Former Leafs Player Joins Capitals Organization in Surprising Head Coaching Role

With teams making a bevy of changes through the NHL offseason, we've see our fair share of coaches come and go, including Lane Lambert being lured away from the Maple Leafs to head the Seattle Kraken, and Dan Muse replacing long-time Penguins coach Mike Sullivan.

But the AHL is also in the midst of their offseason and coaching changes are just as bountiful, and the latest head coaching gig is taken by someone with a pretty solid track record.

On Monday, it was a announced that the Hershey Bears, Washington's AHL affiliate had hired a new head coach, that being former Maple Leafs forward and Chicago Blackhawks assistant coach Derek King.

AHL reporter Tony Androckitis reported the signing, and King enters with quite the coaching record in addition to a solid NHL career.

King coached the Blackhawks for one season in 2021-22 where he went 27-33-10 after replacing Jeremy Colliton.

Prior to working with the Blackhawks, King coached for several seasons with the Toronto Marlies, winning several Calder Cups with the team. Prior to his full retirement he was a player-coach for the Grand Rapid Griffins for two seasons.

King enjoyed a solid 14-year career spent with the Islanders, Whalers, Maple Leafs, and Blues where he put up 612 points in 830 games and had a 40-goal season back in 1991-92 with New York.

A bit of history buffs will recognize that King has the honor of being the last Maple Leaf player to score a goal at Maple Leaf Gardens before the team moved to the Air Canada Centre.

The Hamilton, Ontario native was drafted 13th overall by the Islanders in 1985, ahead of names like Joe Nieuwendyk, and Mike Richter.