There was a major change in leadership behind the bench for the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, as new general manager John Chayka announced that the club had parted ways with head coach Craig Berube.
The Maple Leafs, who already relieved assistant coach Marc Savard of his duties earlier in the season, continue to make wholesale changes in the wake of the dismissal of GM Brad Treliving in late March and the subsequent hiring of Chayka along with former captain Mats Sundin in an executive role.
Berube, who led the Maple Leafs to a 50-win season in 2024-25 and helped them win just their second Stanley Cup Playoff series since 2004, is now free to see other coaching opportunities after being unable to get Toronto back to the playoffs in 2025-26.
Peter Laviolette, Bruce Boudreau React To Craig Berube Being Fired By The Toronto Maple Leafs
Two former NHL coaches who have been let go by multiple clubs during their respective careers are Peter Laviolette and Bruce Boudreau.
Laviolette, who was most recently let go by the New York Rangers last offseason, spoke about Berube’s termination by the Maple Leafs and said that not only is Berube a “good guy”, but that the next coach of Toronto should try and establish a playing identity right away.
“I think sometimes, you – just going in for the interview, first of all, I think you dig a little bit to find out what information you can on what was good, and what wasn’t good,” Laviolette said. “For whoever goes in there, you find out a little bit. But from that point for me, it’s more all about what you can do for that organization to take them and move them forward. So, I always find it’s important to have a direct plan. The way you want to play, the identity in which you want to play, and the culture you want to build.”
Meanwhile, Boudreau, who was most recently let go by the Vancouver Canucks in 2023, had a similar take in what the goals of whomever ultimately lands the job will be.
“It’s Toronto,” Boudreau said. “You know, there’s two things here. You either embrace fear, or you relish in it. When I went to Vancouver and they asked me the same question about being in a Canadien market. I said, ‘Man, you want to embrace it, because the belief is if you win, this is gonna be the greatest place on earth. Nobody thinks that they’re going to go in there and fail.’ I think every coach out there – if they don’t think the team is on an upward spiral, a good coach will believe that they can turn it around to make it that upward spiral.”
Craig Berube Was Let Go By The Maple Leafs On Wednesday
Berube, who won the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019, has also been the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers.
He was hired by Toronto in 2024 to replace the fired Sheldon Keefe, and led them to a series victory over the Ottawa Senators last spring before they fell to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in seven games.
During his time in Toronto, Berube accumulated a record of 84-62-18.
Two Ex-NHL Coaches Reveal What They Believe Happens Next For Maple Leafs