Maple Leafs hire Craig Berube as head coach, Lane Lambert as associate coach and Marc Savard as assistant coach

[Koivu11]

Craig Berube far down the road to be next Maple Leafs head coach

According to multiple sources, Elliotte Friedman reports the Maple Leafs are far down the road to hiring Craig Berube as head coach.

www.sportsnet.ca

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[LevelingSolo]

Is Berube actually that great?

 

[lanceuppercut75]

Weird way of saying it. Makes me second-guess if i means "he's almost hired" or "there's still a long way to go before it happens".

 

[SI90]

He’s going to Choke Tavares and Willy Headaches.

 

[JAK]

Berube really likes challenges I see.

 

[KeyserSoze81]

Weird way of saying it. Makes me second-guess if i means "he's almost hired" or "there's still a long way to go before it happens".

It's Friedman. Put out statement wrapped in weird verbiage, then hedge a couple times, and click post.

Berube = TML coach
"Nothing is finalized"
"Nothing is done until it is done"

 

[HarrisonFord]

Weird way of saying it. Makes me second-guess if i means "he's almost hired" or "there's still a long way to go before it happens".

Depends on how long the road is

 

[AvroArrow]

Friedman has fell off so bad in the last 5 or 6 years.

 

[Amadeus]

Welcome aboard, Chief!

 

[Oilslick941611]

Is Berube actually that great?

no, he won a cup a few years ago on the back of a goalie coming from nowhere, he's a cup winning coach thats available so leaf media is blowing him up to be some great.


Also what does far down the road mean? To me it means not close.

 

[ACLEVERNAME]

Should have gone with Gallant or even Guy Boucher IMO. They need an immediate 180° in chemistry and execution for quick results in the next season or two more than they need a stable 'head coach' 5 years from now.

Babcock 2.0

 

[Koivu11]

 

[Bobby Orrtuzzo]

Is Berube actually that great?

Great motivator/players coach, would greatly benefit having good X’s and O’s assistants

 

[Foppberg]

Friedman has fell off so bad in the last 5 or 6 years.

 

[LevelingSolo]

no, he won a cup a few years ago on the back of a goalie coming from nowhere, he's a cup winning coach thats available so leaf media is blowing him up to be some great.


Also what does far down the road mean? To me it means not close.

Like when they hired Babcock

 

[AvroArrow]

Should have gone with Gallant or even Guy Boucher IMO. They need an immediate 180° in chemistry and execution for quick results in the next season or two more than they need a stable 'head coach' 5 years from now.

Babcock 2.0

LOL Guy Boucher? The guy that just ran our 4% powerplay?

 

[Voight]

Better choice than McLellan

 

[ACLEVERNAME]

LOL Guy Boucher? The guy that just ran our 4% powerplay?

Wasn't his team though. Dude took a Sens team that was basically a 1 legged Erik Karlsson and Clarke MacArthur to the Conferance Finals and a goal from the Stanley Cup Finals. He had similar results in Tampa before hand.

My point being that the Leafs would do better with a 'swing for the fences' type coach on a cheap 1-3 year contract rather than trying to 'implement' a new 'culture' or 'identity' with a 'Berube type on a 5-8 year contract when most of your core is aging out or gone off to new places.

 

[nbwingsfan]

Looking forward to seeing how quickly the fans and media turn on him and make him the scapegoat like every coach they’ve ever had

 

[57special]

Berube v Pampered Leafs is going to be one hell of a culture war. I'm betting that Pampered Leafs win, but it is 4 v 1, and Berube is almost 60.

 

[STL fan in MN]

Also what does far down the road mean? To me it means not close.

To me, it means very close. I would guess it means he’s been offered the job, he’s indicated he wants it but a few minor details are still being ironed out. It’s much more likely they iron out those final details than it completely falls apart.

 

[AvroArrow]

Wasn't his team though. Dude took a Sens team that was basically a 1 legged Erik Karlsson and Clarke MacArthur to the Conferance Finals and a goal from the Stanley Cup Finals. He had similar results in Tampa before hand.

My point being that the Leafs would do better with a 'swing for the fences' type coach on a cheap 1-3 year contract rather than trying to 'implement' a new 'culture' or 'identity' with a 'Berube type on a 5-8 year contract when most of your core is aging out or gone off to new places.

Matthews is 26 and has an extension
Nylander is 28 and has an extension

Those are our 2 best players and the biggest pieces of our core, locked up in their primes.

Rielly is 30 and has term
Tavares is gonna come back on a cheap deal

Screw Marner.

Not sure what a swing for the fences type coach even means. Every single coach has a system and way they like to play the game. Leafs need a different coach that demands effort and actually has a tougher attitude. Is Berube the perfect fit ? I don't know, probably not, but he is hell of a lot better than a guy like Boucher who was literally on our coaching staff this year and arguably the biggest reason why we got booted in the first round.

Leafs badly needed a culture and identity change, I am genuinely confused at how someone could watch this team in the playoffs and think that the culture and identity wasn't a huge problem.

That Sens team had Stone, Hoffman and Turris who were all pretty good as well.

 

[STL fan in MN]

As a Blues fan, I’ll give my opinion of Chief.

He’s a good coach. Didn’t deserve to be fired but he’s also a much better coach for a good team that needs to take a step to the next level than a rebuilding team so I can see why the Blues changed directions.

He’s a very good motivator. Doesn’t mince words. Gives it to you straight. Isn’t a rah rah pat you on the back players coach but he’s also fair and while he can be brutally honest, he isn’t mean about it.

As stated above, he could really use a good Xs and Os assistant. The Blues were noticeably a mess when Jim Montgomery left to take the Bruins job. He’s not bad at it but he’s more the big picture guy so needs others to be the details guys.

If I’m being honest, I don’t think he’s a great fit for the TML. I think he’d be a fine coach there but his brutal honesty in press conferences is bound to get way overblown by the Toronto media on numerous occasions. But then again, he will not give a flying F about it so maybe he’ll be fine as long as any verbal faux pas (perceived, real or otherwise) doesn’t impact the players.

If I was him, I would’ve pursued the NJ job instead but then again, the Leafs can absolutely back up a Brinks truck to his house and that’s hard to turn down.

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

There’s no way Marner remains

He’s the exact type of player Berube hates

Same with Tavares but he’s just gonna walk

 

[ACLEVERNAME]

Matthews is 26 and has an extension
Nylander is 28 and has an extension

Those are our 2 best players and the biggest pieces of our core, locked up in their primes.

Rielly is 30 and has term
Tavares is gonna come back on a cheap deal

Screw Marner.

Not sure what a swing for the fences type coach even means. Every single coach has a system and way they like to play the game. Leafs need a different coach that demands effort and actually has a tougher attitude. Is Berube the perfect fit ? I don't know, probably not, but he is hell of a lot better than a guy like Boucher who was literally on our coaching staff this year and arguably the biggest reason why we got booted in the first round.

Leafs badly needed a culture and identity change, I am genuinely confused at how someone could watch this team in the playoffs and think that the culture and identity wasn't a huge problem.

That Sens team had Stone, Hoffman and Turris who were all pretty good as well.

Old dogs, new tricks my man. If you think your core group of players are ready and willing to change their game at this point in their careers than best of luck to ya.

I say squeeze as much out of what you already have in the next couple of years and hope for the best. Easier and quicker to retool this roster if you have to.


That's just my general philosophy btw. Not even hating on the Leafs here.