The Toronto Maple Leafs keep hovering in the same space, close enough to contend but far from comfort. Each week adds urgency without providing clarity.

That strain has now reached the coaching conversation, where frustration has started to spill into public view.

Jay Rosehill Defends Craig Berube as Pressure Builds Around Maple Leafs Bench

The Maple Leafs are 15-13-5 and seventh in the Atlantic, a position that reflects inconsistency more than failure. They remain competitive most nights, but progress often fades when execution matters most. Toronto scores at a respectable rate, yet missed chances and a struggling power play keep tight games from tilting their way.

At five-on-five, the Leafs control long stretches but lack a finishing edge. Defensively, allowing over three goals per game has kept pressure constant, especially against quicker teams. While the penalty kill continues to hold firm, it has not been enough to offset breakdowns at critical moments.

Those issues were clear again on Thursday in Washington. The Capitals shut out Toronto 4-0, snapping their own skid while exposing familiar Leafs problems. Jakob Chychrun scored twice, John Carlson added a goal and two assists, and Aliaksei Protas scored the opening goal. Logan Thompson turned aside all 22 shots he faced. Even a loaded Toronto’s top line failed to score in the first period. Toronto generated little push as the game wore on and struggled to match Washington’s pace.

After the loss, Craig Berube focused on urgency and special teams. “We had power-play opportunities,” Berube said, via NHL. “The power play was not good. It’s got to be a lot better.” He also pointed to a gap in emotion, saying Washington played with more passion and urgency, which he felt decided the game.

That backdrop fueled a strong reaction from former Maple Leafs enforcer Jay Rosehill. In a video shared by The Leafs Nation on X, Rosehill pushed back against growing talk of Berube’s job security. Drawing from his playing days, Rosehill explained that even disliked coaches still get effort, but Berube does not fit that label.

“I’ve played for Craig Berube,” Rosehill said. “He’s straightforward. He’s honest. He’s not crazy negative.” Rosehill rejected the idea that Berube creates a toxic room and called a potential firing “a disgrace,” arguing the problems run deeper than the coach.

“I think these next 24 hours are going to be something,” Rosehill added. “Something’s got to happen here. And it’s probably going to be Craig Berube fired. And I think it’s a f***ing disgrace.”

READ MORE: Maple Leafs HC Craig Berube Sounds Alarm, Shifts Blame After Toronto’s 4–0 Meltdown

Toronto now looks ahead to a Dec. 20 matchup against Nashville at 7:00 PM ET. Auston Matthews and William Nylander remain central to the attack, while goaltending and special teams stay under scrutiny. The Predators arrive with their own struggles, setting up a game with pressure on both sides.

For the Leafs, the path forward remains narrow. Losses like the one in Washington sharpen the spotlight, and until results stabilize, the noise around Berube and the direction of the season will only grow louder.