Mark Giordano will join the Toronto Marlies as a coaching advisor, the Maple Leafs announced Wednesday afternoon.
Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving previously announced Giordano would be joining the organization on September 17, but stated that his role would be clarified in an impending statement.
Giordano retired following the 2023-24 NHL season, after playing in 1,148 NHL games, spent with the Calgary Flames, Seattle Kraken and Toronto Maple Leafs. The 42-year-old Toronto native was a mentor to several Maple Leafs players during his tenure and was lauded for his leadership and shot-blocking abilities. Giordano ranks second among the NHL’s all-time blocked shots list, trailing only Marc-Edouard Vlasic.
Mikael Kotkaniemi has been formally announced as a European Amateur Scout. Kotkaniemi is the father of Carolina Hurricanes forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Kotkaniemi previously announced that he joined the Maple Leafs on August 1.
Steven Reinprecht and Eric Lacroix are joining the Maple Leafs as pro scouts. Reinprecht won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2001 and played in 663 NHL games, recording 140 goals and 382 points during his career. Reinprecht and Lacroix also worked with the Avalanche in their player development department, prior to joining the Maple Leafs.
Lacroix played 472 NHL games, recording 67 goals and 131 points over his career.
Toronto quietly added Kotkaniemi and Reinprecht to their staff directory in August. Reinprecht and Lacroix will join Mike Penny, Jim Roque and Steven Taylor among the team’s pro scouts this season. Kotkaniemi is one of the Maple Leafs’ 12 amateur scouts, directly reporting to head of European scouting, Olegs Koreskovs. Koreskovs was promoted to his new position in July 2025.
It’s been an eventful lead-up to Wednesday’s season opener against the Montreal Canadiens, as the Maple Leafs called up Easton Cowan and sent Jacob Quillan to the Marlies. Cowan will not play in the season opener, while the Maple Leafs remain under the cap to start the year.
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