Former Florida Panthers team consultant Andy O’Brien has joined the Toronto Maple Leafs organization as their new strength and conditioning coach, the Toronto Sun’s Steve Simmons reported.
The Maple Leafs have made several moves to their roster, coaching staff and front office, guided by newly hired GM John Chayka. O’Brien is the newest hire in a series of very intriguing moves.
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O’Brien had two separate stints with the Panthers. From 2005 to 2009, O’Brien was the head strength and conditioning coach. After he left the Panthers, he joined the Tri-City Americans of the WHL for three seasons as a team consultant.
Then he joined the Pittsburgh Penguins as the director of conditioning and the director of sports science. After five seasons with the Penguins, O’Brien rejoined the Panthers as a team consultant and the team consultant for high performance.
Although O’Brien is well known for his NHL gigs, he might be best known for being Sidney Crosby’s trainer since he was 13 years old.
O’Brien’s training has clearly worked for Crosby, as the Penguins captain is 38 and still one of the best players in the NHL. He also played a crucial role for the Panthers, helping them win a Stanley Cup and transform the team into one of the NHL’s most physically dominant teams, if not the most.
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O’Brien was not working in the NHL during the 2025-26 season, as his last season with the Panthers was in 2024-25.
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