For the Maple Leafs, It’s No Longer If — It’s When on Berube

If change is coming for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the real question isn’t who replaces Craig Berube. It’s when. “I don’t have an issue motivating the team… That’s my job. It’s not difficult for me,” said Berube. Saturday night, following a 5-3 loss to the Nashville Predators, it certainly doesn’t feel like those words are accurate. Midseason firings always sound decisive, even bold. But they come with consequences that don’t always show up right away.

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Should the Maple Leafs Make a Move Now?

The loss to the Predators makes four losses in their last five. At some point, you start to see why the pressure to do something keeps building. Let’s start there.

Three Reasons the Maple Leafs Should Make a Move Now

First, the so-called “new coach bump” is real. We’ve all seen it. A fresh voice, a reset in tone, players skating a little freer for a few weeks. Bruce Boudreau has made a career out of that initial spark. If the Maple Leafs believe this group just needs oxygen, not surgery, that short-term lift has appeal.

Second, Berube looks short on answers. The “Ask them, not me.” comment didn’t sound like a coach with a clear handle on his room. Maybe he hasn’t lost it, but he’s certainly shouting into it more than talking with it. When a coach’s message stops landing, the clock usually starts ticking.

Third, waiting too long can harden bad habits. If the room has tuned out the system, there’s an argument for cutting it off before it calcifies into the team’s identity.

Three Reasons the Maple Leafs Should Not Make a Move Now

Now, on the other side, what are three reasons not to make a move now?

Changing coaches midseason almost never fixes the real problems. It rearranges them. Systems change, sure, but roster flaws don’t. If the Maple Leafs are serious about retooling — and they probably should be — that’s an offseason job. Trades, cap gymnastics, and role definitions are things that a new coach deserves a say in, not a mess dropped in his lap.

Second, there’s also the Bruce Boudreau question. If he’s the guy, he comes with a résumé. Yes, he wins early. Yes, players like him. He’s also never been a long-term answer anywhere, and the résumé doesn’t hide that. Vancouver fired him in January 2023, and no one’s picked him up since. That alone doesn’t condemn him — hockey’s messy that way — but it does make you stop and think. How long does this really work, and is it worth rolling the dice again?

Finally, timing matters for leverage. Few quality coaches would sign with the Maple Leafs midseason without security. The offseason gives you more room to breathe. More choices. More time. And usually more buy-in, too. If the Maple Leafs are going to make a real change — whether it’s the coach, the players, or both — it should come from clear thinking, not a bad stretch of games.

So yes, a midseason switch might feel good. It might even work for a month. But if the Maple Leafs want something that lasts, waiting may be the harder — and smarter — choice.

Related: Maple Leafs Fans Want Change — But Deep Down, They Know the Truth