After four years behind the bench, Toronto Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson has been fired.
And Randy Carlyle, a coach who has worked with Leafs GM Brian Burke in the past, is reportedly hired.
TSN analyst Darren Dreger reports that Wilson was fired Friday night, on the heels of yet another Leafs' loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Just moments later, Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos confirmed that Randy Carlyle is tapped to be the club's next coach.
Carlyle will jump into the fire immediately, TSN reports, as he's expected to be behind the bench on Saturday night when the Leafs take on the Montreal Canadiens.
The Leafs' lacklustre play in recent days has resulted in slow slide down the league rankings. The team currently sits in 11th place in the Eastern Conference.
It's a spiral that didn't go unnoticed by the city's passionate fanbase. Toronto is a notorious hockey hotbed, with fans chanting FIRE RON WILSON chant several times this season.
Wilson had signed a one-year extension to his contract only last December.
He had been behind the bench for the Leafs since 2008.
Through 64 games this season, the Maple Leafs are 29-28-7 under Wilson. Overall, Wilson compiled a 130-135-45 record with the Leafs, never taking the club into the playoffs.