Breaking News: Bruins star whose career was ended by controversial hit lands new coaching job

Marc Savard, formerly of the Boston Bruins, has signed a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Toronto revealed on Sunday that Savard has joined the team as an assistant to head coach Craig Berube. The Athletic reports that Savard will be in charge of the Leafs’ power play unit. During the 2019–20 season, Savard began working as a coach with the St. Louis Blues under Berube.

Savard spent last season working in a similar capacity with the Calgary Flames. Savard had previously served as the Windsor Spitfires’ head coach in the Ontario Hockey League. Under Savard’s leadership, the Spitfires finished 88-35-8-5, with a trip to the OHL Finals in 2022.

Savard began his NHL career as a fourth-round selection by the Rangers in the 1995 NFL Draft and played 807 games as a center. After joining the Bruins in 2006, Savard became well-known and was selected to the team’s two consecutive All-Star teams.

Savard’s playing career took a serious hit after he signed a long-term deal with Boston because of injuries. On March 7, 2010, Penguins player Matt Cooke controversially struck Savard in the head, causing a serious concussion. Two months after the attack, according to Savard, there was “total darkness” and “total silence.”

Savard would never play in an NHL game again due to the hit’s lasting repercussions. In 2018, he made his retirement official.