Toronto Maple Leafs fire head coach Craig Berube in another major roster shake-up following their disappointing run

In a shocking decision, the Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Craig Berube on Wednesday, marking another major shake-up for the franchise after a disappointing 2025-26 season. The organization confirmed that no replacement has been named yet as the search for a new bench boss begins under recently appointed general manager John Chayka.

Speculations floated around his name after Brad Treliving was fired from the team. It is to be noted that the 60-year-old went 84-62-18 in two seasons after taking over for Sheldon Keefe, who was fired May 9, 2024. Following the firing decision, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka stated that players were not consulted leading up to it.

The Maple Leafs (32-36-14) ended the season 0-6-1, finishing last in the Atlantic Division and 15th in the Eastern Conference, and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2016-17.

Craig Berube dismissed as Toronto Maple Leafs head coach, search for new coach begins

In a major roster shake-up, the Toronto Maple Leafs dismissed their head coach, Craig Berube, on Wednesday, after he had spent two seasons behind Toronto’s bench and posted an 84-62-18 record during his tenure. He had been hired in 2024 to replace Sheldon Keefe, arriving with strong credentials after leading the St. Louis Blues to their first-ever Stanley Cup title in 2019.

Following the decision, Maple Leafs General Manager John Chayka stated, "Craig is a tremendous coach and an even better person. This decision is more reflective of an organizational shift and an opportunity for a fresh start than it is an evaluation of Craig. We are grateful for his leadership, professionalism, and commitment to the Maple Leafs organization and wish Craig and his family nothing but the best moving forward."


According to the NHL, the Toronto Maple Leafs (32-36-14) ended the season 0-6-1, finishing last in the Atlantic Division and 15th in the Eastern Conference, and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2016-17. Last season, they won the Atlantic with 108 points (52-26-4).

They defeated the Ottawa Senators in six games in the Eastern Conference First Round before losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in seven games in the second round. Toronto has advanced past the opening round of the playoffs twice since 2004 and has not won a Stanley Cup championship since 1967.

As they are now busy hiring for another head coach, John Chayka was asked whether prior coaching experience in the National Hockey League would be an important requirement when hiring the next coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He added, “Experience in the NHL in larger markets could be an asset, and will be weighed, but I wouldn’t discount anything at this time. … I think regardless of who the coach is, we should have an organizational vision on how we play and the things we value, and then certainly through that process align on it.”

Chayka also emphasized that regardless of who the coach is, the team should have an organizational vision on how we play and the things we value, and then certainly, through that process, align on it.

Toronto now enters the offseason with the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft and a new leadership group tasked with restoring the team to contention. Moreover, Berube's replacement will likely define the next phase of the Maple Leafs’ long-term rebuild.

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