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Maple Leafs Fire Coach Berube After Disastrous Season

5/14/2026

29 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Leafs Fire Coach

The Toronto Maple Leafs fired head coach Craig Berube on May 13, 2026, with GM John Chayka stating the move reflects an organizational shift, not a verdict, after an 84-62-18 record and a 32-36-14 season, the league’s second-worst total.
The Leafs, dealing with captain Auston Matthews’ MCL tear and defenseman Chris Tanev’s 11-game stint, won the May 5 draft lottery and will select overall on June 26, Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg.

Summary

Vegas Fires Coach

The Vegas Golden Knights dismissed head coach Bruce Cassidy with eight games left in the 2025-26 season, creating a vacancy that requires clearing his contract.
Candidates mentioned are Denver coach David Carle, Avalanche/Islanders coach Patrick Roy, and Toronto Marlies coach John Gruden.
Vegas general manager Kelly Chayka said the hire must run a suffocating defense, with no set timeline, and the team must clear Cassidy.

Summary

Leafs Coach Dismissal

Brad Chayka and Mark Sundin met with chefs and support staff but did not seek player input before dismissing head coach Paul Berube.
The same week the Leafs announced former executive Shane Doan’s departure, the second senior figure to leave in ten days.
Chayka said the coaching search will be wide and deep, will not require NHL experience, and will consider rookie coaches.

History

Historical Context

Pat Quinn led the Maple Leafs from 1998, guiding them to conference finals in 1999 and 2002 before being dismissed in April 2006 after a missed playoff berth—the first such miss since 1998. The franchise’s pattern of frequent coaching changes continued, culminating in Craig Berube’s firing on May 13 2026. Quinn’s 574-game tenure remains one of the longest in team history.

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Leafs Fire Coach

The Toronto Maple Leafs fired head coach Craig Berube on May 13, 2026, with GM John Chayka stating the move reflects an organizational shift, not a verdict, after an 84-62-18 record and a 32-36-14 season, the league’s second-worst total.
The Leafs, dealing with captain Auston Matthews’ MCL tear and defenseman Chris Tanev’s 11-game stint, won the May 5 draft lottery and will select overall on June 26, Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg.

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