ANAHEIM, Calif. — The over/under on the duration of the first Toronto Maple Leafs practice since the firing of Brad Treliving and another vote of nonconfidence in the head coach was set at 15 minutes.
But Craig Berube blew that estimate out of the water, skating the lads for nearly thrice that long on Wednesday at Honda Center.
Bringing an energy as intense as an Anaheim sun, the 60-year-old wielded his whistle and barked his orders as if he was speeding toward the postseason, not walking the green mile.
Line rushes, two-on-ones at pace, separate system drills for forwards and defence, and one-on-one corner battles that shook the otherwise empty arena’s glass.
For seven more games — and, presumably, no more than that — the respected hockey lifer they call Chief is still running the show, his way.
Even if the man who hired him, Brad Treliving, was let go only after admitting to Leafs Nation that “it hasn’t worked” with Berube atop the bench.
Even after Keith Pelley announced Tuesday that Berube’s fate will be determined by whomever MLSE’s chief hires to run hockey operations.
“This is what I like to do. Obviously, I love doing it, and it’s been my life — whether we’re in the playoffs, out of the playoffs,” Berube said, after unlacing his skates.
“I get it. And there’s all this uncertainty. I mean, this is what I do. And I come to the rink with the same attitude. That’s the truth. I come with the same attitude every day, and I coach them the same way.”
They might one day boot the man out of hockey; they’ll never take the hockey out of the man.
We think back, not so long ago, to how a different long-serving NHL head coach treated the gig when he knew his days were numbered. He sometimes didn’t bother hitting the ice himself for morning skate. He occasionally let one of his assistants handle media duties.
While the Maple Leafs are guilty of inconsistency this season, Berube has been comparatively steady in his messaging and tone, his belief in how the game should be played, and his attendance.
If a head-hunting chunk of gym equipment couldn’t keep him off the ice for a day, why would he pout over what the suits do and the talking heads say?
“I’m down. Lost a friend and a GM, you know?” Berube said. “That bothers me. But I know that it’s a business, and that’s the way it goes.
“But I’ve always felt very fortunate to be in the NHL and be part of the NHL, from a player to a coach, all that. And I just don’t take it for granted. I just don’t. I know I’m 60.” A pause and a smile. “I’m a lucky guy to be part of it.”
In his first year at his first job since being cut by his Stanley Cup–winning St. Louis Blues, Berube led these Maple Leafs to their first-ever regular-season Atlantic Division crown and deeper in the postseason — one win from a conference final — than either Mike Babcock or Sheldon Keefe got them.
“He’s been great,” John Tavares said. “There’s a ton of respect for him in our locker room. We know how challenging he can be. And his ability to continue to push every day, try to push us and challenge us to be better, and working alongside us that way, I think he’s done a really good job of continuing to try to push the right buttons. And understanding when to put the arm around you, or when the time is to push the group and challenge each other.”
Clearly, though, the chip-and-chase, bodies-to-the-paint, defensively staunch brand of hockey Berube preaches has not resonated with the congregation this season.
At one point, he questioned their heart. Several times, he has diagnosed “a mental block” that gets in the way of his athletes’ natural skill. Berube’s frustration when hope slipped away after the Olympic break was palpable.
If the lottery-bound club is to retool and rebound back into relevance in 2026-27, the way Pelley prefers, a fresh voice and a system more catered to the “foundational players” in Toronto’s room feels like the simplest change of significance.
Despite Berube still having two more seasons of guaranteed paycheques on his deal.
“Once we have a new head in hockey in place, if that recommendation is around Craig Berube at that particular time, we will listen,” Pelley said. “Something as big as Craig Berube would go all the way to ownership.”
Pelley was so high on Berube at this time last year that the CEO suggested the coach’s opinion should hold strong weight in hockey decisions.
The two speak often, and Pelley called Berube privately on Wednesday after letting him twist publicly Tuesday.
Berube disagrees, though, that the Leafs have an issue with culture, a buzzword Pelley used multiple times in his press conference.
“I don’t think the culture was off,” Berube said. “I just think we obviously didn’t perform at a high enough level this year to be successful.”
That’s undeniable.
Equally undeniable is Berube’s character and loyalty to the room. The way things have played out here, the man could’ve singled out individuals or blasted the group publicly more often than he did (or that some would’ve liked).
Pushed, he’ll crack a whip, but his default is to whip out a shield.
Little touches, like Berube’s not announcing his scratches of a prideful Max Domi, go a long way with the skaters.
“Chief’s an all-world human being. I mean, he’s the ultimate professional and competitor, and he’s just as upset as us players,” Domi said.
“He’s in that room with us. He knows exactly what we’re going through, and we’ve all came up short this year — and that’s on us as players. So, we definitely owe it to him to be better.”
While we’re not convinced the Maple Leafs can contend for a Cup without major roster change, we do believe — even as is — this collection of talent is better than its 32-30-13 record suggests.
Two things can be true: Berube is a good coach. Berube is no longer the right coach.
And while only seven games remain on the string, Berube will slam the gas, double-shift his best options, and strive to gather 14 more points.
“The way he comes in motivates us every game. Just go out there and compete and play together for each other. And I think you can see the last two weeks or so, we’ve played better hockey,” Anthony Stolarz says. “We’re gonna continue that consistency, that push, and finish the year strong.”
Coaching is in the man’s blood. Maybe DNA cannot be changed.
“I’m focused on coaching the team, honestly. Tomorrow — got a game. That’s what I’m doing,” Berube said, when asked about his job security.
“Whatever happens, happens. But I’m the coach here now, and my focus is the team. That’s it.”
