One of the most polarizing coaches in hockey is now being connected to the Maple Leafs and Oilers

John Tortorella is generating buzz as a potential head coach candidate for both the Edmonton Oilers and the Toronto Maple Leafs, according to a report from Elliotte Friedman this Monday morning.

The catch is a familiar one in the NHL coaching carousel. Friedman's report hinges on whether Vegas brings him back first.

Tortorella was hired by the Golden Knights on March 29, 2026, and the organization went 7-0-3 over its last 10 games with him behind the bench.

Elliotte Friedman believes that if the Vegas Golden Knights don't bring back John Tortorella,

he could become a candidate for either the Edmonton Oilers or the Toronto Maple Leafs coaching job.

That kind of late-season run gives Vegas every reason to want continuity. But if the two sides can't come to terms, suddenly two of the league's most demanding markets are in play.

Toronto finished this season 32-36-14, good for 78 points and 28th overall in the NHL. The Maple Leafs ended the year on a 7-game losing streak and went 2-7-1 over their final 10.

That's not a quiet rebuild. That's a franchise in real trouble looking for a different kind of voice in the locker room.

Edmonton is a completely different situation. The Oilers went 41-30-11 for 93 points and ranked 14th league-wide, with GM Stan Bowman running the front office.

Both teams enter the offseason without a head coach listed. That's two open seats, two very different rosters, and one name with enough credibility to fill either one.

Can Tortorella fix what's broken in Toronto or lead Edmonton deeper?

Torts is 68 years old. He is not a development project. He is not a patient systems builder. He is a direct, intense, accountability-first coach who has always demanded buy-in fast.

That profile fits Edmonton better on paper. The Oilers have the talent. They need structure and someone who won't get outworked in the Western Conference.

Toronto, on the other hand, would be handing a scorched locker room to a coach who has never had an easy relationship with star players.

You could argue that's exactly what the Maple Leafs need. Or it could be the worst possible match in a market that already has no margin for friction.

Either way, the first call this week belongs to Kelly McCrimmon in Vegas.