The Toronto Maple Leafs have made a major coaching change, parting ways with head coach Craig Berube after just two seasons at the helm. The announcement came Wednesday, following a disappointing 2025-26 campaign that saw the team finish with a 32-36-14 record—their first playoff miss since 2015-16.
Berube's tenure in Toronto was a tale of two very different seasons. In his debut year, he guided the Maple Leafs to an impressive 52-26-4 record, leading the team to the second round of the playoffs before falling to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. But the momentum didn't carry over. The 2025-26 squad struggled mightily, allowing the second-most goals in the NHL and failing to secure a postseason berth.
"Craig is a tremendous coach and an even better person," said Toronto general manager John Chayka in a statement. "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."
The coaching change is part of a broader shakeup within the organization. CEO Keith Pelley fired former general manager Brad Treliving in March, and the team hired Chayka on May 3. The Leafs also brought in franchise legend Mats Sundin as a senior adviser of hockey operations, signaling a new direction for the storied franchise.
Berube, 60, brought a wealth of experience to Toronto. Before joining the Leafs, he spent six seasons with the St. Louis Blues, posting a 206-132-44 record and leading them to a Stanley Cup championship in 2019. He also coached the Philadelphia Flyers from 2013 to 2015. Over his 10-year NHL head coaching career, Berube compiled a regular-season record of 365-252-90 and a 34-37 postseason mark in 71 games.
As the Maple Leafs search for their next head coach, fans can expect a new system and philosophy to take shape—one that will hopefully bring back the consistency and defensive stability that defined Berube's first season. For now, the franchise looks ahead to a fresh start, with the hope of returning to playoff contention in 2026-27.