Report suggests Maple Leafs have already selected Craig Berube's replacement behind the bench in Toronto
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
An unexpected report suggests that the Maple Leafs have selected Craig Berube's replacement and a coaching change could happen very shortly.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have some ground to make up if they hope to make the playoffs this season, and according to one Maple Leafs reporter, they may be nearing a coaching change to help turn things around.
This week, it was revealed that Craig Berube is highly unlikely to be fired, given the lofty salary he is still owed on his Maple Leafs contract if they do opt to relieve him of his duties.
Oh how quickly things can change.
Howard Berger tells readers to expect the Leafs to fire Berube and hire Peter DeBoer next week
Controversial Leafs reporter Howard Berger has revealed in a report on Saturday that he expects the Maple Leafs to name Peter DeBoer the 41st coach in franchise history as early as next week.
Berger is the first reporter to suggest that DeBoer is expected to be hired by the Leafs next week, but we have yet to hear this from any of the NHL's top insiders, so at the moment, the report should be taken with a grain of salt.
However, having said that, a coaching change does make sense for the Leafs if they are pondering a top-to-bottom rebuild. Making a change behind the bench first to see if they can right the ship before committing to a full rebuild is the best plan, because the team cannot afford to be wrong.
If the Leafs were to move out players like Auston Matthews and William Nylander, those are not players that are easily replaceable if they have second thoughts. However, if a new coach can come in and help turn the Leafs' season around, it can extend the contention window with Matthews and Nylander still in their primes in Toronto and avoid a potentially costly error.
DeBoer is currently working with Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper on Team Canada's coaching staff for the upcoming 2026 Olympic Games.
He last coached in the NHL during the 2024-25 season with the Dallas Stars, losing in the Western Conference Finals to the Edmonton Oilers. DeBoer's Stars made the Conference Finals in each of his 3 seasons behind the bench in Dallas. He has also been to the Stanley Cup Finals twice in his career, with the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 20 | 1306 ANSWERS Report suggests Maple Leafs have already selected Craig Berube's replacement behind the bench in Toronto Do you think the Leafs will actually fire Craig Berube and hire Peter DeBoer next week? | ||
| Yes | 606 | 46.4 % |
| No | 700 | 53.6 % |
| List of polls | ||