It didn’t take long for the Toronto Maple Leafs to find their new head coach.
Craig Berube was named coach of the Original Six franchise Friday night, the team announced. The deal is for four years.
The St. Louis Blues fired Berube just 28 games into the 2023-24 NHL season after going 13-14-1. The 58-year-old led the Blues to a Stanley Cup Final win in Game 7 against the Boston Bruins in 2019, and helped St. Louis to the playoffs the following three seasons.
Fanatics Sportsbook
10X$100 BONUS BET
BET MATCH BONUS
Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, KY ,MD, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV); (888) 789-7777 or ccpg.org (CT); 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA); (800) 327-5050 or gamblinghelpline.org (MA), mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1800gambler.net (WV)
Berube also spent two seasons with as the Philadelphia Flyers coach from 2013-15, but never made a postseason appearance under his tenure.
The Maple Leafs fired Sheldon Keefe after four-plus seasons earlier this month after another first-round exit in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. While Toronto reached the playoffs in each of Keefe’s seasons behind the bench, they got out of the first round once out of four opportunities.
Keefe had two years remaining on the contract extension he signed in August, which wouldn’t have become official until the 2024-25 NHL season.
The expected Berube move is the first of what’s sure to be a busy offseason for the Maple Leafs. John Tavares and Mitch Marner are eligible for extensions beginning July 1, and Toronto could also use come help upgrading their goalie position.
