Craig Berube Fired as Maple Leafs Head Coach Search Widens

The maple leafs head coach search opened in earnest after John Chayka fired Craig Berube following just two seasons in Toronto. The move sends the Maple Leafs into a new era and puts immediate pressure on the next hire to keep the team in playoff position.

Berube’s two-season run ends

Berube is out after a short stay behind the bench, and the timing matters because the Maple Leafs had already taken a step back in the advanced stats department with him in charge. Toronto now has to replace a coach while also resetting the direction of the team for next season.

That coaching change came after the Maple Leafs head coach position became a popular topic around the hockey world over the last few weeks. The conversation had been building because the organization needed the right coach if it wants to make the playoffs once again.

Cassidy and Knoblauch

Bruce Cassidy and Kris Knoblauch are the two names most often tied to Toronto as available options. Cassidy led the Vegas Golden Knights to the 2023 Stanley Cup and has also been linked to Edmonton and Los Angeles.

Knoblauch brings a different profile. He reached the Stanley Cup Finals with Edmonton in 2024 and 2025, but recent reports said he will likely take some time off from coaching in the NHL. That leaves Toronto weighing a candidate with recent championship results against one whose immediate availability is uncertain.

DeBoer’s path closes

Peter DeBoer had been a possible target during the course of the year, but a late-season decision by the New York Islanders ended that idea. With DeBoer no longer in the picture, Berube and former GM Brad Treliving are both out as the Maple Leafs move toward a fresh setup under Chayka.

The next season now carries a clear test for Toronto’s new direction. The front office has one major decision left, and the choice will shape whether the Maple Leafs can get back to the postseason with a coach built for the job.