May 7, 2008 | 11:55am ET
Maple Leafs fire coach Maurice TheFourthPeriod.com
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Paul Maurice and assistant coach Randy Ladouceur.
Assistant coach Dallas Eakins has been offered a position elsewhere in the organization, while Keith Acton will remain as an assistant coach.
"My objective is to create the best environment possible for the next Leafs general manager to bring in his own staff and to create a new culture around the team," said leafs interim GM Cliff Fletcher.
"Since the season ended we’ve spent considerable time evaluating our organization and how best to move it forward. Paul has been in a difficult position for several months. Making this decision now also provides the best opportunity for Paul to pursue all options potentially open to him."
Maurice, who was named head coach of the Leafs on May 12, 2006 following one season as head coach of the club's AHL affiliate the Toronto Marlies, compiled a record of 76 wins, 66 losses and 22 overtime/shootout losses with the Blue and White. He reached the milestone of 800 NHL games coached with the Leafs' January 10, 2008 game at Los Angeles.
