The Toronto Maple Leafs are in search of a new head coach after general manager John Chayka fired Craig Berube on Wednesday. The decision comes after a season that failed to meet expectations, with the team finishing with 78 points—30 fewer than the previous season when they won the Atlantic Division.
Berube's Dismissal
Chayka stated that the firing was more about an organizational shift and a fresh start rather than an evaluation of Berube's coaching abilities. He praised Berube as a tremendous coach and an even better person, expressing gratitude for his leadership and professionalism. The next coach will determine the makeup of the remainder of the coaching staff.
The firing raises questions about the future of captain Auston Matthews, though Chayka had previously indicated he looked forward to discussing the season with Berube. Injuries to key players, including Matthews, defenseman Chris Tanev, and goalie Anthony Stolarz, contributed to the team's struggles, but even when healthy, the Leafs often lacked structure and defensive consistency.
Top Candidates to Replace Berube
Bruce Cassidy
Cassidy, fired by the Vegas Golden Knights in March, has never missed the playoffs in nine years as an NHL head coach. He won the Stanley Cup with Vegas in 2023 and is familiar with the Leafs' core players from his time with the Boston Bruins.
Patrick Roy
The Hall of Fame goaltender was fired by the New York Islanders in April. Despite success in the QMJHL, Roy's NHL coaching record includes only one playoff appearance in four seasons with the Colorado Avalanche and a missed playoff in his only full season with the Islanders.
Manny Malhotra
The Mississauga native led the Abbotsford Canucks to a Calder Cup title in his first season as head coach. He previously served as an assistant coach with the Leafs for four seasons and is considered a rising candidate for an NHL head coaching job.
Todd Nelson
Nelson has won three Calder Cups as an AHL head coach and has served as an NHL assistant coach. He had a brief interim stint with the Edmonton Oilers but was not retained.
Jay Woodcroft
A Toronto native, Woodcroft was fired by the Oilers in November 2023 after a slow start. He later joined the Anaheim Ducks as an assistant coach. He led the Oilers to the Western Conference final in 2022.
Dean Evason
Evason was fired by the Columbus Blue Jackets in January after guiding the team through an emotional season following the death of Johnny Gaudreau. He previously coached the Minnesota Wild for three full seasons, failing to advance past the first round.
David Carle
The 36-year-old coach led the University of Denver to its third NCAA title in five years and coached the U.S. world junior team to back-to-back gold medals in 2024 and 2025.
Jay Leach
Leach has built a solid resume as an AHL head coach and NHL assistant, currently with the Boston Bruins. His name has been in the mix for head coaching jobs in recent years.
Derek Lalonde
Lalonde, an assistant coach with the Leafs, previously won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning as an assistant. His first head coaching stint with the Detroit Red Wings ended in December 2024 after missing the playoffs in two seasons.
The Maple Leafs will begin their search for the 33rd coach in franchise history, with the decision likely to shape the team's direction for years to come.
