Former All-Star forward Joe Pavelski is expected to be on the Toronto Maple Leafs' radar for their vacant head coaching role, sources told Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
Pavelski lacks NHL coaching experience, but has garnered respect from across the league for his leadership and is reportedly seen as a "Martin St. Louis-style candidate," according to Friedman's sources. He has coached his son, Nate, at the youth level in Madison, Wisconsin.
The 41-year-old Pavelski retired at the end of the 2023-24 season. He scored 476 goals and 1,068 points over his 18-year career between the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars.
Pavelski could provide a fresh voice for a Maple Leafs' roster that is led by Auston Matthews and William Nylander.
General manager John Chayka has previously said that there's no timeline for Toronto to name a new head coach. The Leafs are conducting a search after head coach Craig Berube was fired in May following a last-place finish in the Atlantic Division.
Pavelski joins other high-profile coaching candidates to be the next bench boss for the Maple Leafs. Peter Laviolette and Patrick Roy, with ample head coaching experience, are also in the running for the coveted role.
