Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube watches the play against the Dallas Stars during the third period at Scotiabank Arena. (Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn)
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube watches the play against the Dallas Stars during the third period at Scotiabank Arena. (Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn)
The Toronto Maple Leafs decided to fire head coach Craig Berube in a surprising move that shocked the NHL world. This decision came after a season with inconsistency, missed chances, and increasing pressure on the team to get better playoff results.
The Toronto Maple Leafs front office made this decision after reviewing the team’s performance. The team started the season with high expectations but could not stay consistent. They struggled in defense, special teams, and scoring, which led to an uneven season and no championship success.
The decision is not a reflection of Berube’s coaching ability, but as part of a broader organizational reset. The new General Manager, John Chayka, explained, "Craig is a tremendous coach and an even better person," Chayka said in a statement. "The decision is more reflective of an organizational shift and an opportunity for a fresh start than it is an evaluation of Craig.”
BOSTON, MA - MAY 29: St. Louis Blues head coach Craig Berube talks about his big overtime win tonight. During Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals featuring the St. Louis Blues against the Boston Bruins on May 29, 2019 at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by Michael Tureski/Icon Sportswire) NHL, Eishockey Herren, USA MAY 29 Stanley Cup Final - Blues at Bruins PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxDENxONLY Icon147190529041
BOSTON, MA - MAY 29: St. Louis Blues head coach Craig Berube talks about his big overtime win tonight. During Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals featuring the St. Louis Blues against the Boston Bruins on May 29, 2019 at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by Michael Tureski/Icon Sportswire) NHL, Eishockey Herren, USA MAY 29 Stanley Cup Final - Blues at Bruins PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxDENxONLY Icon147190529041
Auston Matthews’ dip in form also played a role in the coaching change. Earlier, he averaged about 46 goals per season, but in the last two seasons, that dropped to around 30 goals per season, showing a decline in output. His future in Toronto is also uncertain.
At the same time, the team may get top prospect Gavin McKenna with a No. 1 draft pick. Together, Matthews and McKenna could form a strong future duo and rebuild the team without Craig Berube.
The focus now shifts to finding a new head coach who can maximize the current core and push the team deeper into the postseason. As far as Craig Berube, his contract says he still has two years left.
So he will be in the team’s book, and the team has to pay him a $4.5M salary until he finds another team.
Craig Berube Record as Leafs’ Coach
Craig Berube became head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs in May 2024, after replacing Sheldon Keefe. In his first season (2024–25), the team performed very well. They finished with a 52–26–4 record, won the Atlantic Division for the first time, and reached the playoffs.
However, in the next season (2025–26), the team struggled badly. They finished 32–36–14 and missed the playoffs completely. Because of this poor result, Berube was fired on May 13, 2026.
Overall, his record as Maple Leafs head coach showed one strong season followed by a major decline.
Before the Leafs, he was associated with the Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues as a bench boss.
Some people might call Berube's firing shocking, but others say it shows how the league focuses on results, where teams make quick changes. Let’s see if this move helps the team or not.
What do you feel? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Kapil Manghnani
Edited by
Souvik Roy