Chayka declined to specify the areas that require change beyond the coach. He met with Berube over the weekend and emphasized the decision was not a reflection on his coaching ability despite the Maple Leafs allowing 3.60 goals per game this season, 31st in the NHL.
“He’s a great man, a very good coach and did a lot of good things here,” Chayka said. “That’s not lost on me. I told (him) I hoped to lead with the same class and grace that he did in his time here. Moving forward, we felt like after reviewing the organization and spending some time in the facility meeting with staff, we felt like this was the right decision on the path ahead.
“It was an organizational decision. It was not a verdict on Craig’s coaching. I think it stands for itself. We felt this was the right decision at this time.”
The Maple Leafs (32-36-14) ended the season 0-6-1 to finish last in the Atlantic Division, 15th in the Eastern Conference, and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2016-17. Last season, they won the Atlantic with 108 points (52-26-4) and defeated the Ottawa Senators in six games in the Eastern Conference First Round before losing the second round to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in seven. Toronto has twice advanced past the opening round of the playoffs since 2004 and is without a Stanley Cup championship since 1967.
Sundin was named senior executive adviser, hockey operations, and Chayka GM, on May 3 after Brad Treliving was fired March 30.
The Maple Leafs will conduct a thorough search for a new coach and that there is no timeline on that decision. The main priority will be to ensure the vision set by the management group fits with the style the coach will want to play.
“I think we are going to start very wide and talk to as many people as we can with varying backgrounds,” Chayka said. “As a general point, I think experience in the NHL in larger markets can be an asset and will be weighed, but I would not discount anything at this time.
“We will take our time and try to get it right. It’s the most critical decision as a general manager. 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. I think it’s best not to discuss all that today and bias the process.”
Chayka intends to meet Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews in person at some point during the offseason. The forward was lost for the rest of the regular season with a grade 3 MCL tear and quad contusion in his left leg sustained in a knee-on-knee collision with Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas in a 6-4 win at Scotiabank Arena on March 12. Gudas was suspended five games by the NHL Department of Player Safety.
Input from current players on Berube was not solicited, Chayka said, and that the decision to fire him had nothing to do with Matthews’ future in Toronto beyond the two seasons he has remaining on a four-year, $53 million contract he signed Aug. 23, 2023.
“None, zero,” Chayka said.
“The only things I heard about Craig were that they reemphasized the type of person he is and how much they enjoyed being around him, as I know that’s been his credibility as a player and as a coach now. So, that did not weigh in at all.”
Berube was an analyst with Turner Sports after getting fired by the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 12, 2023. He’s 34-37 in 71 playoff games and 365-252-90 in 707 regular-season games with the Philadelphia Flyers, Blues and Maple Leafs, guiding St. Louis to the Stanley Cup in 2019 after taking over for Mike Yeo on Nov. 20, 2018.
Berube is the fifth coach to be fired this season. Rick Bowness was hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets to replace Dean Evason on Jan. 12, D.J. Smith took over the Los Angeles Kings after Jim Hiller was fired March 1, John Tortorella replaced Bruce Cassidy with the Vegas Golden Knights on March 29, and Peter DeBoer was hired by the New York Islanders after they fired Patrick Roy on April 5.