Date: May 13, 2026 l By Benson Kimberly
The Toronto Maple Leafs have officially fired head coach Craig Berube following a disastrous 2025–26 NHL season that saw the franchise miss the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade. The club announced the decision on Wednesday morning, ending Berube’s tenure after only two seasons behind the bench.
Berube, who was hired in May 2024 to replace former coach Sheldon Keefe, initially brought optimism to the organization after leading the team to a strong regular season performance during his first year. In the 2024–25 campaign, Toronto captured the Atlantic Division title with a 52–26–4 record before eventually losing to the Florida Panthers in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
However, expectations quickly collapsed during the 2025–26 season as injuries, roster instability, and defensive struggles pushed the Maple Leafs into one of the franchise’s worst declines in modern NHL history. Toronto finished the season with a disappointing 32–36–14 record, ending last in the Atlantic Division with only 78 points — a shocking 30-point drop from the previous year.
The team’s playoff drought return marked the end of the NHL’s longest active postseason streak at the time. Toronto officially missed playoff qualification in early April following a series of defeats and poor performances late in the season.
Berube’s dismissal comes amid massive organizational changes within the Maple Leafs front office. Earlier this year, the club fired general manager Brad Treliving after the team struggled throughout the season. Shortly afterward, former NHL executive John Chayka was appointed as the new general manager, while Maple Leafs legend Mats Sundin joined the organization in a senior advisory role.
The coaching change is widely viewed as part of a broader rebuilding effort aimed at restoring stability to one of hockey’s most scrutinized franchises. Analysts say the Maple Leafs organization is under enormous pressure from fans and ownership after years of postseason disappointments despite boasting star players such as Auston Matthews and William Nylander.
Toronto’s struggles this season were compounded by major injuries, including a season-ending knee injury suffered by Matthews in March after a collision against the Anaheim Ducks. Defensive problems and the offseason departure of star winger Mitch Marner also significantly weakened the club’s competitiveness throughout the campaign.
Berube, who previously guided the St. Louis Blues to their historic Stanley Cup victory in 2019, had been considered one of the NHL’s most respected veteran coaches. Before joining Toronto, he built a reputation as a tough, disciplined leader capable of transforming underperforming teams into playoff contenders.
Despite his strong coaching résumé, fan frustration grew steadily throughout the season as the Maple Leafs failed to maintain consistency. Online discussions among supporters increasingly called for major changes behind the bench and within management.
The Maple Leafs have not yet announced who will replace Berube as head coach. The organization is expected to begin a full search immediately as it prepares for a critical offseason that could determine the future direction of the franchise.