"“I think Toronto's an unbelievable city. It's the [Dallas] Cowboys, it's the [New York] Yankees, you know what I mean. It's as big as far as hockey goes, so I would think that every coach out there that's available would throw his hat in that ring, and I'm no different in that regard,” Laviolette said. “Secondly, I think that the core players that they have there are really good players, so there's something to build off of. I know the season didn't go the way they wanted it to, but they've been a really good team with really good pieces for some time now and chasing that ultimate goal. As it moves forward for me, it's always a starting point.”"
"“That's a big piece to get. To be able to get a young player that can come in and be an impact player is huge. I've watched tape on him [Gavin McKenna] before. You watch highlights, see who's capable of what, and not every player is capable of making an impact right away, some never do,” Laviolette said. “But if they went down the road with a player like this [McKenna], that would be a player that could come into a team that has really good core pieces already and become a valuable addition to that team"
A coaching vacancy in Toronto is expected to draw many available coaches because the city is a major hockey market. The existing roster includes strong core players, creating a foundation for future success despite an unsuccessful season. The organization’s first overall selection in the NHL draft provides an opportunity to add a young player who can become an impact contributor. The value of the pick is tied to selecting the best fit for the lineup and accelerating development. Watching game tape and highlights helps evaluate whether a prospect can make an impact quickly, since not all players can do so. Adding a high-upside player can complement established stars and strengthen the team’s pursuit of its ultimate goal.
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