Craig Berube's Year One Numbers with the Maple Leafs Deserve Attention

While a lot of attention was placed on the Maple Leafs' core players and their inability to advance further in the post-season, a lot of people have completely overlooked about some of the good that took place in 2024-25, like Craig Berube's debut season.

The fiery head coach was a hiring that came with a lot of praise and hype after 5 years with Sheldon Keefe behind the bench. Berube's tough style, north-south system and abrasive approach at times was exactly what the Maple Leafs needed.

It's safe to say, his first season in the books was a success, despite falling to the Florida Panthers in the second round of the playoffs. In fact, he toppled a lot of records that had not been broken or touched in franchise history in a very long time.

The Leafs' 52-26-4 record was enough to capture their first division title since 1999-00, outside of their North Division crown during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season. Additionally, the 52 wins were the most by a first-year head coach as well.

The list keeps going with Berube notching the most playoff wins as a head coach in a single post-season since 2002 with 7 as they took the eventual Stanley Cup champions to 7 games, which no other team came close to doing.

The Leafs were also a top-10 team for 5-on-5 expected goals per 60 minutes, had one of the better goal differentials at +38, an improved penalty kill that was in the top-half of the league, and a GAA that was 8th best at 2.79 per game.

Berube was able to change the style of the Maple Leafs rather quickly, and at times, had his team playing some dominant hockey.

While several changes were made this off-season, you can make the argument that the players coming in are more tailored to Berube's style of play, which should only be a benefit for the Leafs, despite the fact that there are many who believe they will fall short this season again.

With a team more suited for his system in 2025-26, there's a really good chance that the Leafs will be just as dangerous as they were in 2024-25, and possibly even better, despite the loss of Mitch Marner this summer.