Ron Wilson agrees to coach Maple Leafs: reports
Experienced coach's hiring increases speculation Brian Burke will run the team
Last Updated: Sunday, June 8, 2008 | 12:10 PM ET
CBC Sports
Ron Wilson is a former Maple Leaf who went on to coach over 1,000 games in the NHL. He will take over as Toronto coach this week. (Paul Sakuma/Associated Press)Ron Wilson will apparently be the 27th head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Multiple reports Sunday say the NHL club will announce Tuesday that Wilson, recently fired by the San Jose Sharks, has agreed to run the bench for the struggling club.
CBC sources have confirmed it appears Wilson is in, barring unforeseen complications, and that the contract will be four years, $5.6-million, plus incentives.
The Leafs have not commented.
Wilson's hiring raises speculation Anaheim general manager Brian Burke won't be far behind, despite his having a year left on his contract with the Ducks.
Wilson and Burke are best friends and former college roommates, and Toronto has coveted having the latter for their president and GM since firing John Ferguson Jr. early this year.
Now 53, Wilson has a record of 518-446-127 in more than 1,000 games as a coach in the NHL, taking him through Washington, Anaheim and San Jose.
But after the Sharks were eliminated by the Dallas Stars in this year's playoffs, San Jose management fired Wilson based on his 28-24 post-season mark with the club.
