New Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka said he spoke with head coach Craig Berube after being hired and referred to him in Monday’s introductory news conference as a “tremendous coach.”
“I talked to [Berube] last night… I think he’s a tremendous coach, a Stanley Cup coach and a good person," Chayka told reporters.
John Chayka says he thinks Craig Berube is a "tremendous coach."
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 4, 2026
Chayka said he and new executive senior advisor Mats Sundin will speak with Berube later this week to get his perspective and go from there. He did not address whether or not Berube will be head coach the Leafs in the 2026-27 season.
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment president Keith Pelley said after firing general manager Brad Treliving at the end of March that Berube’s future would be up to Treliving’s replacement.
Berube, who is under contract for two more seasons, guided the Leafs to a 32-36-14 record last season as they missed the playoffs. Their 78 points were their lowest 82-game total since the 2015-16 campaign when they finished with 69.
The 60-year-old Berube was hired as Sheldon Keefe’s replacement ahead of the 2024-25 season and led the Leafs to a 108-point season and a first-round playoff series victory over the Ottawa Senators. However, the Leafs were unable to hold onto a 2-0 series lead in the second round, falling to the eventual Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers in seven games, including a pair of lopsided 6-1 losses on home ice in Games 5 and 7.
Prior to his time in Toronto, Berube guided the St. Louis Blues for six seasons from 2018 to 2024, highlighted by a Stanley Cup victory in 2019.
