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Toronto Maple Leafs: Paul McFarland should make a huge difference

By Dave Stevenson

ST CATHARINES, ON - SEPTEMBER 30: Head Coach Paul McFarland of the Kingston Frontenacs looks on from the bench during the second period of an OHL game against the Niagara IceDogs at the Meridian Centre on September 30, 2016 in St Catharines, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
ST CATHARINES, ON - SEPTEMBER 30: Head Coach Paul McFarland of the Kingston Frontenacs looks on from the bench during the second period of an OHL game against the Niagara IceDogs at the Meridian Centre on September 30, 2016 in St Catharines, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are shuffling their coaching staff around, as they’ve hired Paul McFarland to run the power play. Here’s why he’s a perfect fit for them.

After another disappointing season, which resulted in yet another first-round exit, the Toronto Maple Leafs coaching staff is getting overhauled. While head coach Mike Babcock remains in charge (for now), two assistant coaches are on their way out. D.J. Smith has been hired by the Ottawa Senators and Jonas Hiller is pursuing other opportunities.

The former has yet to be replaced, but the latter’s replacement has already been hired. On Thursday, May 23, the Leafs announced former Florida Panthers assistant coach Paul McFarland will take over Hiller’s role of leading the power-play.

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McFarland was let go, along with the rest of the Panthers coaches, after head coach Bob Boughner was fired and Joel Quenneville was hired. However, one could argue he was the best among the bunch at what he did, as the Panthers power-play finished second in the NHL during the regular season, converting on 26.8% of their opportunities.

This set a franchise record and it’s just the second time in franchise history they’ve converted on over 20% of their power plays. McFarland had been with the Panthers for two seasons after an impressive junior coaching career. Ironically, his coaching career began by serving as an assistant coach under Smith with the Oshawa Generals.

At the age of 29, McFarland became the head coach of the Kingston Frontenacs, where he stayed for three seasons until he was hired by the Panthers. He should be a great coach for the Leafs because he drastically improved a power play featuring less talented options than the ones Toronto can trot out.

McFarland built the Panthers power-play around the one-timer of Mike Hoffman. He’ll have to find his one-timer guy on the Maple Leafs. Auston Matthews should be a very nice fit there. It’s also worth noting McFarland will have options like Nazem Kadri, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, Matthews, Morgan Rielly,  and John Tavares at his disposal.

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The Leafs power-play was alright last season, but “alright” isn’t good enough when you trot out the talent they do. McFarland has proven he’s an expert tactician and should be able to turn Toronto’s man advantage into the deadly monster it deserves to be.

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