As part of their major organizational leadership shifts in the offseason, the Toronto Maple Leafs have hired Andy O’Brien, the longtime trainer of Pittsburgh Penguins captain and future Hall of Famer Sidney Crosby, to lead their strength and conditioning department.
The Maple Leafs have also introduced several other leadership changes, including the hiring of Jim Hiller, a former Leafs assistant who had spent the last few seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, as head coach; they’ve also added several assistant coaches to replace Mike Van Ryn and Derek Lalonde, including former Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson.
However, the hiring of O’Brien is especially notable given how he’s been able to help Crosby maximize his longevity. O’Brien is now sharing his thoughts on goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, whom the Maple Leafs signed from the divisional rival Florida Panthers earlier this summer.
New Toronto Maple Leafs Trainer Andy O’Brien Shares Unfiltered Thoughts On Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky
Making an appearance on TSN’s First Up, O’Brien touted the longevity of Bobrovsky, who is now 37.
“Bob is the guy who’s in his late 30s. But his biological age is younger than his chronological age, if you ask me,” he said. “Like, he’s got a relatively young body. He’s young because he takes such good care of himself. He doesn’t have the same wear and tear as a goalie that’s 37, 38 years old. So I’m a big fan of Bob as a person and as an athlete.”
Bobrovsky had spent the last seven seasons with the Panthers, helping them reach the Stanley Cup Final in three straight seasons from 2023 to 2025, winning a pair of titles.
The Maple Leafs Hired Sidney Crosby’s Longtime Trainer Andy O’Brien
Leafs GM John Chayka welcomed O’Brien to Toronto, expressing his excitement of the chance to maximize the physical performance of every player.
“We are thrilled to welcome Andy and his sports performance team to the Toronto Maple Leafs and look forward to the impact they will have on the organization. Providing every resource possible to help our players perform at their best is the highest priority at every level of the organization,” Chayka said. “Our ownership group has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to investing in player care, the player experience, and the resources required to help our players succeed every day. We will continue to invest in every opportunity to maximize the development and performance of every player. Andy’s record as an innovator and winner, coupled with his values, philosophy and vision, are wholly aligned with what we are building here in Toronto.”
Meanwhile, O’Brien is looking forward to getting to work with his new club.
“I’m incredibly honoured to join the Maple Leafs,” O’Brien said. “From my first discussions with John and the leadership group, it was clear that this organization is dedicated to industry-leading player care and supporting the individual athlete in every way possible. I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with such an exceptional staff as we serve our players en route to our ultimate goal.”
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