Elliotte Friedman Links Former Bruins Coach as Maple Leafs Replacement for Lane Lambert
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Former Boston Bruins head coach Joe Sacco could be a replacement for departing Assistant Coach Lane Lambert according to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman.
The Toronto Maple Leafs lost Assistant Coach Lane Lambert to the Seattle Kraken as he ended up taking over head coaching duties for the 2025-26 season and beyond.
It's a great accomplishment for Lambert, who proved his worth and translated it into a new position. But his departure leaves a big whole in Toronto's coaching staff, specifically their penalty killing.
Toronto could look to former Bruins coach Joe Sacco to replace Lane Lambert: Elliotte Friedman
Well, NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman believes that someone in the running for the position who the Maple Leafs might be interested in, is former Boston Bruins head coach Joe Sacco:
I believe Joe Sacco was told he would not stay head coach of the Boston Bruins; I kinda wonder if he might end up in Toronto replacing that Lane Lambert slot, we'll see. I'm under the impression he won't be staying. - Elliotte Friedman, 32 Thoughts
Under Sacco, while he was an assistant, then head coach, the team finished in the top 10 on the PK including topping the league in 2022-23.
Losing Lambert left a big hole for the Maple Leafs to fill, and while there are certainly some options available outside of Sacco, he fits in perfectly with the style Berube employs.
Why Joe Sacco fits for the Maple Leafs coaching staff
If you know the Bruins, not only have they been a thorn in the Maple Leafs' side for years, but their style of play is always one that drew some criticism but also a lot of success.
They played hard, gritty, and sometimes a bit nasty, and would relentlessly hound their opponents at any given turn.
Sounds a lot like Berube and what he's trying to do with the Leafs, and employing someone who has had playoff success, and proven knowledge of how to run an effective penalty kill; perhaps Toronto's discipline won't be a huge factor.
Sacco has history with the Leafs too, being drafted by the team in 1987, playing three seasons from 1990-93 before being selected by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 1993 Expansion Draft.
A former head coach with the Avalanche as well, Sacco posted a career 130-134-30 record, and took over from Jim Montgomery who then went on to coach the St. Louis Blues.
Sacco has the coaching credentials, the ability to manage and put out a top-10 penalty killing unit, and for a much improved defense that's great news to hear.
Lane Lambert's definitely going to be missed, and the team should welcome Sacco as his replacement with open arms.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 2 | 440 ANSWERS Elliotte Friedman Links Former Bruins Coach as Maple Leafs Replacement for Lane Lambert Do you think Joe Sacco is a good hire for the Maple Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 325 | 73.9 % |
| No | 115 | 26.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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