Pete DeBoer says he’s “open to anything” when it comes to next gig: Leafs Morning Take
13 games left. LET IT END ALREADY.
Too little too late but the Leafs are finally getting some practice time this week in advance of this weekend’s back-to-back against Carolina and Ottawa.
We kicked things off on the Thursday edition of Leafs Morning Take by providing a bit of vibe check. As mentioned, this season can’t finish soon enough, one can only wonder how the players feel right now. It’s a weird feeling to not be gearing up for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Off the ice, Toronto has been busy this week, signing not one but two college free agents. Northeastern captain Vinny Borgesi inked a two-year deal beginning next season, while Union’s Brandon Buhr signed a one-year deal starting next year. Both players will report to the Toronto Marlies on amateur tryouts for the remainder of this season. In recent seasons, the Leafs have hit on NCAA signings like Jacob Quillan and Luke Haymes, so we’ll see what happens here.
Meantime, earlier this week, the Leafs announced a three year extension for Russian netminder Artur Akhtyamov. We discussed his future, where he currently sits on Toronto’s depth chart, and what the Leafs should do with their crease this summer. We both think there’s a good chance at least one of these guys is traded in the offseason. Any way you slice, this is the best goaltending depth the Leafs have possessed in more than two decades.
After that, free agent NHL head coach Pete DeBoer dropped by the show once again. The Ontario native outlined what he believes has gone wrong while defending Craig Berube and his staff for how they handled the Gudas/Matthews knee-on-knee incident and the team’s response. He also provided insight into how accountability is managed behind the scenes in today’s NHL, emphasizing the importance of internal standards within a locker room. DeBoer reflected on his Olympic experience and the lessons he’s carried forward, noting how coaches must continue to evolve. He also discussed the challenge of motivating a team late in the season—especially in a situation like Toronto’s—before closing by saying he’s open to anything when it comes to his next coaching opportunity.
Zack Phillips will be in for Jay Rosehill on the Friday edition of Leafs Morning Take. Be sure to join us for a full preview of this weekend’s tank-a-thon as the Leafs host Carolina before visiting Ottawa for the final Battle of Ontario of the season.