Keith Pelley, President of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, spoke to the media on Tuesday after firing general manager Brad Treliving on Monday. The Maple Leafs will begin a thorough search for their next hockey president or general manager. That means Craig Berube is still the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs for now.
Berube, following the Maple Leafs’ 5-4 overtime victory Monday night, was not upset about the possibility of his release. It’s the last thing on his mind. Berube was informed by Pelley about Treliving’s departure and understood that he was the team’s head coach.
It’s going to be an exciting first season of change for the Toronto Maple Leafs
As Pelley said in a press conference, the next fate of Craig Berube will be decided by the next head of hockey. That next head of hockey ops could be in place by the NHL Scouting Combine or, at the latest, before the NHL draft.
However, as NHLRumors.com, via Dave Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, reported yesterday, there is a sense that Craig Berube will not return next season.
“Here in Toronto, where I am right now, there is a strong belief that they are going to make a change, and Craig Berube is not coming back next season, and I believe he has two years left on his contract. I think he signed a four-year contract. If the Maple Leafs take this step, which is expected to end this season, they will have options to coach the next coach.”
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As Pagnotta said on TSN Montreal Radio on Monday, Berube is a good coach, but the pieces given to him by Brad Treliving don’t fit his style of play or system. However, given that there are two outstanding head coaches out there in Pete DeBoer and Bruce Cassidy, the Maple Leafs, along with other teams, will want to get a head start on their coaching search.
But Manny Malhotra’s name is floating around, and a name to watch for the Maple Leafs or any other team in need of a coach.
So the Leafs probably, if they make this change, the expectations, and, at the end of the season, they will have options, and not just the veteran guys that you just mentioned, DeBoer, (Peter) Laviolette, Cassidy, etc. Manny Malhotra will create a lot of interest for many teams who are thinking of changing their coach or are going to make a coaching change.
He is in Abbotsford. They won the title last year. He had a great season. He’s been in the headlines for a lot of teams the way first-year coaches have gone this season with (Dan) Muse in Pittsburgh, Marco Sturm in Boston. Manny Malhotra is putting himself in the next position to take that step and have a chance to succeed.
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And I would expect teams like LA and Toronto, and he used to be with the Leafs organization before going to the Canucks organization. I could see Malhotra in the lineup for both clubs.
Currently, Craig Berube is the head coach until he is gone. But it won’t be Pelley who decides. Let’s see where the Toronto Maple Leafs go with their coach and General Manager.
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