For some fairly tenured Toronto Maple Leaf fans, think 1997 to present, there have been many changes: new rink, new coaches, new GMs, new players.
There have been only two constants in that time: Mats Sundin as captain and Keith Acton behind the bench.
When the axe fell on Pat Quinn, he and his entire staff was fired save Keith Acton.
I am not too familiar with Keith Acton. He is the assistant coach whose responsibility is to oversee the offensive side of the bench.
Since the Leafs have not yet embraced the high-tech handheld video-screen, direct connection to the pressbox, and other advanced methods of coaching, the old-school assistant coach in charge of offense or defense still reigns in Toronto.
I have it on good authority the Keith Acton is a smart coach with great knowledge of systems and plays, and is well liked by the players. And it is always a good idea to have a transition guy in place when a new coaching staff is brought in to help accilimate both the new coaches and players.
However, Pat Quinn has come and gone, and now so had Paul Maurice. Yet Keith Acton will remain behind the bench. And Randy Lacocuere also found himself looking at want ads today. Dallas Eakins was offered another position in the organization, but will no longer be in the coaching ranks.
So why is Keith Acton so untouchable?
He has even outlasted two GMs, Pat Quinn and John Ferguson, Jr. Is he that good, or is he around because he's going to be getting promoted? Will the new GM keep Acton around or cast him off?
Just who is Keith Acton, and what does he know that makes him so valuble?
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5 months ago
I don't know why he's so valuable, I just know that he is—and it's always been that way. Even when the Philadelphia Flyers were trying to convince him to interview for the Head Coaching position, he didn't leave. Maybe we should just promote him instead of looking around for someone else is he's so good.
Nice insight Aaron
BT
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