With the Toronto Maple Leafs entering play in last place in the NHL’s Eastern Conference, Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving met the media before the Leafs played host to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.

Treliving was quick to put his support behind head coach Craig Berube, with the team sitting at 15-15-5.

“I want to make it clear, I support Craig fully,” said Treliving. “One of the narratives coming out is there is a disconnect between the coach and I. There isn’t a disconnect. We all have to be better. We all recognize that. But I think we’ve got a real good coach.”

“That’s not to say we don’t change some things, tweak some things,” added the general manager. “When you get in these situations you have to band together and you look for collective solutions and that’s what we’re trying to do right now.”

He also addressed the firing of assistant coach Marc Savard.

“Those are never fun decisions to make,” said Treliving. “The decision yesterday is not putting the blame at Marc’s feet. We’ve gone through a stretch here specifically on the power-play….we just felt we needed to make a change.”

Toronto’s power play sits last in the NHL at 13.1 per cent.

“Sure, the players have a responsibility and that doesn’t absolve anybody,” added Treliving who says the power play will be run by the current coaching staff..

Berube wouldn’t confirm that assistant coach Derek Lalonde will have the lead on the PP saying, “It’s a team. It’s a staff will look at the power play.”

“We’ll see where we go moving forward, whether that’s something that we handle internally or make an addition to our staff here externally,” noted Treliving.

Savard was hired in June of 2024 and was in charge of a power play that clicked at 24.8 per cent last sseason, which was good for ninth in the NHL.

“It’s tough,” said Berube. “[Savard] is a good friend. I’ve known him a long time. It’s always hard when you lose somebody and things change. But we didn’t perform well enough. Ultimately, it’s on me.”

“It’s an area that cost us points in the standings,” added Treliving.

“Results are what it’s all about and definitely wasn’t enough results,” added Berube. “Tre and I talked and we made a decision.”

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During the news conference, Treliving was asked if captain Auston Matthews has asked for a trade.

“No, Auston has not asked for a trade. No”

Matthews enters play today with 14 goals (tied for 36th in the NHL) and 23 points (109th in the league scoring) in 30 games this season.

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On the topic of trades, Treliving made it clear he has not given up on this season.

“I don’t think we’re turning the page right now on the season,” said Treliving. “You continue to monitor your team. You are having discussions with different teams. We are not here waving a white flag.

“If you can find somewhere to help your team from bringing a player in or making a deal, obviously that’s what you look to do.

“My job is to continue to talk and see if there’s things out there that can help us and that doesn’t change.”

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Berube surprised the assembled media before the game announcing that defenceman Chris Tanev would return to the lineup to face the Penguins on Tuesday for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury against the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 1.

Tanev, 36, has missed 23 games after an awkward fall after taking a hit from Flyers forward Matvei Michkov. He left the ice on a stretcher.

The 6-foot-3 right-shot blueliner has spent the last few weeks skating with the club wearing a non-contact red jersey during his on-ice sessions.

So what led to the decision to dress him today?

“Doctors communicating with him,” said Berube. “Ultimately it comes down to his decision.”