloaded at the deadline and, you know, played out the string, so to speak. ” “It’s the hardest job in hockey because, you know, you’ve got to come into that room and convince those guys to keep playing for something.
Whether it’s a roster spot next year, whether it’s to show, you know, you belong on another special team or higher in the lineup, or just for the pride of the jersey. It’s really tough. ” The challenge is not only for players.