Ex-King GM Beverley New Toronto Coach

TORONTO — Pat Burns, a two-time NHL coach of the year who twice led Toronto to the conference finals, was fired by the struggling Maple Leafs and replaced Tuesday by player development director Nick Beverley, former King general manager.

Toronto General Manager Cliff Fletcher fired Burns on Monday following the Leafs’ eighth consecutive loss but waited a day to announce the move.

Burns, 43, in his fourth season with Toronto after four years coaching the Montreal Canadiens, went to Maple Leaf Gardens late Monday and wrote a farewell message to his players on the dressing room blackboard. The Leafs are in a 3-16-3 slide.