Top NHL insider Elliotte Friedman addresses Berube's immediate future behind the Leafs' bench

To say that this season has been a disappointment for the Maple Leafs is certainly an understatement. Currently 8-9-2 through 19 games, something has to change in order to get this team pointed in the right direction, but it does not appear to be a coaching change, according to one of the NHL's top insiders.

Despite the Maple Leafs extending their losing streak to five games, Elliotte Friedman has reported that Craig Berube is nowhere near the hot seat, and realistically, he shouldn't be.

For starters, Berube isn't even two full seasons into his contract. Coaches rarely make a meaningful impact immediately, especially when taking over a roster that spent years under one voice, in this case, Sheldon Keefe.

The Leafs needed a stabilizing presence and a long-term system reset, and Berube provides both.

Another major factor keeping Berube secure is the trust he's earned from the front office. With Brendan Shanahan gone, Keith Pelley has taken a more hands-on role and has made it clear he's leaning heavily on Berube's experience.

The veteran coach now has more input on roster decisions and day-to-day operations than Leafs coaches typically receive, a sign of how much the organization values him.

Berube's winning pedigree and proven ability to shift a team's identity are also reasons the Leafs aren't entertaining a coaching change.

While, yes, Pete DeBoer is technically available and carries a strong track record. The last thing a team as emotionally charged as the Maple Leafs need is a sudden and major change.

Reacting impulsively to a losing streak, especially with Auston Matthews out of the lineup, would only make matters worse. A sudden switch to a new coach in the middle of the season would almost certainly destabilize the group even further.

Right now, Berube is one of the few pieces the Maple Leafs can't afford to lose, and he's also someone who has shown in the past that he can take a struggling team and turn them into a Stanley Cup Champion.

Let's hope that lightning does strike twice in that regard.