The Official 2026 Off-Season Thread: Revenge of the Nerds

[MyNameIsJonas]

Was Roy a dump and chase guy with the isles?

Zero chance he's data driven, and by all accounts isnt interested in listening to his GM for collaboration.

 

[Preston]

Zero chance he's data driven, and by all accounts isnt interested in listening to his GM for collaboration.

But if he's a serious candidate this far into the process then none of this is likely true. Or he's really good at lying and he's about to do a bait and switch after getting hired. Which would just get him fired real soon.

 

[Leafin']

Tbh haven’t really liked a single coaching candidate mentioned.

 

[hockeylover]

Final in-person interviews starting this week but also Laviolette was almost hired Friday according to Kyper. Make it make sense.

 

[leafman101]

Yes: Woodcroft, Carle
I dunno: Pavelski
I guess so: Eakins
No: Roy

 

[MyNameIsJonas]

Yes: Woodcroft, Carle
I dunno: Pavelski
I guess so: Eakins
No: Roy

Gruden?

 

[hockeylover]

Yes: Woodcroft, Carle
I dunno: Pavelski
I guess so: Eakins
No: Roy

Think I’d have Eakins as a no but otherwise same

 

[MindzEye]

Make it make sense.

None of them know anything.

The tidbits they get is from people who legitimately know some people in the organization (Tie, etc) and agents of people who want the job or want to leverage potential interest from the Leafs into a job.

 

[leafman101]

Gruden?

Just ranking the guys that have reportedly interviewed. Elliott just said he wonders if they wait to talk to him and Gio.

 

[Hoss]

I think they actually should go with Pavelski as head coach and Woodcroft as assistant.

 

[MyNameIsJonas]

I think they actually should go with Pavelski as head coach and Woodcroft as assistant.

Doubtful ANA let’s him leave for a lateral move

 

[Feyd]

Just ranking the guys that have reportedly interviewed. Elliott just said he wonders if they wait to talk to him and Gio.

So they want an experienced coach because Mats is new and Chayka has been out of the game so long, but they're OK with guys that have zero coaching experience because they're ex players? I wonder what Elliott is smoking because I want some

 

[LeafOfFaith]

Yes: Woodcroft, Carle
I dunno: Pavelski
I guess so: Eakins
No: Roy

I honestly don't like any of these names.

It feels like there isn't a good one out there.

Aside from Cassidy and also Gallant who I think could be good.

 

[MyNameIsJonas]

I honestly don't like any of these names.

It feels like there isn't a good one out there.

Aside from Cassidy and also Gallant who I think could be good.

Because handsome?

 

[Hoss]

Doubtful ANA let’s him leave for a lateral move

I actually meant it the other way. Woodcroft as HC to attract McDavid and Pavelski for Matthews and to learn to be the head coach in a few years.

 

[LeafOfFaith]

Because handsome?

Are you trying to say Cassidy and Gallant are handsome?

 

[MyNameIsJonas]

Are you trying to say Cassidy and Gallant are handsome?

I mean you hate Woodcroft cause he isn’t.

 

[LeafOfFaith]

Cassidy always looks like a dog that got caught in the rain and comes into the house soaked and dirty.

Gallant is just some random old looking chubby coach.

Not basing it on looks, no.

 

[Feyd]

Gallant is interesting, seems to have a short shelf life and unlucky shit seems to happen to him. Which actually kind of fits the Leafs perfectly

 

[zeke]

It's on a different scale, but I'm seeing a lot of similar complaints that people had about Nylander. Granted, they all turned out to be true, but they also kind of don't really matter.

Nylander is actually interesting to compare to stenberg. (Though nylander was actually a C as a prospect and stenberg's defensive reputation when he doesn't even play C is mysterious.)

But the production comp is interesting when you take age into account.

Stenberg is drafted a year later even though he's less than 5 months younger than Willy. So willy was drafted before this season but this is both their 18yr old seasons in the SHL:

Stenberg 49gms 11gls 37pts (18gl/62pt pace)
Nylander 21gms 8gls 20pts (31gl/78pt pace)

And willy moved to the AHL midseason:

Nylander 42gms 14gls 35pts (27gl/68pt pace)


And as 17yr olds in the SHL:

Stenberg 37gms 4gls 9pts (9gl/20pt pace)
Nylander 22gms 1gls 7pts (4gl/26pt pace)

And Nylander played in the 1st division that year too:

Nylander 35gms 15gls 27pts (35gl/63pt pace)

While Stenberg played in the junior league that year:

Stenberg 27gms 26gls 53pts (79gl/161pt pace)

While Nylander played junior the year before at 16 (7+ months younger than Stenberg in junior above), while stenberg also had a brief stint in junior at 16 (5 months younger than willy):

Nylander 27gms 15gls 43pts (46gl/153pt pace)
Stenberg 9gma 3gls 8pts (27gl/72pt pace)