More Details Coming Out on the Rocky Nylander–Berube Relationship

While they only spent two seasons together with the Toronto Maple Leafs, William Nylander and Craig Berube had their fair share of run-ins during that partnership.

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Whether it was at practice, in the middle of a game, or a call-out in the media, Berube was never afraid to push Nylander, who, to his credit, often responded by using it as motivation to elevate his play.

At times, it felt like a dynamic that worked fairly well between the two, though a recent encounter revealed by team reporter Luke Fox suggests it wasn’t always so smooth behind the scenes.

Fox said:

“I felt like there was a generational gap. I’ll tell you a story. There was a practice at the end of the year when things started to go sideways and Nylander was coasting through the power-play drill, not passing the puck with purpose and not shooting it.

Berube yells ‘Willy shoot the puck! If you have a look, take a look and shoot!’ They start again and he immediately shoots it. Doesn’t even do the drill. Berube says ‘Willy, stop being such a d-word’, you know he tried to have fun but Nylander never took it seriously right?”

The 30-year-old Nylander had two very productive seasons under Berube, tallying 84 points (45 goals, 39 assists) in 82 games in 2024-25 before recording another 79 points (30 goals, 49 assists) in just 65 games in 2025-26.

Nylander’s style of play can frustrate some, though his skill set tends to outweigh the inconsistencies, so you just have to learn to live with it.

There’s no reason to believe Berube was fired solely because of his relationship with Nylander, but this latest example does suggest that perhaps the team needs a different kind of voice if they’re going to continue building around this core.

A more hard-nosed, demanding coach in Berube didn’t work, and now it sounds as if Toronto will look toward a younger, development-focused coach, with David Carle among the names they’re keying in on.

Next: Berube Buzz in Edmonton — And Suddenly McDavid’s Future Feels Uncertain