It’s no secret that Leafs fans are out buying museum tickets for Dougie Hamilton, the best free agent on the market this summer — or at the very least best defenseman. A local boy, the dominant right-shot defenseman has been a white whale for fans ever since they traded his draft pick for Phil Kessel. Now, after nine long years, they might finally have the chance to bring him home.
As free agency approaches, the Leafs have added their new defensive coach for this season, an experienced man by the name of Dean Chynoweth (pronounced “SHIN-owth”). He comes from Carolina, where he has coached Hamilton for the past three seasons.