Maple Leafs Coaching Search Growing Stranger by the Day

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ coaching search has become one of the more interesting mysteries of the NHL offseason. For a while, it felt as though David Carle was the obvious target. Fans talked themselves into the idea, reports linked him to Toronto, and the fit seemed logical on paper. Then Carle decided to remain at the University of Denver. At roughly the same time, Manny Malhotra accepted the head coaching position with the Vancouver Canucks, removing another name from Toronto's shortlist.

Today, it was reported by TSN’s Darren Dreger that both Patrick Roy and Peter Laviolette were expected to interview for the vacancy this week. So where does that leave the Maple Leafs? Honestly, nobody seems to know.

The Maple Leafs don’t seem to be in any rush.

What's interesting is that the organization doesn't appear to be in any rush. There hasn't been a steady stream of interviews leaking out. There hasn't been much public urgency. Instead, the team seems content to take its time while the rest of the hockey world speculates. Maybe that's a good thing.

One possibility is that John Chayka and the Maple Leafs’ front office are simply doing their due diligence. Hiring a coach in Toronto isn't like hiring a coach almost anywhere else. The scrutiny is relentless, the expectations are enormous, and the next coach will immediately inherit a team trying to convince everyone that it can finally break through in the playoffs.

Perhaps the Maple Leafs are waiting for another domino to fall.

The most intriguing name in that category was Jared Bednar. But, then it was reported that his future with the Colorado Avalanche was solid. So, the Maple Leafs’ situation is far from clear.

Recent reports suggest that the Maple Leafs are not interested in Jay Woodcroft. Manny Malhotra is now off the board after being hired by the Vancouver Canucks. Carle isn't leaving Denver. Bruce Cassidy continues to be mentioned whenever a high-profile opening exists, while Laviolette remains one of those experienced names who seems to appear in every coaching conversation, whether fans like it or not.

The result is a coaching search that feels unusually open-ended.

Should fans expect a surprise from the Maple Leafs?

And that's why I think the eventual hire may surprise people. Sometimes, the candidate everyone talks about never arrives. Sometimes the best choice is the one nobody saw coming. Right now, the Maple Leafs appear comfortable letting the process play out rather than forcing a decision.

Whether that's because they're waiting on another candidate, conducting a deeper search, or simply keeping things quiet, one thing is becoming clear: this coaching search isn't following the script most people expected.

And that usually means the ending won't either.