Maple Leafs make offer to Ron Wilson

Ron Wilson is mulling over an undisclosed offer to become the next head coach of The Toronto Maple Leafs.

Wilson, 53, met Tuesday in Toronto with Maple Leafs interim general manager Cliff Fletcher.

"I said, 'Give us an answer by the weekend or by Monday at the latest,'" Fletcher said Wednesday.

"We will see what happens. If he accepts, great, we look forward to working with him."

Wilson, who was fired May 12 by the San Jose Sharks, would succeed Paul Maurice, who was dismissed May 5 by the Maple Leafs. 

Wilson is the winningest head coach in Sharks history, posting a 206-134-45 record in 385 games behind the bench, but he failed to impress in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Wilson led the Sharks to a 49-23-10 record this season, including a remarkable streak of 20 games without a loss in regulation.

For their efforts, the Sharks earned a second Pacific Division title and the second seed in the Western Conference.

But in the playoffs, they were extended to seven games by the seventh-seeded Calgary Flames, then eliminated in six games by the fifth-seeded Dallas Stars in the conference semifinal.

It marked the third straight second-round exit for Wilson's Sharks, who went 28-24 in 52 playoff games.

Coached Ducks, Capitals

Wilson was the first head coach of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, spending four seasons with the expansion franchise before being relieved of his duties.

He resurfaced as head coach of the Washington Capitals, guiding them to the Stanley Cup final in his first season, only to be swept by the Detroit Red Wings.

Wilson was dismissed by the Capitals following the 2001-02 NHL campaign, and replaced Darryl Sutter as Sharks head coach on Dec. 5, 2002.

He eclipsed Sutter's franchise record of 192 wins on March 1, and ranks eighth among NHL head coaches with 518 victories in 1,091 games.