Chayka sees opportunity for ‘fresh start’ after Berube firing

TORONTO — Leafs general manager John Chayka held a media availability at the Ford Performance Centre on Wednesday.

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Craig Berube is out as Maple Leafs coach.

It’s the first major move made by general manager John Chayka and senior executive advisor Mats Sundin since being hired to lead the front office on May 3.

“We didn’t make this decision in a vacuum,” Chayka said. “This is a bigger-picture decision, and it’s not just about a coach. Mats and I spent the last 10 days or so meeting with everyone from the chefs to talking to some of the players and everything in between. I just feel like there’s some things that we need to change and do better and be better, and certainly that starts with Mats and myself at the top, with [MLSE president and CEO] Keith [Pelley] and the board, aligned on a vision and a path ahead."

Chayka declined to say specifically what the organization can do better.

“Today is about the coaches,” he said. “I still haven’t met with everybody fully, not for lack of effort. It’s a big staff and a big team and at the right time we should have that discussion, but not today.”

Chayka says he did not solicit opinions about Berube from the players he spoke with.

“The only things I heard about Craig were that they re-emphasized the type of person he is and how much they enjoy being around him,” Chayka added.

In a statement issued earlier in the day, Chayka said the move “is more reflective of an organizational shift and an opportunity for a fresh start than it is an evaluation of Craig.”

In Berube’s first season behind the bench, the Leafs finished first in the Atlantic Division for the first time. Toronto beat the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the playoffs before pushing the eventual champion Florida Panthers to seven games. It was the longest playoff run for the franchise in the Auston Matthews era.

But the second season under Berube saw the Leafs decline by 30 points in the standings, which was the largest year-to-year drop in franchise history. Toronto finished fifth last in the standings and had the worst record in the NHL (5-15-5) after the Olympic break.

Chayka and Sundin met with Berube in person on Saturday before making the decision on his future on Tuesday.

“He’s a great man, very good coach,” said Chayka. “Did a lot of good things here. That’s not lost on me. I told him [that] I hope to lead with the same class and grace that he did in his time here.”

Berube was two years into a four-year contract.

A decision on the rest of the coaching staff, including assistants Derek Lalonde, Mike Van Ryn and Steve Sullivan, will be determined by the new head coach.

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There is no timeline to hire a new coach.

“There’s key milestones that are coming up,” Chayka said. “And so, certainly, running an efficient process matters, but we’re going to take our time and do a very wide search and talk to a lot of people ... It’s the most critical decision as a general manager.”

What is Chayka looking for in the next coach of the Leafs?

“Out of respect for the process and the candidates I don’t want to get into that today,” he said.

Is there a certain way Chayka wants the team to play regardless of the coach?

“That’s a good discussion,” he said. “I think regardless of who the coach is, we should have an organizational vision on how we play and the things we value, and then certainly through that process align on it. So, again, I think it’s best not to discuss all that today and not to bias the process.”

Toronto is a unique market, which will play a factor in the search.

“As a general point, yeah, I think experience, certainly experience in the NHL in larger markets, could be an asset and will be weighed, but I wouldn’t discount anything at this time,” Chayka said.

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What impact did the future of Matthews have on the Berube decision?

“None,” Chayka stressed. “Zero.”

TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston has reported that Toronto’s captain, who has two years remaining on his current contract, isn’t sure if he’ll be back in Toronto in the fall.

Chayka and Matthews are expected to have a meeting in the coming weeks.

“Auston’s an accomplished player that is world class and I think he wants to align on the vision and the strategy ahead, as do we,” Chayka said. “And so I don’t think there’s any type of competing interest. I think it’s about getting on the same page.”

Chayka shared some insight as to why the face-to-face with Matthews has not happened yet.

“It was important for me to get a good lay of the land in terms of our internal workings and what we had in place here,” Chayka explained. “I wanted to make sure we had all of the knowledge we could possibly have so that when we sit down, we can have the best discussion.”

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The Leafs announced the Berube news while the Toronto Marlies held a practice at the Ford Performance Centre.

“Unfortunately, that’s part of the business,” said rookie winger Easton Cowan who played 66 games with the Leafs this season before being assigned to the Marlies for the American Hockey League playoffs. “Obviously we had a tough year.”

“It’s unfortunate,” echoed Marlies coach John Gruden. “It’s part of the business. He was great to work with. He was great to work with. Our staff, he was always there for us. He’s a great hockey coach.”

The Marlies have advanced to the AHL’s North Division Final amid all the off-ice organizational changes. Gruden has yet to meet with Chayka beyond receiving some congratulatory texts.

“It’s not a distraction whatsoever,” Gruden insisted. “At the end of the day, [the playoff run is] a sanctuary for us. We get to still go on the ice and do what we all love to do and be excited about it.”

If anything, the coaching change may provide the players even more motivation.

“Someone new is coming in,” Cowan noted. “They’re probably watching, whoever it is, so keep competing, keep playing my game leading into the summer, [and then] have a good summer and be ready for camp.”

Marlies centre Bo Groulx experienced a management change earlier in his career with the Anaheim Ducks when Pat Verbeek replaced Bob Murray.

“It’s hard at first, especially for the young guys that got drafted by the old management,” said Groulx, who played 13 games for the Leafs late in the season. “But, at the same time, it’s a new opportunity for a breath of fresh air. If you look at Anaheim, their turnover period was probably two, three years and right now they’re probably one of the best teams in the league. If the same thing is going to happen with us, I’m sure they’re going to be thrilled.”

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The departure of Mitch Marner played a role in Toronto’s decline this season as former general manager Brad Treliving struggled to replace what the playmaking winger brought to the roster.

Entering Wednesday, Marner leads the Stanley Cup playoffs in scoring with 16 points in 11 games as the Golden Knights have moved within one game of advancing to the Western Conference final. Marner never produced at this rate in the playoffs in Toronto.

Former Leafs defenceman Jake Gardiner believes the intense scrutiny in the Toronto market is a significant issue working against the team.

“It’s definitely a disadvantage,” the 35-year-old told TSN. “I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t. I went to Carolina and, you know, you don’t get the same coverage that you do in Toronto. Obviously it’s a smaller market but, at the same time, the fans are super passionate. Great place to play.”

After spending eight seasons with the Leafs, Gardiner finished his career with two years in Raleigh with the Hurricanes.

“It is more challenging to win [in Toronto],” Gardiner said. “You know, as much as you can say you don’t listen to the outside noise, it’s in front of you every day.”

Near the end of his Toronto tenure, Gardiner heard boos from some Leafs fans at home games.

“When you’re in it, it feels like the world’s caving in on you a bit,” he recalled. “It’s really hard to think about at the time, but what matters most is how your teammates view you, how your coaching staff views you. And it’s tough. It’s tough to do that at the time.”

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Gardiner was back around the Leafs during the Mentors Trip late in the season when he was invited to be a guest of Morgan Rielly.

“It was really fun spending time with the guys,” the Minnesota native said. “I got to ride on the team bus to the pre-game skate. Of course, I rode at the back of the bus with Morgan and Johnny [Tavares] and Willy [Nylander] and those guys. Unfortunately, Auston was hurt at the time, but just fun to be a part of that culture again. I think most guys say once they get out of hockey that’s what they miss most, and so that was fun to get back to doing that.”

The season ended with questions about Rielly’s future with the longest-serving Leaf acknowledging he may have played his last game with the team that drafted him fifth overall in 2012.

“He’s obviously got a young son at home who’s the cutest kid in the world,” said Gardiner, who is a father of four. “Once you have kids, it puts things into perspective. I know it has been a tough year... He’s doing well. You know, he’s still a heck of a player. Media can be tough in Toronto, but I know he’s got a lot of years left in him and he’s a heck of a player.”

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The Leafs won both games during the Mentors Trip.

“I was telling Morgan, I’m like, ‘Hey, I don’t think we want to win these games right now,’” Gardiner said with a laugh. “‘There’s a lot on the line here.’”

As it turns out, the Leafs finished exactly where they needed to as Toronto won the NHL draft lottery.

“Having that first-overall draft pick I think will help in bringing the vibes up a little in the locker room,” Gardiner said.

Gardiner was on the Leafs the last time the franchise won the draft lottery. It was a much-needed boost after the team finished dead last during the 2015-16 season.

“The year that we, essentially, tanked was one of the worst years to be a part of,” Gardiner said. “It was not fun at all. And I’m sure that’s what those guys were going through this year, unfortunately. But I do remember when we got Matthews or when we got the first-overall pick, which was slated for Matthews, I was fist pumping in my buddy’s house. It’s a big deal. I mean, it can turn around a franchise as you saw when we got Matts.

“It’s a big deal, whether that’s Gavin McKenna or [someone] else. I don’t even know who’s supposed to be the top couple picks, but Gavin McKenna is an impressive player and he can turn the market around pretty quickly.”

And as tough as Toronto can be at times, it can also be an amazing place to play.

“When it’s going great, it’s going great,” Gardiner said. “So [hopefully] they can get that back on track.”