Filling the coaching void

Pat Quinn coaches Team Orr in the CHL Top Prospects Game.

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"They've done nothing but show me respect in terms of the two times I've been around them (this week) coaching them … Not only could they perform the fundamentals, they had started to build a tool chest of the other things that are important in life and that's the intangible sides, and our kids are strong in that area."

Quinn said that all the great players he has encountered in his career had one thing in common: humility. He feels the players scheduled to compete in the Top Prospect Game share that quality and believes many will go on to have successful NHL careers because of it.

"These kids respect an opportunity and they recognized that they might just learn something from Recchi and myself," Quinn said.

"These kids, boy I'll tell you what, they're a treat to be around."

Watch the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Wednesday on Sportsnet with coverage starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

Although most of his coaching experience has been in the NHL, Quinn does have a history coaching young talent. He won back-to-back gold medals as the head coach of Team Canada at the world junior hockey championship in 2008 and 2009.

The 69-year-old, who has not coached in the NHL since the 2009-2010 season with the Edmonton Oilers, said that he would love to get back behind the bench in the NHL, but hasn't had any offers.

"There's a void that happens to someone that is taken out of the game, in terms of everyday life, and that's what gives you meaning, especially when you've got some great kids to work with like I've had the privilege of doing," Quinn said.

"So, when suddenly it's not there it needs to be replaced and I haven't found something to replace it with, so if someone wanted me to try to coach again, I'd more than happily welcome that."

Quinn began his coaching career in 1977 as an assistant with the Philadelphia Flyers. In 1,400 career NHL games coached, Quinn has a 684-528-188 record, won the Jack Adams Trophy twice as the league's top coach, and reached the Stanley Cup finals twice, although he never won a championship.

Many of those games were spent behind the bench of the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 574 games as the team's coach, Quinn amassed 300 wins and reached the conference finals in 1999 and 2002. The Leafs, though, have not made the playoffs since prior to the NHL lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 season.

Quinn believes this year's edition of the team could be the one to change that trend.

"I like their speed and I think they've got a good skill level. It's whether they can put it all together and use the skill that they do have as a good team," Quinn said.

"It's hard to tell (if the Leafs will make the playoffs). They're going to have to battle hard all the rest of the way. There's no question they're in the hunt (for a playoff spot) right now and it looks like they compete pretty hard, so chances are this could be the year that a lot of people have been waiting for for a long time."

Quinn said the long playoff drought is unfortunate for the fans, especially since the team came close to the Stanley Cup in the past decade.

"During the tenure I had there … at least two of the six years, we had teams that were capable of winning the Cup and we didn't get it done.

"It's so hard to win, but you got to get in the dance first. That's where (the Leafs) have been missing the boat, is getting in the dance. We've seen teams that just squeak in and go right to the finals. We know it can be done but you got to get there first. This team looks like it might have that little bit of edge to make it in."