MAPLE LEAFS NOTES: Helping hands aplenty will apply for Berube's bench staff

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Add Mike Yeo for consideration as assistant coach on Craig Berube’s staff with the Maple Leafs.

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Yeo and the Vancouver Canucks parted ways earlier this week and he has already spoken to the Ottawa Senators, though there is a stronger Leafs connection for the Scarborough native. Yeo, 50, was head coach of the St. Louis Blues in 2018-19 when a slow start saw him fired and replaced by assistant Berube, who then led the team to the 2019 Stanley Cup.

A Turner Cup champion player with the International Hockey League Houston Aeros, he later coached that city’s American Hockey League team when it was the Minnesota Wild’s affiliate, setting up a few years as the parent team’s coach beginning in 2011. Fired by the Wild in 2016, Yeo went to the Blues, and later briefly coached the Philadelphia Flyers after Alain Vigneault’s departure before joining Bruce Boudreau’s staff in Vancouver.

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One job in Toronto is definitely open after Manny Malhotra took the head coaching position with Vancouver’s AHL club in Abbotsford, B.C. Meanwhile, Berube has spent the past few days assessing current assistants Guy Boucher, Dean Chynoweth and Mike Van Ryn, though the latter is his former aide with the Blues and the most likely to be retained.

Marc Savard, who parted ways with the Calgary Flames recently, has also been mentioned as a candidate for a spot in Toronto. Boucher’s handling of the power play came in for criticism late this year, but it’s possible he stays with a new assignment.

JUNIOR SNIPER NOT SIGNED

The Leafs’ 2022 draft class has been very promising so far, including second-round forward Fraser Minten making last year’s team for a few games, Dennis Hildeby establishing himself as one of the American Hockey League’s top goalies and winger Nicholas Moldenhauer starting his NCAA career at Michigan.

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But their lowest drafted player in almost 20 years, who had a huge year in the Western Hockey League, is going back in the draft. With the two-year deadline to sign CHL players expiring Saturday at 5 p.m. EST, Brandon Lisowsky is not anywhere near agreement on an entry level contract. Since being picked at 218th, the 5-foot-9 winger has piled up 71 and 80-point seasons, adding 35 playoff points in 39 games over three years as he and Minten led the Saskatoon Blades to the WHL semifinal. Minten was traded from Kamloops during the season

It appears the Leafs want to keep the contract slot open, while Lisowsky will go back in next month’s draft.

COWBOY STILL RIDING

The Leafs’ 2023 first rounder Easton ‘Cowboy’ Cowan and his London Knights are now a win away from the Memorial Cup.

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“It’s a dream come true,” said Cowan after bagging the winner Wednesday night with 1:25 to go in a 4-2 decision over the tournament host Saginaw Spirit. “All of us will be ready to go (Sunday night in the final, with the victory allowing London to bypass the semifinal between Saginaw and WHL champion Moose Jaw).

The OHL’s regular-season and playoff MVP has had many huge moments this season.

“He’s got the skill and will,” London coach Dale Hunter praised. “He’s a good skater, knows the game and pushes through.”

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TAXING DAYS FOR TAVARES

It will take a little more digging in the corners for John Tavares to win his pucks and bucks battle with the Canada Revenue Agency.

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The CRA is disputing an appeal by the Leafs captain filed earlier this year that the $15.25 million US the club paid him upon arrival in 2018 from the New York Islanders as a UFA, in a seven-year $77 million deal, was a signing bonus as opposed to salary. The feds argue it was the latter and should be taxed at a higher rate.

Representatives for Tavares want the contentious amount taxed at 15%, based on a Canada-U.S. tax treaty regarding athletes and performers such as actors and musicians, the Feds seeking double that amount.  At stake could be future deals to get American-based athletes to play in Canada.

The Toronto Star reported the CRA “denies that any amount referred to as a ‘signing bonus’ was a signing bonus or an inducement payment,” in its response last week to Tavares’ appeal in the Tax Court of Canada. Also being wrangled by Tavares is that he should not be classified as a Canadian resident for the 2018 tax year, as he lived in Long Island until signing with the Leafs and moving back that summer.

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LOOSE LEAFS

Los Angeles-based StudioAuctions.com has a rare Darryl Sittler game-worn assistant captain’s sweater from the 1974-75 season, part of a June 20-21 show that will feature a Guy Lafleur sweater from ‘81-82, a ‘93-94 Wayne Gretzky stick after a two-goal game and a 1966 Bobby Orr rookie season stick. The signed Sittler sweater, prior to him getting the captaincy from the departing Dave Keon, retains visible blood stains and was gifted by owner Harold Ballard to a 9-year-old fan. Bidding starts at $25,000 … It was four years ago Friday the Leafs lost Game 7 of their most recent playoff meeting with Montreal after holding a 3-1 series’ lead and 25 years ago Friday that Kris King scored the last Toronto playoff goal of the 20th century in a 4-2 elimination loss to Buffalo in the Eastern Conference final.

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