Coach’s Corner: Carlyle happy he’s out of Toronto

Ron and Don talk about the World Juniors, Canada’s dress code, J.P. Parise and Matt Cooke fight with Predators’ defenceman Shea Weber.

Don Cherry, who has experienced being fired as an NHL head coach, said he knows how Randy Carlyle is feeling.

The Toronto Maple Leafs gave Carlyle the ax earlier this week, but Cherry thinks the veteran bench boss will be fine — possibly even relieved.

“He’s happy he’s out. He’s got a year-and-a-half left on his contract,” Cherry said on Coach’s Corner Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada.

A major problem for the Leafs during Carlyle’s tenure was the fact they allowed far too many shots against on a nightly basis.

Under interim coach Peter Horachek the Leafs will aim to improve on this and their efforts were evident Friday as the Leafs allowed just 20 shots on goal in a 5-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Cherry feels that’s the way to have success in the NHL rather than an offence-first style of play.

“You people that want run-and-gun hockey, that’s loser hockey,” Cherry said.

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