Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving has announced a trio of personnel moves, including the hiring of two former players.
Former Maple Leafs goaltender Curtis McElhinney will be joining the team as the Director of Goaltending Development and Scouting, while former defenceman Jake Muzzin will be assuming the role of a pro scout. Former NHL and AHL winger Chris Bourque, who joined the Maple Leafs’ scouting staff last season, will be assuming a role as a college scout.
McElhinney, 40, is a veteran of 13 NHL seasons spanning 249 games. He joined the Maple Leafs in January 2017 following a waiver claim from the Columbus Blue Jackets, and was the backup goaltender to Frederik Andersen until the team waived him prior to the 2018-19 season, where he was claimed by the Carolina Hurricanes. He was one of the better backup goaltenders the Maple Leafs have had in recent memory, carrying a total record of 17-12-1 with a save percentage (SV%) of .925 and a goals-against-average (GAA) of 2.45.
He was best known for robbing Sidney Crosby in the dying seconds of an April 2017 game, effectively clinching a playoff berth for the Maple Leafs the year after they finished with the worst record in the league.
Muzzin, 34, was acquired by the Maple Leafs in February 2019 and served as a steady, top-four defenceman for the team until injuries eventually forced him to quit playing. Despite not having officially retired, and with one year remaining on his NHL contract, he will take on a pro scouting role based in Southern California.
Bourque played 51 NHL games between the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, and Boston Bruins, and last played in 2021-22 for Ingolstadt ERC of the DEL, Germany’s top pro league.
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