Maple Leafs sign Randy Carlyle to 2-year contract extension despite collapse
Not only are the Toronto Maple Leafs retaining the services of head coach Randy Carlyle for the final year of his current contract, but the team also granted him a two-year extension on Thursday.
#Leafs sign Randy Carlyle to 2-year contract extension. So two more years after next season.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 8, 2014
The deal will keep Carlyle behind the Maple Leafs bench until 2017.
Nonis: "We decided together (with Shanny) that Randy Carlyle was the right person to lead this team." #leafs
— Kevin McGran (@kevin_mcgran) May 8, 2014
General manager Dave Nonis called Carlyle "a leader who has enjoyed a high level of success" when announcing the extension. However, Carlyle's career trajectory shows that "high level of success" disappeared a few seasons ago:
[Source]
Randy Carlyle's impact on possession, in a chart pic.twitter.com/YIaSFLUfT1
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) April 1, 2014
While Carlyle will remain, Toronto fired three of his assistant coaches: Dave Farrish, Scott Gordon and Greg Cronin.
#Leafs assistant coaches Farrish, Gordon, Cronin will not return
— HockeyNightInCanada (@hockeynight) May 8, 2014