Leafs add Coates to front office

The Toronto Maple Leafs have dipped into the Anaheim Ducks' front office, hiring Al Coates as the team's director of player personnel.

Coates, who has worked in professional hockey for the past 37 years, has spent the past six seasons with the Ducks. The past three years, he has been the National Hockey League club's senior advisor to general manager Brian Burke.
Rumours have persisted that Burke will become the Leafs' new general manager when his contract with the Ducks expires.

"We look forward to Al becoming a valuable part of the Maple Leafs management team," said general manager Cliff Fletcher. "He brings a wealth of managerial and scouting expertise to our hockey club, which will be important as we look to strengthen the organization's depth in the coming seasons."

Coates previously worked with Fletcher in Calgary, where he was the team's director of public relations after the franchise moved from Atlanta. He held several roles during his years in Calgary, including assistant to the president (1982-89), director of hockey administration (1989-91), assistant to the general manager (1991-95) and executive vice-president, general manager and alternate governor from 1995-2000.

The native of Listowel, Ont., who began his front-office career with the Detroit Red Wings' organization from 1971-80, was with the New York Rangers organization from 2000-2003, handling the operations of the Rangers' American Hockey League affiliate in Hartford.

Coates has been a part of two Stanley Cup victories during his career - 1989 in Calgary and 2007 in Anaheim.