Noah Gregor on the Leafs hiring Craig Berube: ‘Sometimes in hockey, things have to change’

During an appearance on Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill, Noah Gregor was asked about the Maple Leafs making a coaching change and he said sometimes a shakeup is needed to reach the next level.

“Sheldon (Keefe) did, I think, a good job with us,” Gregor said. “I appreciated his time, but sometimes in hockey things have to change and I think Craig will come in and maybe give a different voice,” he said. “I don’t know too much about him, honestly. I don’t know many guys that had him in St. Louis, so I don’t quite know the type of coach he is in the room.”

“But I think a new voice can always help a team.”

Although his future in Toronto remains uncertain as a contract extension is far from a guarantee despite being an RFA, Gregor was very complimentary of the Leafs organization and enjoyed playing with the team last season.  He may not know Berube well or have a lot of insight into what type of coach he is behind the scenes, but Gregor recognizes the importance of having a different voice behind the bench can sometimes bring out the best in a team.

All of which is to say that he would certainly be open to returning to the Leafs if it is possible. Of course, Brad Treliving will have the final say as he needs to prioritize his other pending free agents and identify other areas of need before determining what to do with Gregor.

It is far from official at the time of writing but the early signs are suggesting that his time with the organization could be coming to an end and he will have to look for a new home. Judging by today’s appearance on Leafs Morning Take, he won’t have to wait too long to land another opportunity if that is the case because he has the right attitude and seems to be a well-liked guy in the locker room.

Originally signed to a PTO before inking a one-year contract out of training camp, Gregor recorded 12 points (six goals and six assists) in 63 games while playing almost exclusively on the fourth line apart from a brief stint on the top line with Auston Matthews. He went on to play in two playoff contests this spring where he went scoreless.