Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman has provided the update we’ve all been waiting for regarding Leafs GM Brad Treliving and head coach Craig Berube.
On Monday, the Maple Leafs dismissed assistant coach and power play architect Marc Savard after months of man advantage frustration. According to Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman and multiple sources, that is where the changes stop for now, with head coach Craig Berube and general manager Brad Treliving not in danger.
The timing is jarring. The Columbus Blue Jackets’ 3-1 win over Los Angeles on Monday night officially dropped Toronto to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, an outcome few imagined 35 games into the season. That context matters, but the organization is resisting panic, preferring preparation over impulse.
Savard’s removal is not about one system or one set play. It is about results. The Leafs’ power play has stalled badly, and Auston Matthews’ struggles were a central factor in the decision. Matthews has just three power play goals, tied for 63rd league wide, and four power play points, tied for 182nd, numbers that simply do not align with his reputation or salary.
Berube fought to keep Savard as the pressure mounted. The two are close, and the head coach believed continuity could still produce a breakthrough. Management ultimately disagreed, deciding a new voice was necessary even if it does not fix everything.
Toronto Maple Leafs seek spark without burning structure
From a fan perspective, this feels like a compromise move. It shows accountability without admitting the entire project is broken, which might be the most honest assessment of where things stand.
Friedman’s reporting underscores that neither Treliving nor Berube is on the firing line. The Leafs believe instability at the very top would create more problems than solutions, especially with so much of the season still ahead.
The immediate priority is clear. Toronto needs to ignite Matthews, not just statistically, but emotionally and tactically. Finding ways to get him shooting from dangerous areas and attacking downhill has become the organization’s internal obsession.
Removing Savard will not magically transform Matthews or the power play overnight. Structure, execution, and confidence still have to come from the players. But sometimes change is less about fixing a flaw and more about forcing attention back onto urgency.
This move signals patience with a purpose. The Leafs are not pretending everything is fine, but they are also not detonating leadership out of fear.
The coming weeks will show whether this calculated change sparks life or simply delays harder decisions. For now, Toronto has chosen focus over frenzy, and that choice will define what comes next.
Previously on Toronto Hockey Daily