Necessary and overdue.
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Maple Leafs fans share their thoughts on the firing of Craig Berube
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
May 14, 2026, 08:00 EDTUpdated: May 14, 2026, 01:16 EDT
The Toronto Maple Leafs‘ decision to fire head coach Craig Berube was a move that was not all that surprising to those who saw how poorly the team performed this past season.
This move came far too late in the context of trying to salvage the 2025-26 campaign, but it is a necessary move to chart a new course. By no means were the shortcomings this past season solely at the hands of Berube, but his tactical approach and lacklustre adjustments did not do them any favours when things started going south. Near the end of his tenure, he was out of answers and resorted to placing the blame squarely on the players rather than taking accountability for his shortcomings.
The dismissal of Berube puts an end to the failed experiment of the brief but memorable ‘snot’ era. It marks the dawn of a new era where they will play a style that better aligns with the players assembled and the vision John Chayka has for the team. It remains to be seen at the time of filing who exactly will be the successor, but it has nonetheless further reignited a dormant portion of fans who grew weary of the direction the team was going.
That’s why we asked you on social media to share your thoughts on the Leafs’ decision to move on from Berube. Without further delay, here are the highlights!
The consensus among fans was that this move was a necessary one because of how bad things went for the team this past season. It can also be seen as long overdue because some were calling Berube’s future into question as early as November and never really went away. While they can’t fix the mistake of not firing him sooner, they have finally cut bait.
Only made sense. start fresh and bring in a coach with a mindset of puck possession
It was clear from the moment Chayka was announced as GM that his vision was not going to mesh well with the way Berube wants his team to play. The underlying metrics were abysmal in his two years behind the bench and were a key factor in why the Leafs gave up the second-most goals in the league behind only the Vancouver Canucks. Changes were needed and this is a significant one.
We knew it was coming. He seemed to run out of ideas.
While Berube thought he would be brought back during his end-of-season presser, the body language and what he said in the weeks prior told another story. There were no meaningful adjustments made, his lineup choices were uninspired, and the playstyle became both predictable and nauseating to watch.
Berube is a Stanley Cup-winning coach, and no one can take that away from him. With that being said, the final years of his time with the St. Louis Blues were similar to how his final season with the Leafs went. The star players, notably Auston Matthews, saw a massive decline in scoring and were not utilized in a way that best fit their strengths. While they have respect for Berube as a person, it became clear by the end that the players didn’t jive with the message from their coach.
He wasn't the issue.
— Chris Beynon (@cbeynon.bsky.social) 2026-05-13T15:21:14.160Z
A small fraction of fans felt that Berube was not the reason for the Leafs’ struggles, with a few going as far as to suggest that they are making a mistake firing him. While the players do have to be held accountable for the shortcomings and why they are going this route, it was clear that a change had to be made and the easiest one to make is replacing the coach.
Never should have hired him
Berube is a good coach, but it’s hard to argue that perhaps he was not the right fit for the roster and the playstyle that works best for the collection of talent. It certainly bred good results in Berube’s first season, but things got so bad in the second year that it warranted a seismic change at the midway mark of his deal.
A great step, but the hardest part is next.
— Pyrophorus (@pyrophorus.bsky.social) 2026-05-13T17:31:19.987Z
Now that Berube has been shown the door, the next step is to find a successor who better aligns with the vision Chayka has for the direction of the team. He didn’t tip his hand on what he is looking for in his next coach, but he did specify that having prior experience and specifically in big markets was an asset. Regardless of who they decide on, there is a good chance that this next coach will preach maintaining possession and generating quality scoring chances which is certainly a breath of fresh air after two years of Berube hockey.
We want to hear from you: what are your thoughts on the Leafs firing Craig Berube?
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