Image credit: ClutchPoints

Leafs have met with 2 veterans for vacant head coaching role

Originally posted on ClutchPoints | By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated 5/13/24

The Toronto Maple Leafs are searching for a new coach after Sheldon Keefe was fired following their Stanley Cup Playoffs exit. It was a disappointing ending as the Leafs lost to the Boston Bruins in a tough seven-game series.

With Keefe being fired, the Leafs are now searching for a new head coach. And, they have inquired about a pair of veteran coaches, per a report from Darren Dreger of TSN.

“My understanding is that Craig Berube, Todd McLellan met with Brad Treliving and probably other members of the Toronto Maple Leafs management group…I know Berube spent a good part of Saturday and Sunday morning continuing in conversation…There’s a real strong appetite inside the head office to get something done sooner rather than later…I wouldn’t be surprised if the Maple Leafs hired their head coach at some time this week.”

Dreger mentions Berube and McLellan as two guys who have been early candidates for the Leafs. It’s a telling sign of what Toronto is searching for with its next head coach as Berube and McLellan were head coaches during the 2023-2024 season. Dreger also mentions the Leafs could hire a coach at some point in the next week as they try to expedite the process.

A look inside both of these early Leafs candidates

Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports

Berube was fired from the St. Louis Blues in December after being with them for six years. His final record with the franchise ended at 206-132-44 and the Stanley Cup Finals victory in 2019 over the Bruins. Berube spent two years as the Philadelphia Flyers coach before coming to St. Louis.

McLellan was fired by the Los Angeles Kings in February after spending five seasons in LA. McLellan’s record was 164-130-44 but he also coached the San Jose Sharks and Edmonton Oilers during his career.

So, the Leafs have inquired about two of the coaches who were fired during the 2023-2024 season, and there is a chance they want to get ahead of other teams searching for a head coach. Some other NHL teams looking are the Winnipeg Jets and Seattle Kraken amid a flurry of coaching changes over the last couple of seasons.

Brendan Shanahan, the Leafs president, recently commented on some potential major changes in the organization after another early playoff exit: “We will look at everything this summer and will consider everything with the intention of making the Maple Leafs better and to win.”

If that means hiring a veteran coach such as Berube or McLellan, then that’s what will happen. It will be interesting to see how soon the Maple Leafs decide to hire a replacement for Sheldon Keefe, especially with a number of other teams looking around for a new head coach.

This article first appeared on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: