Peter DeBoer could be next Leafs coach if they fire Craig Berube (Getty Images) Peter DeBoer has quietly entered the Toronto Maple Leafs conversation at a time when the franchise is searching for steadiness, not noise. The organization has already taken one decisive step by dismissing assistant coach Marc Savard, a move that signaled impatience beneath public calm. While general manager Brad Treliving continues to back Craig Berube, league observers sense that contingency planning is underway behind closed doors.Toronto lives in a results-driven market, and patience here is always conditional. Coaching stability only lasts as long as playoff progress follows. That reality explains why respected NHL analyst Chris Johnston’s report resonated so strongly. The idea of a proven, pressure-tested coach waiting in the wings is bound to spark debate, especially for a team haunted by its postseason history.
Peter DeBoer and the Maple Leafs coaching equation
Peter DeBoer’s appeal is rooted in moments that Toronto fans know all too well. He has built a reputation as a coach who thrives when everything is on the line. Across stops in New Jersey, San Jose, and Dallas, his teams have never lost a playoff Game 7. For a Maple Leafs franchise that has not won a Game 7 since 2004, that detail alone carries weight far beyond a simple stat.Yet DeBoer’s recent exit from Dallas also reveals the complexity of his candidacy. His decision to pull Jake Oettinger early in a Western Conference Final Game 7 stirred frustration inside the Stars room and ultimately contributed to his dismissal. It was bold, decisive, and controversial. Those traits can either elevate a contender or fracture trust, depending on timing and buy-in.Despite the speculation, DeBoer is not actively chasing a return to the NHL bench. As analyst David Pagnotta explained, his current mindset is far from urgent.”What I’ve heard on DeBoer, he’s comfortable right now. He’s still getting paid the rest of the season and right now he’s focused on Team Canada. He’s chilling. But I have been told if he were to consider an NHL job again, it’s a team that you know; he’s the final piece, he’s the one who can take you over the top. But he wants to be part of a team that views him as the final piece. Considering what this team [Toronto] is, and what he wants; I am not sure he would consider this based off what I’ve heard.” DeBoer’s career record of 662-447-152 says a lot about his credibility, but fit matters as much as experience. For Toronto, the question is not whether he can win. It is whether the Maple Leafs are truly ready for the kind of accountability his presence would demand.Also Read: Mitch Marner drops a pointed Christmas wish that many believe was aimed at his former Maple Leafs teammates