The Providence College Friars of the mid-1970s had Brian Burke as their captain and Ron Wilson as a defenceman who was named ECAC player of the year in 1975.
Now, the Maple Leafs' head coaching job is being offered to one half of that Friars tandem.
Wilson completed a full day of meetings yesterday with Leafs interim general manager Cliff Fletcher. An offer was extended to Wilson, a former Leaf draft pick and coach of the San Jose Sharks, to become the 36th head coach in Toronto's history.
"We met (Monday night) and twice (yesterday) and made him an offer," Fletcher said. "And now he's going back to (South Carolina) to think about it and discuss it with his wife.
"I don't expect to touch base again until the weekend."
Several teams with coaching vacancies appear "on hold" with naming new hires or interviewing potential candidates while the Stanley Cup remains undecided.
Florida Panthers GM Jacques Martin received permission to interview fired Leafs coach Paul Maurice. But that interview process won't begin until next week.
Fletcher and the Leafs are not releasing details of their offer, but a source said Wilson is considering a four-year offer.
Both Wilson and Burke - strongly believed to be the Leafs' choice as their next GM - were coached by New Jersey GM Lou Lamoriello while playing for Providence.
Wilson and Burke became co-captains at Providence, marking the beginning of a lifelong friendship and professional relationship that would see Wilson, at a dinner commemorating his 1,000th NHL game as a coach, call Burke "the most influential man" in his career.
Wilson has had coaching stops in Washington, Anaheim and San Jose. He has posted a career coaching record of 518-446-127 in 1,091 games, and named Burke godfather to his daughter.
Burke, during a Stanley Cup interview with the CBC, was contrite over being continually tied to speculation he will join the Leafs as their GM, either after the final year of his contract expires next year or sooner, if he can convince Anaheim's ownership to terminate his contract.
Fletcher's duration as interim GM expires seven months into his 19-month deal with the Leafs. That seven-month term would carry him in to the start of the season in October.
Fletcher said he would obviously step aside if the Leafs land a new GM. But Burke's situation and the fact Fletcher is handling the hiring of the coach has given rise to the belief Fletcher will handle the GM duties at least through next season.
"A coach coming on board (has) no attachment to my situation as GM," Fletcher said. "I'm here to get (the Leafs) on track and heading into the right direction.
"If ownership comes to an agreement with a person they'd like to run the team (a GM), then that's when I step aside. But right now, I'm doing the same thing as the 29 other GMs in the league."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment