NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs reportedly remove 648-win former Dallas Stars coach from head coaching candidate list

The Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves in an unfamiliar place after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in 10 years. A steep drop from a 108-point season to just 78 points exposed deeper structural issues rather than short-term flaws. With ownership pushing for change, management shifts, coaching exits, and roster uncertainty have set the tone for a decisive offseason. Now, under new general manager John Chayka, the franchise is reshaping its direction with a rare top draft pick and a coaching search that is already narrowing.One early storyline around Toronto’s coaching search involved the possibility of a reunion between John Chayka and veteran coach Dave Tippett. The connection made sense on paper given their past working relationship, but that discussion has now been shut down.As Leafs Morning Take host Nick Alberga reported on X, “For those wondering about a potential John Chayka/Dave Tippett reunion in Toronto, I’m told Tippett won’t be an option for the Leafs’ vacant head coaching job. The 64-year-old is enjoying retirement.”That update removes a seasoned name from Toronto’s list at a time when experience was being weighed heavily. Tippett’s coaching résumé remains significant, with 648 NHL wins across his time with the Dallas Stars, Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes, and Edmonton Oilers. His 2010 Jack Adams Award season with Phoenix still stands as one of the more respected coaching achievements in modern NHL history. But for Toronto, that chapter is now closed before it ever truly opened.The Leafs’ coaching search is unfolding against the backdrop of one of the most turbulent seasons in recent memory. Defensive breakdowns defined their collapse, as the team allowed the most shots in the league and struggled to adjust to Craig Berube’s demanding north-south system. The fallout came quickly. Brad Treliving was dismissed before the season ended, and Berube followed after just two years behind the bench. Now Chayka and senior advisor Mats Sundin are overseeing what is being described internally as a full reset.The next coach will walk into immediate pressure. Auston Matthews, after a season disrupted by injury and a sharp dip from his 69-goal output, remains the focal point of the roster. At the same time, Toronto holds the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, with Gavin McKenna emerging as a potential franchise-altering addition. That mix of urgency and opportunity is shaping the criteria for the next bench leader.Several names continue to circulate, including Bruce Cassidy, Peter Laviolette, David Carle, Manny Malhotra, Jay Woodcroft, and John Gruden. The direction now appears to lean toward a coach aligned with structure, puck possession, and a longer-term development plan rather than short-term fixes. With Tippett officially out of consideration, the search tightens around candidates who fit Chayka’s evolving blueprint for the franchise.