Wilson agrees to take Maple Leafs job

The Toronto Maple Leafs appear to have filled their void behind the bench as Ron Wilson has reached an agreement in principle to become the team’s new head coach, Sportsnet has learned.

Wilson and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment had been in negotiations over the weekend after the former coach of the San Jose Sharks received an initial offer to come to Toronto.

Wilson is believed to have agreed to a four-year deal that will put him among the five highest paid coaches in the league, this after the Leafs coming up significantly from their original offer.

"We have a verbal agreement but nothing's on paper yet," Leafs interim GM Cliff Fetcher told The Canadian Press on Sunday. "It isn't a contract until it's signed by the parties. And that won't happen for a couple of days.

"Wilson would succeed Paul Maurice, who was fired May 7 after missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. The 53-year-old was fired last month by San Jose after his team lost in the second round to the Dallas Stars. It was the fourth straight season Wilson had led the Sharks to the playoffs in his five seasons there.

Wilson, who grew up in Fort Erie, Ont., holds the Sharks coaching records for wins (206), winning percentage (.535) and post-season games coached (52). In 2004, he coached the Sharks to the Western Conference final. He has a 518-446-127 career record during stints with the Anaheim Ducks, Washington Capitals and the Sharks. Wilson also coached the U.S. to the 1996 World Cup of Hockey title, beating Canada in the final, and also led the Caps to the 1998 Stanley Cup final.