Recently retired Joe Pavelski has confirmed he’s interested in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ head coach process, as the club searches for a replacement after dismissing Craig Berube and misses the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ head coach search just gained a rare name in the mix.
Recently retired Joe Pavelski—widely known for his playing career and now moving into a new chapter—confirmed he’s been part of the conversation. On Thursday, the 41-year-old said, “There’s truth to that stuff,” adding, “I’m excited to go through the process and kind of see where it leads.”
Pavelski’s confirmation lands at a moment when the Maple Leafs are trying to move quickly through interviews and make a choice that reshapes the direction of the franchise. Their search began in May after Toronto dismissed Craig Berube following two seasons as head coach.
The decision was spearheaded by new GM John Chayka and senior executive advisor of hockey operations Mats Sundin, who had taken over their roles just a couple of weeks before Berube was let go.
Pavelski’s path into coaching so far is unlike many of the names typically linked to NHL vacancies. After retirement at the end of the 2023-24 season. he has coached his son. Nate. at the youth level in Madison. Wisc. That’s a background profile similar to St. Louis’ route to Montreal. and it creates a notable tension within Toronto’s own thinking—because the Maple Leafs backed away from some other candidates due to a lack of experience.
As a player, Pavelski’s credentials are extensive. The 18-year NHL veteran finished with 1,068 points over 1,332 career games, split between the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars. He also reached the Stanley Cup Final with both franchises—advancing to the Final with San Jose in 2016 and with Dallas in 2020.
For Toronto, the timing of all this is sharp. The Maple Leafs are entering a pivotal off-season holding the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft on June 26. They’ll also need to answer to the disappointment of a season that ended with the club finishing last in the Atlantic Division and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
That’s the backdrop against which Pavelski has now confirmed he wants to be considered—setting up a process where experience, fit, and urgency collide, and where a former star is no longer just a rumor in the room.
Joe Pavelski Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs head coach search Craig Berube John Chayka Mats Sundin NHL coaching 2026 draft No. 1 pick