In today';s News & Notes, the Toronto Maple Leafs have hired Hayley
Wickenheiser, Toby Enstrom has signed a contract in Sweden and the Mikkel
Boedker will wear No. 89 with the Ottawa Senators.Maple Leafs Hire Wickenheiser

The Maple Leafs made a big-time add to their hockey team with Wickenheiser
joining on as the team';s new assistant director of player development.

Additionally, Hayley Wickenheiser has been hired as Assistant Director of
Player Development. Noelle Needham and Victor Cameiro have been hired as
amateur scouts. #TMLtalk

- Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) August 23, 2018

Wickenheiser was the face of women';s hockey during her playing years and is
one of the most decorated Canadian athletes in history. Wickenheiser scored an
impressive 31 goals and 68 points in 41 games on the international level,
including an astounding 18 goals and 51 points in 26 games at the Olympics. She
 would win four consecutive gold medals at the Olympics as well as one silver
medal. She would also win seven gold medals and six silver medals at the World
Championships.

Per Lance Hornby, Wickenheiser will monitor the Maple Leafs'; WHL picks while
she completes her medical degree in Calgary. She';ll travel to Toronto about
three times a month in her new role.

When talking about the hire, Maple Leafs'; general manager Kyle Dubas stated
that this hire wasn';t about diversity, but about hiring the best person for
the job.Enstrom Signs in Sweden

After spending 11 seasons in the NHL from 2007-08 until 2017-18, Enstrom will
be returning to MODO Hockey Ornskoldsvik, a team he spent five seasons with
from 2002-03 until 2006-07 before ultimately making the jump to the NHL.
Enstrom spent his entire career with the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets
franchise, scoring 54 goals and 308 points in 719 games.Toby Enstrom - Winnipeg
 Jets vs Philadelphia Flyers - November 17, 2016 (Amy Irvin / The Hockey
Writers)

An eighth-round pick in the storied 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Enstrom proved that
draft position isn';t everything throughout his career. A solid defender who
was capable of chipping in the occasional offense, most notably in 2009-10 and
 2010-11 when he would record 50 and 51 points respectively, Enstrom was a
valued member of the Thrashers and the Jets throughout their entire existence
in this iteration of the team.Related: NHL News & Notes: Couturier, Tkachuk &
More

As Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reported, there was a fair amount of NHL
interest in Enstrom this offseason but none were good enough to keep him in the
 NHL this season. Enstrom will immediately take over the role as captain on the
 team as well. Between the captaincy, the decision to return home with his
family and likely an increased role with MODO, Enstrom ultimately decided that
leaving the NHL was right for him at this time.Boedker to Wear No. 89 With
Senators

When Boedker was acquired by the Senators this offseason in a trade that saw
Mike Hoffman traded to the San Jose Sharks (before being traded soon after to
the Florida Panthers), it left the team with two players wearing No. 89 on
their team. To solve this problem Senators'; forward Max McCormick was asked
about his interest in giving up the number for the newly-acquired Sen.Mikkel
Boedker, San Jose Sharks, Nov. 28, 2017 (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

"I got a call from our head equipment guy Johnny," McCormick said of the
situation. "He mentioned that Boedker also wears #89 and asked if I would be ok
 with switching numbers. I was totally cool with it. I';ve actually worn No. 17
 for my whole career so I was excited to get that number back again."

McCormick also mentioned that he was happy to oblige with the number swap
because Boedker is a 10-year NHL veteran. Happy to make the change and noting
that Boedker didn';t even have to ask, McCormick would make the change without
any issue whatsoever.

"It means more to some guys than others," McCormick said on the importance of
numbers. "I definitely prefer wearing No. 17 but, to be honest, it means more
to me to get to put on the jersey so I';ll wear any number they want me to."

The post NHL News & Notes: Wickenheiser, Enstrom & More appeared first on The
Hockey Writers.

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