NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reveals Toronto Maple Leafs reportedly came close to hiring Peter Laviolette before coaching search shifted

Veteran coach Peter Laviolette was believed to be close to getting the job before the Toronto Maple Leafs narrowed their coaching search, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said. The situation changed over the weekend, and the organization is still looking at other candidates.

Brendan Shanahan, president of the Toronto Maple Leafs, has conducted interviews with dozens of potential candidates in a long and exhaustive search for his front office. Peter Laviolette seemed to be gaining momentum but recent events suggest the process is still open as other options continue to pop up around the NHL.

Elliotte Friedman discusses Toronto Maple Leafs NHL coaching developments with Peter Laviolette

Elliotte Friedman says, "There was a time Saturday morning when I thought they were gonna hire Peter Laviolette," also, "And Now I think there's a decent chance that Peter Laviolette becomes the next head coach of the Los Angeles Kings."

Speaking about the situation, Friedman said he thought a deal could have been struck on Saturday. But the organization did not stick with the immediate decision and kept searching. Toronto has had a lot of interviews, including a number of virtual interviews, before narrowing the list.

Peter Laviolette had been in the running for the vacancy for weeks, but many Toronto Maple Leafs fans had expressed concerns about the veteran coach taking over behind the bench. That has led to more debate across the league about the franchise’s decision to keep exploring options.

Meanwhile, another chance could come for Laviolette. Friedman said the veteran bench boss could become a serious candidate for the Los Angeles Kings.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are also keeping an eye on former Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy. But Friedman said the organization has not formally pursued Cassidy, while the Vegas Golden Knights continue to signal they are not changing their current position regarding his availability.

The Original Six franchise has been looking to build on recent playoff appearances, and Toronto's broad-based approach highlights the importance of finding the right replacement. The outcome of the search could have huge implications for the club’s ambitions heading into the 2026-27 NHL season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to be one of the biggest stories in the NHL as the discussions on the NHL news roundup continue, and coaching speculation is expected to heat up in the next few days.