Photo credit: Sportsnet / The Hockey News
Toronto Maple Leafs fans are dealt a potential blow in their coaching fortunes according to a new report.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have faced an increasing speculation over the future of their current coaching staff, led by the uncertainty surrounding head coach Craig Berube.
Toronto fired assistant coach Marc Savard on Monday, with his spearheaded power play last in the NHL and having been 0-10 in their previous three games.
The move to let go of Savard hasn’t been certain to be the last of dismissals to be made, although Toronto’s front office has indicated publicly that Berube has the trust of the Leafs management, although results will ultimately determine his future.
If Berube were to be let go this season, a new report suggests a top contender for his job may be unlikely to be an option to join Toronto.
Report suggests the Leafs are unlikely to land Peter DeBoer as Berube replacement
According to a report from David Pagnotta of ‘The Fourth Period’, current available head coach Peter DeBoer would be unlikely to join the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Pagnotta reports that DeBoer’s focus is on his role as a coach with Canada’s Olympics team, but that he’d rather join an NHL bench that is close to contention.
The Leafs sit second last in the Eastern Conference with 37 points and a 16-5-5 record, a team that has clear question marks despite the potential of being able to outplay their current record.
DeBoer was let go as coach of the Dallas Stars after the 2024-25 season following a playoff loss to the Edmonton Oilers marked by the controversial decision to pull starting netminder Jake Oettinger in Game 5, the final game of the series.
For a coach like DeBoer, if he were to join a team now, the indication appears to be it would be for a team already contending for the playoffs, rather than a team like Toronto currently in limbo.
Leafs challenging season leaves them no longer a marquee coaching role
The Leafs current struggles appear to not be appealing enough for DeBoer to return to coaching in the NHL, despite the opportunity to coach players such as Auston Matthews and William Nylander.
It’s a symbol of the Leafs being a team that carries the risk of underperforming, but in DeBoer’s case should be noted that he has a unique situation, he’s the head coach with the most playoff wins without a Stanley Cup.While DeBoer may be waiting for the situation that delivers him a long awaited cup, other options could be in the fold as a possible coaching hire, but the Leafs aren’t concretely linked to many other names, with options such as Bruce Boudreau being more fan scenarios than possible hirings.
The Toronto Maple Leafs may be best to keep Craig Berube as a premier coach as the Leafs face the tough reality that a coaching vacancy may not be the desirable offer it once was.
Previously on Hockey Patrol
POLL
3 HOURS AGOÂ Â Â |Â Â Â 280 ANSWERS
Latest coaching report won’t sit well with Maple Leafs fans
Do you view being head coach of the Leafs as still a desirable job?