Maple Leafs officially hire former Stanley Cup champion in unusual coaching role

The Leafs announced on Wednesday that 59-year-old Lambert will be their new associate coach. The team also confirmed that assistant coach Dean Chenowyth has left the club.

On Tuesday's episode of 'The Jeff Marek Show,' Marek and Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman discussed the Maple Leafs coaching staff under new head coach Craig Berube. They revealed that Lane Lambert's role won't be just an assistant coach.

An associate coach in the NHL is typically considered a step above an assistant coach and just below the head coach. This role often includes some of the head coach's responsibilities.

Lambert has experience as an associate coach, having worked under Barry Trotz with the New York Islanders before being promoted to head coach later on.

Lambert, from Melfort, Saskatchewan, was most recently the head coach of the New York Islanders for two seasons, where he had a record of 61-46-20. He led the Islanders to the playoffs in 2023 before being fired in January.

Before joining the Islanders, Lambert was an assistant coach with the Washington Capitals, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2018, and with the Nashville Predators.

As a player, Lambert was a forward who appeared in 283 NHL games over six seasons from 1983 to 1989, playing for the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, and Quebec Nordiques.

The Leafs hired Craig Berube as their head coach to replace Sheldon Keefe in late May.

As seen on TSN
Leafs name Lambert associate coach