Leafs reportedly already eying pair of assistants for Craig Berube's staff

The Toronto Maple Leafs have already made a major change within their organization following their latest playoff disappointment. Head coach Sheldon Keefe, who had been in place since succeeding the terminated Mike Babcock in November of 2019, was handed the pink slip by Leafs management.

In his place, they've hired former St. Louis Blues head coach Craig Berube, who was terminated last season by the team he helped to their first ever Stanley Cup championship. And according to noted NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Leafs already have eyes on a pair of names to serve on Berube's staff.

As noted by Friedman in his latest "32 Thoughts" podcast, the Leafs are reportedly interested in former New York Islanders head coach Lane Lambert and current Winnipeg Jets assistant coach Brad Lauer:

"Some of the names that I have heard that have been kind of connected a bit to Toronto have been Brad Lauer who mutually left Winnipeg and I heard Lane Lambert's name out there too Toronto, knowing them, they're casting a wide net," he noted.

Like Berube and Keefe, Lambert was recently terminated. He had been serving as head coach of the New York Islanders since the start of the 2022-23 season and led them to the playoffs that spring. However, Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello was dissatisfied with the team's direction this season and replaced Lambert with NHL Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy.

Meanwhile, Lauer has been coaching at various levels since 2002, which have included stops as head coach of the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings.

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