Confirmed with Link: Craig Berube named the 32nd Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs

[DraftSchmaft]

Dubas wasn’t all that well known when Shanahan hired him but somewhat popular online and via analytics circles as hockey was looking for its own version of Moneyball, Theo Epstein, etc.

At the time it looked like Shanahan was looking at the next generation of managers at the junior level, which included Mark Hunter, Kyle Dubas and Kelly McCrimmon out of Brandon.

To say Dubas was the hot executive prospect at the time is a bit of a false notion. That’s not really a thing at all and not how GM’s and executives are brought along in the sport.

Dubas was definitely seen as a potential next big thing for Clubs all around the league back in 2014. You might need to dig up the archives to re-gain perspective. A lot of teams wanted to sign him.

The focus wasn't just on GM capabilities. Dubas had an overall skillset that could help many departments throughout the entire organization. I don't like him as a GM today....keep him away from roster decisions, but his Operations Management skills are elite and he knows how to build development systems from scratch. In 2014 they weren't bringing him in to be GM, they valued this overall skillset.

I like knowing we have a President that is a lock to get any personnel he desires when we have an opening. Shanny always desires the most sought after names that become available. Perhaps he has help via the Prestige to be gained winning for Toronto, but if Shanny points his finger at you and says "you're a Leaf now", that person is most likely going to be working for the Leafs. Not many other Presidents can pull that off.

 

[Nineteen67]

I like the idea that Berube might be a harder person to let down and face in the room after a country club atmosphere. Keefe just didn’t have that kind of a presence. A change was needed.

Also, Treliving comes across as very eloquent, compassionate and diligent without being performative about it. Impressing me as a workmanlike GM. No ego.

You shouldnt be playing to not let down your coach.You should be playing for yourself and your teammates.

 

[Nineteen67]

Hyman was never used the way he is now when he was with the Leafs.
Kadri was getting better but his problem in the playoffs was being available for the team as he kept getting suspended.
You have to put into context.
As for our big four, it is not like they didn’t have PP, not like they didn’t have chance to shoot the puck. They choked bc they just don’t have it in them collectively to do it. I think it has been too long that when they are close to winning a series or game, they will find ways to lose it, as their mentality is-someone or something will cause us to lose the series instead of we can do this.
We can blame the coach all we want and I agree Keefe was not a good playoffs coach but to say that the top guys didn’t perform bc of Keefe and a new coach will get them going is wishful thinking at best.
For some reason you are married to the idea that the core 5 will win the Leafs a Cup or two instead of Leafs winning a Cup or two regardless who the players are.
If MM and JT are gone from the Leafs, potentially Leafs can sign Tanev(4.5mil), Pesce(5mil), Toffoli(4.5mil) and Marchessault(8mil) as their replacements.
I will bet that most if not all GMs would choose Tanev, Pesce, Toffoli and Marchessault over JT and MM.
and you can’t honestly tell me having this lineup
Bert-AM-Marchessault
Knies-Domi-Wilie
Calle-Holmberg-Toffoli
Dewar-Kampf-Revo

Reilly-Tanev
McCabe-Pesce
Beniot-Edmundson

Woll
Jones

Is not better and give you a better chance to win the Cup then

Bert-AM-Domi
Knies-JT-MM
Calle-Holmberg-Willie
Dewar-Kampf-Revo

Reilly-Liily
McCabe-Beniot
Edmundson-Timmins

Woll
Jones

They don’t need 33 and 34 yo that are nearing the end of their careers. And they certainly cannot afford to get any slower.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Anyone being serious about Quennville being hired here IMO has no idea how the world works. He might come back to the NHL some day, it won't be in the biggest media market I promise that. It would be some conservative southern small market.

 

[Stephen]

You shouldnt be playing to not let down your coach.You should be playing for yourself and your teammates.

We have no idea what makes these guys tick.

 

[Gabriel426]

They don’t need 33 and 34 yo that are nearing the end of their careers. And they certainly cannot afford to get any slower.

Need players that can come in and help the team win regardless of age.
There is no 3-4 yrs plan for the Leafs.
They should be Cup or Bust from now on. Thats the mentality they need to have.

Not the respect in handshake line or this is a good lessons bs that they boys had been on about and probably believe it.

 

[colchar]

Dubas was definitely seen as a potential next big thing for Clubs all around the league back in 2014. You might need to dig up the archives to re-gain perspective. A lot of teams wanted to sign him.

Got proof?

The focus wasn't just on GM capabilities. Dubas had an overall skillset that could help many departments throughout the entire organization. I don't like him as a GM today....keep him away from roster decisions, but his Operations Management skills are elite and he knows how to build development systems from scratch. In 2014 they weren't bringing him in to be GM, they valued this overall skillset.

I like knowing we have a President that is a lock to get any personnel he desires when we have an opening.

Yeah he really did a great job landing McCrimmon eh?

Shanny always desires the most sought after names that become available.

He desires sought after names? Yeah, so does the rest of the league. Why does desiring something impress you so much?

Perhaps he has help via the Prestige to be gained winning for Toronto, but if Shanny points his finger at you and says "you're a Leaf now", that person is most likely going to be working for the Leafs. Not many other Presidents can pull that off.

You're f***ing delusional.

 

[Tak7]

Although I am happy with the Treliving/Berube direction, I think you are onto something and it terrifies me.

Whatever idea is the idea of the day, when Shanny likes it, it becomes the only idea. This is supposed to mean we are focused, and not directionless, but it actually makes manage, t closed-minded and inflexible.

This is, in a nutshell, exactly what I was trying to say.

The lack of a proper long term vision or plan or philosophy surrounding the organization, is worrisome. They feel like a group that is very much making this up as they go along.

Was speaking to a Bruins buddy of mine a few weeks ago, and he was talking about the idea that despite who is GM or coach of the team, the Bruins have that identity of how they want to play, build, and manage. A clear vision and philosophy.

...I just don't see that here, which is what makes it even more baffling that the man responsible for that lack of foresight is still in the job.

 

[Evilhomer]

This is, in a nutshell, exactly what I was trying to say.

The lack of a proper long term vision or plan or philosophy surrounding the organization, is worrisome. They feel like a group that is very much making this up as they go along.

Was speaking to a Bruins buddy of mine a few weeks ago, and he was talking about the idea that despite who is GM or coach of the team, the Bruins have that identity of how they want to play, build, and manage. A clear vision and philosophy.

...I just don't see that here, which is what makes it even more baffling that the man responsible for that lack of foresight is still in the job.

What I see is a franchise that mostly doesn't like risk. The reality is, were it not for Dubas' own actions he would almost certainly still be the GM here.

 

[Tak7]

What I see is a franchise that mostly doesn't like risk. The reality is, were it not for Dubas' own actions he would almost certainly still be the GM here.

They are basically the opposite of Vegas.

The Knights have built a reputation of being ruthless in pursuit of success, even if that means upsetting some people / players along the way.

The Leafs are a first class organization when it comes to how they treat their own people - but you really start to question whether they need to tip that scale more in the direction of where Vegas is, rather than making sure everything thinks you treat them properly.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

We, like almost every team in pro hockey, have some really DUMB guys running things .. most are loaded to da nines in character which is exactly what we have in Shanny Tre and Berube .. so you will see a Leaf team built on character .. current analytics is still 20 + years away from being at a point where it becomes truly useful as it will eventually build things like character into its equations .. but single biggest issue right now is PLAYOFF hockey vs regular season hockey which are 2 completely different games played on same ice .. it is very very very difficult to build a team to do well in both types of games

 

[Evilhomer]

We, like almost every team in pro hockey, have some really DUMB guys running things .. most are loaded to da nines in character which is exactly what we have in Shanny Tre and Berube .. so you will see a Leaf team built on character .. current analytics is still 20 + years away from being at a point where it becomes truly useful as it will eventually build things like character into its equations .. but single biggest issue right now is PLAYOFF hockey vs regular season hockey which are 2 completely different games played on same ice .. it is very very very difficult to build a team to do well in both types of games

Three of the four remaining teams were division winners. They have somehow figured out how to play well in both the regular season and the playoffs, and they are all built differently. The reality is that there is no single unique way to build a winning team. It comes down to the ability of the players to perform in the moment.

 

[Mess]

We have no idea what makes these guys tick.

We have some idea

Top 12 highest paid players in the league 2024-25.

Hard to argue team success and winning the Cup is the highest priority in a Salary Cap World.

 

[rumman]

We have no idea what makes these guys tick.

 

[Lightsol]

Three of the four remaining teams were division winners. They have somehow figured out how to play well in both the regular season and the playoffs, and they are all built differently. The reality is that there is no single unique way to build a winning team. It comes down to the ability of the players to perform in the moment.

The Leafs have sucked in the playoffs due to two major reasons: 1) BAD goaltending costing them games, and 2) Keefe changing how he wants the team to play once they hit the playoffs.

I'm hoping that rather than having them play one way in the regular season and then try to change to "playoff hockey", Berube will have them play one way all the time.

 

[Stephen]

The Leafs have sucked in the playoffs due to two major reasons: 1) BAD goaltending costing them games, and 2) Keefe changing how he wants the team to play once they hit the playoffs.

I'm hoping that rather than having them play one way in the regular season and then try to change to "playoff hockey", Berube will have them play one way all the time.

Agreed. The regular season has to be a runway for the playoffs with the same roles, metrics of success, buy in levels, expectations. There’s often a belief that the two seasons are different sports, but I find this is rooted in new age over thinking it. The play style in the regular season can’t be that stylistically opposite to playoff hockey. Either you’re a responsible, two way and heavy team and comfortable in that role, or have the balls to go full throttle offense and don’t you dare take the foot off the gas. Can’t be one and then the other.

 

[Evilhomer]

The Leafs have sucked in the playoffs due to two major reasons: 1) BAD goaltending costing them games, and 2) Keefe changing how he wants the team to play once they hit the playoffs.

I'm hoping that rather than having them play one way in the regular season and then try to change to "playoff hockey", Berube will have them play one way all the time.

I think it's interesting that everyone glosses over the second Tampa series in these discussions. Does anyone think it's an accident that the Leafs' star players, to a man, all had excellent offensive numbers in that series, and generally only that series? Keefe's coaching didn't change in that series. The difference was that the Leafs had time and space, and Tampa's penalty killing and goaltending were mostly atrocious. When time and space is taken away from these guys, they struggle to produce offense. Maybe there is a coaching system that can change that outcome, but ultimately it's on these players to perform when performing isn't as easy.

 

[IPS]

The Leafs have sucked in the playoffs due to two major reasons: 1) BAD goaltending costing them games, and 2) Keefe changing how he wants the team to play once they hit the playoffs.

I'm hoping that rather than having them play one way in the regular season and then try to change to "playoff hockey", Berube will have them play one way all the time.

How bout: 3) the core's play style has zero carry over to the playoffs. Goaltending didn't cost them shit this last series, you're not gonna score more than 2 f***ing goals a game I don't wanna hear anything about goaltending.

There is no "changing to playoff hockey", the core just hates physical grinding tough hockey so that's why their production drops off a cliff come postseason time.

 

[francis246]

I think it's interesting that everyone glosses over the second Tampa series in these discussions. Does anyone think it's an accident that the Leafs' star players, to a man, all had excellent offensive numbers in that series, and generally only that series? Keefe's coaching didn't change in that series. The difference was that the Leafs had time and space, and Tampa's penalty killing and goaltending were mostly atrocious. When time and space is taken away from these guys, they struggle to produce offense. Maybe there is a coaching system that can change that outcome, but ultimately it's on these players to perform when performing isn't as easy.

Leafs didn’t have time and space, a ton of their goals were point shot deflections, the biggest difference is that Toronto was getting in front of Vasi and making it hard for him to see the puck. Why that strategy was not continued against Florida or in this series this year against Boston is beyond me

 

[IPS]

Leafs didn’t have time and space, a ton of their goals were point shot deflections, the biggest difference is that Toronto was getting in front of Vasi and making it hard for him to see the puck. Why that strategy was not continued against Florida or in this series this year against Boston is beyond me

Tampa is the one team that our core has managed to pop off and really produce good numbers against in the playoffs. Maybe it's just their defensive structure or something but the core seemed to know how take advantage of their mistakes.

Columbus, Montreal, Boston, Florida all had us playing garbage perimeter hockey.

 

[BayStBullies]

Leafs didn’t have time and space, a ton of their goals were point shot deflections, the biggest difference is that Toronto was getting in front of Vasi and making it hard for him to see the puck. Why that strategy was not continued against Florida or in this series this year against Boston is beyond me

Because Keefe plays into the plans of every team he faces and had no strategy beyond having fun.

 

[AvroArrow]

 

[Evilhomer]

Leafs didn’t have time and space, a ton of their goals were point shot deflections, the biggest difference is that Toronto was getting in front of Vasi and making it hard for him to see the puck. Why that strategy was not continued against Florida or in this series this year against Boston is beyond me

Tampa was letting the Leafs enter the zone at will.

 

[ToneDog]

Betting Berube was not telling him how impressed he was with him vs Bruins.

 

[3blizzard4]

All signs point to an extension.