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Do not expect a reunion between Marc Savard and the Windsor Spitfires.
The 46-year-old Savard guided the Spitfires to Game 7 of the Ontario Hockey League championship in 2022 and back-to-back Western Conference regular-season titles. The club also led the league in offence in both seasons.
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Savard left after two seasons with the Spitfires, where he compiled an 88-35-8-4 record (.695 winning percentage), to join the Calgary Flames as an assistant coach last June, but the NHL team and Savard mutually agreed to part ways on Wednesday.
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“We would like to thank Marc for his commitment last season and also for his professionalism during this process to arrive at (Wednesday’s) decision,” Flames’ general manager Craig Conroy said in a release. “We wish Marc success with his future endeavours in the game.”
While the Spitfires have not filled the team’s vacant head coaching post, general manager Bill Bowler laughed at the suggestion that Savard would return to the OHL.
In fact, the rumour mill already has Savard headed to Toronto to become a member of new head coach Craig Berube’s staff with the Maple Leafs.
Before joining the Spitfires, Savard worked as an assistant coach for one season with the St. Louis Blues under Berube after he guided the team to the Stanley Cup. Savard was brought in as a power-play specialist and helped St. Louis produce the third-most efficient power play in the NHL in 2019-20 at 24.3 per cent.
Introduced to the media on Tuesday, Berube did not comment on the status of the current coaching staff in Toronto and there could be some changes with former head coach Sheldon Keefe taking over the same role with the New Jersey Devils.
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However, by mutually parting ways, Savard is now free to pursue other coaching opportunities.
Windsor’s D.J. Smith, who is a former Spitfire captain and coach, has also been linked to Toronto where he was an assistant coach for four seasons from 2105-19 before being hired as head coach of the Ottawa Senators.
After being let go by the Senators earlier this season, Smith joined Jim Hiller, who was also an assistant coach with at the same time with the Maple Leafs, with the Los Angeles Kings. Hiller’s interim tag has been removed and he has signed an extension with the Kings.
It is unclear if Smith will remain in Los Angeles and the San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken and Winnipeg Jets still have head coaching vacancies to fill.
As well, former Spitfire and Lighthouse Cove native Steve Ott was also an assistant coach in St. Louis under Berube. Ott just completed his seventh season with the Blues and is currently serving as an assistant coach with Canada’s national team at the world hockey championship.
jpparker@postmedia.com
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