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John Chayka Maple Leafs

New Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka explained why he decided to fire Craig Berube as the team’s head coach on Wednesday.

Chayka was hired last week as the new Leafs GM and, along with new senior advisor Mats Sundin, made the tough decision to fire Berube after two years as the Maple Leafs’ head coach. The Leafs won the Atlantic Division in Berube’s first year behind the bench before finishing in last place in the division this year and missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade.

John Chayka Explains Decision to Fire John Chayka

Speaking to reporters, including Chris Johnston, on Wednesday afternoon after Berube was canned, Chayka explained his reasons for firing the coach.

“This is a bigger-picture decision, and it’s not just about a coach. Mats and I have … (been) meeting with everyone from the chefs to talking to some of the players, and everything in between, and I just feel like there’s some things that we need to change and do better,” Chayka said.

When Chayka was asked if the future captain Auston Matthews played any sort of factor in the decision to let go of Berube, the Leafs’ new GM said Matthews had nothing to do with it.

“None. Zero,” Chayka quipped.

Who Will The Maple Leafs Hire Next?

The Maple Leafs will now embark on a search for the team’s next coaching hire. According to Chayka, the Maple Leafs are in no rush to hire anyone. The team is going to take their time to make sure they hire the right person, and Chayka admitted that the decision on who he decides to hire as the new Leafs’ head coach is going to be the first important one in his tenure as the Maple Leafs’ new general manager.

“We’ll have a thorough process. It’ll be a wide search. We’ll take our time, try to get it right. It’s the most critical decision as the general manager.”

Bruce Cassidy, the former head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights, who won a Stanley Cup in 2023, is likely someone the team will at least talk to about their vacant head coaching position. Cassidy is said to be a candidate for a potential opening behind the Edmonton Oilers’ bench, though the Golden Knights are reportedly blocking the Oilers from hiring him, as he is still technically under contract and being paid by the Golden Knights. But if the Maple Leafs were interested, the Golden Knights would surely let them talk to Cassidy, as they play in the other conference.

Other potential head coaching candidates could include Anaheim Ducks assistant coach Jay Woodcroft, Abbotsford Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra, and David Carle, the head coach at the University of Denver. These are all some of the top coaching candidates on the market right now, so look for Toronto to speak to all of them as they canvas the land for the team’s new leader behind the bench for this season and beyond.