The Toronto Maple Leafs have parted ways with head coach Craig Berube after the team missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
The move comes after the hiring of new general manager John Chayka earlier this month.
“Craig is a tremendous coach and an even better person,” said Chayka. “This decision is more reflective of an organizational shift and an opportunity for a fresh start than it is an evaluation of Craig. We are grateful for his leadership, professionalism and commitment to the Maple Leafs organization and wish Craig and his family nothing but the best moving forward.”
The Maple Leafs added the next head coach would “determine the makeup of the remainder of the coaching staff.”
Berube wad made aware of his dismissal on Wednesday morning after spending “several hours” with Chaya and Mats Sundin, the newly named Senior Executive Advisor of Hockey Operations, discussing all aspects of the roster, according to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger.
Berube got the call this morning after spending several hours with Chayka and Sundin on Saturday discussing all aspects of the roster. Leafs management wanting to start with a clean slate. https://t.co/leAUYWQMtZ
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) May 13, 2026
TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports Berube still has two years remaining on his contract that will pay him $4.5 million per season, an amount the Leafs will need to pay Berube unless he finds another job.
Berube coached two seasons in Toronto, going 84-62-18 and winning the Atlantic Division in 2024-25.
Berube had two more years on his deal paying him $4.5M per so the Leafs still on the hook for that unless Berube gets hired elsewhere. https://t.co/f81UHEtKjH
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 13, 2026
The Maple Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators in six games in the first round of the 2025 NHL playoffs and then fell the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in seven games, including a disastrous 6-1 loss on home ice in Game 7.
Toronto took a giant step back this season, finishing last in the division with a 32-36-14 record.
The Maple Leafs’ fortunes turned around last week after winning the NHL Draft Lottery with odds of 8.5 per cent.
Chayka and the Maple Leafs own the top overall pick for June’s NHL Draft and have the opportunity to select top forward prospect Gavin McKenna.
Prior to joining the Maple Leafs, Berube coached the St. Louis Blues for six seasons, leading the franchise to their first Stanley Cup championship in their history in 2019.
Berube has a career 365-252-90 record split between the Philadelphia Flyers, Blues, and Maple Leafs.
The Calahoo, Alta., native also played 17 seasons in the NHL and was known as one of the toughest figures in the game.
Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Flyers in 1986, Berube registered 61 goals and 159 points in 1,054 career games split between the Flyers, Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals, and New York Islanders.
He racked up 3,149 penalty minutes during his career, which places his seventh all-time.
