TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Craig Berube after a disappointing 2025-26 campaign that saw the team finish at the bottom of the Atlantic Division.
Berube’s time in Toronto lasted just two seasons. His first year behind the bench brought optimism after the Maple Leafs collected 108 points and won a playoff series, but the team took a major step backward this season.
In a statement, newly appointed general manager John Chayka praised Berube’s character and coaching ability, saying the decision was more about a new organizational direction than a direct criticism of the coach himself.
Chayka only recently took over the role after Brad Treliving was dismissed in March.
Toronto’s collapse this season was dramatic. After earning 108 points the year before, the Maple Leafs managed just 78 this season, posting a 32-36-14 record — the largest year-over-year decline in points in franchise history.
Expectations had remained high entering the campaign despite the departure of star winger Mitch Marner. The organization attempted to replace his production collectively by bringing in forwards Matias Maccelli, Dakota Joshua and Nicolas Roy, hoping the roster could still compete for the Stanley Cup.
Instead, the season never truly found momentum.
Injuries, inconsistent performances and a lack of identity plagued the team from the opening months of the campaign. Even with elite talents like Auston Matthews and William Nylander leading the attack, Toronto’s power play struggled badly throughout the year.
Defensively, the Maple Leafs also fell apart at times, finishing with the second-worst goals-against record in the league while being outshot more than any other team in the NHL.
Frustrations became increasingly visible as the season progressed. Following a 4-0 loss to the Washington Capitals in December, Berube openly questioned his players’ urgency and passion, saying the Capitals simply wanted the game more.
When asked how that could happen, his blunt response — “Ask those guys, not me” — highlighted growing tensions between the coach and the dressing room.
Matthews also endured a difficult year. The three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner scored just 27 goals before suffering a season-ending knee injury after a collision with Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas in March.
The team’s lack of response to the hit sparked criticism from Berube, media members and fans alike, with questions raised about the squad’s mentality and locker-room culture.
Berube was hired in May 2024 after Sheldon Keefe was let go following four-and-a-half seasons in charge. During his first year, the Maple Leafs finally won a playoff series by beating the Ottawa Senators before losing to the Florida Panthers in a series remembered for heavy home defeats in Games 5 and 7.
Toronto had embraced Berube’s direct, hard-nosed coaching style early on, but the same approach failed to produce results in his second season.
The 60-year-old coach previously enjoyed great success with the St. Louis Blues, famously guiding the franchise from last place in the standings to its first Stanley Cup title in 2019. However, after several early playoff exits and another dismissal in St. Louis, his stint in Toronto ultimately ended in disappointment.
