Maple Leafs Part Ways with Guy Boucher
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced yesterday that assistant coach Guy Boucher will not be returning to their bench next season. This decision follows the team’s recent firing of head coach Sheldon Keefe and his replacement with Craig Berube. Although Boucher’s tenure with Toronto was brief, his extensive experience in coaching leaves the door open for future opportunities in the league. Let’s take a closer look at his career and potential next steps.
Boucher’s Career Before the Maple Leafs
Guy Boucher, a native of Notre-Dame-du-Lac, Quebec, spent 13 years coaching at various levels of minor hockey. He started as an assistant coach at McGill University in the 1996-1997 season before moving to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), where he served as an assistant coach for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. He then became the head coach of the Lac-Saint-Louis Lions in the Development Hockey League Midget AAA, where he spent three seasons.
Boucher returned to the QMJHL as an assistant coach with the Rimouski Oceanic and later took on the head coaching role with the Drummondville Voltigeurs, leading them to a league championship in the 2008-2009 season.
His success in junior hockey caught the attention of the Montreal Canadiens organization, which appointed him head coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs in the American Hockey League (AHL). Boucher excelled, earning AHL Coach of the Year honors after leading the Bulldogs to a 52-17-11 record despite numerous call-ups to the Canadiens. His performance attracted NHL interest, and he ultimately accepted the Tampa Bay Lightning’s offer to become their head coach.
During his two and a half seasons with Tampa Bay, Boucher compiled a 97-78-20 record and led the team to the Eastern Conference Final in 2011. After his tenure with the Lightning, he coached SC Bern in Switzerland for parts of three seasons before returning to the NHL to coach the Ottawa Senators for two and a half seasons.
Following his dismissal by the Senators during the 2018-2019 season, Boucher took a break from coaching and contributed as a panelist on Quebec’s premier sports network RDS. His insightful and unbiased commentary was well-received.
Return to Coaching in Toronto
Before the 2023-2024 season, Boucher and Mike Van Ryn were hired as assistant coaches under Sheldon Keefe. This move followed Spencer Carbery’s departure to become the head coach of the Washington Capitals. Despite there being only one vacancy, Keefe brought in both Boucher and Van Ryn to bolster his coaching staff at the request of new general manager Brad Treliving.
Boucher was tasked with focusing on the offensive aspects of the game and the power play. Under his guidance, the Maple Leafs scored 298 goals during the regular season, averaging 3.63 goals per game, second only to the Colorado Avalanche. This marked an improvement from the previous season, where the Leafs averaged 3.41 goals per game.
However, the power play saw a slight decline from a 26% success rate in the 2022-2023 season to 24% under Boucher, ranking seventh in the league. The power play’s efficiency further plummeted during the playoffs, achieving only a 4.8% success rate in a seven-game series against the Bruins.
These numbers, coupled with Craig Berube’s desire to select his own assistants, likely contributed to Boucher’s departure.
What’s Next for Boucher?
Guy Boucher’s future remains uncertain. One possibility is a return to the Montreal Canadiens organization, which gave him his first professional coaching job. The Canadiens could benefit from his expertise, particularly in boosting their offensive output and power play efficiency.
Boucher’s background in sports psychology could also be advantageous, helping players like Josh Anderson or those needing to adapt to new roles, such as Brendan Gallagher.
It remains to be seen if Martin St. Louis, the Canadiens’ current head coach, would consider adding Boucher to his staff. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs have recently added Lane Lambert as an associate coach, but Boucher’s exit might prompt another addition to Berube’s staff.
Should Boucher not secure another coaching position, his insightful commentary would be welcomed back at RDS. Additionally, the Calgary Flames’ recent decision not to retain Marc Savard’s services raises the possibility of a reunion between Savard and Berube in Toronto.
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