Toronto Maple Leafs might call on Joe Sacco to plug coaching void following Lane Lambert departure

With Lane Lambert leaving for a head coach position with the Seattle Kraken, the Toronto Maple Leafs could be looking at veteran coach Joe Sacco to make his bench in Craig Berube's corner. Joe Sacco, who just concluded a tumultuous interim run with the Boston Bruins, has emerged as a name of interest as Toronto searches to overhaul its coaching framework for the upcoming NHL campaign. The loss of associate coach Lane Lambert has created a gaping hole on the coaching staff of the Toronto Maple Leafs—a gap soon to be filled by veteran NHL coach Joe Sacco. Now, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has hinted at Toronto’s interest in Sacco, saying on his 32 Thoughts podcast, “I believe Joe Sacco was told he will not stay as the head coach of the Boston Bruins,” Elliotte Friedman said. “I’m actually kind of wondering if he could end up in Toronto, in place of Lane Lambert. We’ll see. But I’m under the impression he was told he won’t be staying.”Joe Sacco has plenty of experience behind the bench. Having spent close to a decade as an assistant coach in Boston with the Bruins, Sacco was promoted to interim head coach in the 2024 season after Jim Montgomery's firing. Despite the Bruins tallying a 25-30-7 record under his command, Sacco gained respect for having guided a team that had traded away key performers like Brad Marchand and Charlie Coyle. What Toronto finds particularly attractive in Sacco is his penalty-kill expertise. Boston was seventh in the NHL last season with an 82.5% kill rate when it had been shorthanded. If employed, Joe Sacco would become part of an expanding coaching staff led by Craig Berube, who already has assistant coaches Marc Savard (forwards/power play), Mike Van Ryn (defense), and goaltending coach Curtis Sanford. Both Savard and Van Ryn, who were signed in 2023, share knowledge of Berube's system from their previous success in St. Louis. The open associate position offers a distinct path for an individual with Sacco's background to immediately contribute. With the 2025 campaign approaching quickly and hype building in Toronto, strategic recruitment moves such as this may determine if the Maple Leafs are able to finally reach the postseason threshold.Also read: Boston Bruins remain calm in head coach hunt following disappointing NHL seasonAlthough the Toronto Maple Leafs have not yet assured that they will directly replace Lane Lambert's job, the interest in Joe Sacco indicates the front office is looking into veteran, tactically astute options. Sacco's experience, specifically his penalty-kill effectiveness in Boston, may position him as a perfect fit for a Leafs team in need of honing its defensive acumen under Craig Berube.