Tom Watt

Tom Watt (born in Toronto, Ontario) is a pro scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Prior to joining the leafs, Tom worked with the Florida Panthers on August 16, 2005, as Pro Scout. He previously worked in Player Development for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He originally joined the Mighty Ducks on January 5, 2001 as Special Assignment Scout. On July 24 2001 he was assigned as Assistant Coach for one season. Under new management, Watt was assigned to Player Development July 1, 2002. He has been a coach in the NHL (National Hockey League) for 11 seasons, including seven as a head coach; four as assistant coach and one as development coach.

In 1999–2000, Watt served as a development coach for the Calgary Flames. Prior to that, he spent much of the 1990s with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. He was hired in 1990 as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs and took over as head coach just 12 games into the 1990–91 season. After two seasons behind the Toronto Maple Leafs' bench, he served within the organization as Director of Professional Development in 1992–93 and Director of Pro Scouting in 1993–94. Watt took on head coaching responsibilities with the Leaf's farm club, the St. John's Maple Leafs of the AHL for two seasons beginning in 1994–95.

Prior to his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Watt was an assistant coach with Calgary Flames from 1988–90, including the Stanley Cup winning 1989 club.

He held the positions of head coach and assistant general manager with the Vancouver Canucks for two seasons beginning in 1985–86. His first NHL head coaching experience came with Winnipeg, where he guided the Winnipeg Jets (now Phoenix Coyotes) for two-plus seasons (1981–84). In 1981–82, Watt helped the Winnipeg Jets to a 48-point improvement in the standings, and was named Coach of the Year, winning the Jack Adams Award for his efforts.

He broke into the NHL coaching ranks the previous season as an assistant with the Vancouver Canucks in 1980–81.

Watt also has a wealth of coaching experience at the collegiate level. In 1965, he began a highly successful 15 season stint as head coach of the University of Toronto of the CIAU (Canadian Inter-University Athletic Union), where he had also played during his undergraduate studies. Under Watt's guidance, the University of Toronto's Varsity Blues men's ice hockey team hockey teams captured 11 conference titles and nine CIAU championships. Returning in 1984–1985 between his NHL tenures in Winnipeg and Vancouver, he replaced NHL-bound Mike Keenan, and was later honoured by Ontario Universities Athetics in 1992.

His international experience with Team Canada includes two Olympic games, two World Hockey Championships and three Canada Cup assistant coaching assignments.

Before returning to the NHL, Watt spent 1997–98 season as Head Coach with the Sudbury Wolves of the major junior Ontario Hockey League, returning the Wolves to the playoffs, after a three year absence.

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