The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced Craig Berube as their new head coach, following the dismissal of Sheldon Keefe. Berube, who most recently coached the St. Louis Blues, will be formally introduced to the media on Tuesday. Berube led the Blues to their first-ever Stanley Cup in the 2018-19 season but struggled to replicate that success in subsequent seasons. He brings a wealth of experience to the role and was a top candidate for several coaching vacancies this summer.
Berube, 58, has a long history in the NHL, both as a player and coach. He played 1,054 games as a rugged defenseman and has coached with the Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues before joining the Maple Leafs. Known for his no-nonsense approach and demand for accountability, Berube is expected to bring a new level of discipline to the Leafs team. Despite the success he had with the Blues, Berube ultimately became available for the Maple Leafs due to his dismissal from St. Louis in December 2023.
The decision to hire Berube came after Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving interviewed several candidates, including Gerard Gallant and Todd McLellan. While both candidates have extensive coaching experience in the NHL, Berube’s Stanley Cup win with the Blues likely set him apart. Keefe, who was let go despite signing a two-year contract extension in August 2023, had a strong regular-season record but struggled in the playoffs. He may still be pursued by other teams as coaching vacancies continue to be filled across the league.
With Berube’s hiring, there are still coaching vacancies with the San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken, New Jersey Devils, and Winnipeg Jets. The Los Angeles Kings have not announced whether interim coach Jim Hiller will be given a permanent position. Additionally, there are rumblings that other coaches, such as Jim Montgomery of the Boston Bruins and Rod Brind’Amour of the Carolina Hurricanes, could be on the hot seat. Montgomery, despite winning the Jack Adams Award in 2023, may be in trouble if the Bruins do not advance in the playoffs. Brind’Amour’s contract situation with the Hurricanes also remains unresolved, raising questions about his future with the team.
As the hiring process continues across the NHL, teams are looking to find the right coaches to lead their organizations to success. Berube’s appointment in Toronto brings an experienced and disciplined leader to the Maple Leafs who will be tasked with taking the team further in the playoffs. The coaching carousel in the league is in full swing, with several top candidates still available for teams with coaching vacancies. It remains to be seen how these decisions will impact the upcoming season and the future of the teams involved.
