TORONTO — Leafs general manager John Chayka held a media availability at the Ford Performance Centre on Wednesday. Craig Berube is out as Maple Leafs coach.
It's the first major move made by general manager John Chayka and senior executive advisor Mats Sundin since being hired to lead the front office on May 3.
"We didn't make this decision in a vacuum," Chayka said. "This is a bigger-picture decision, and it's not just about a coach. Mats and I spent the last 10 days or so meeting with everyone from the chefs to talking to some of the players and everything in between. I just feel like there's some things that we need to change and do better and be better, and certainly that starts with Mats and myself at the top, with [MLSE president and CEO] Keith [Pelley] and the board, aligned on a vision and a path ahead."
Chayka declined to say specifically what the organization can do better.
"Today is about the coaches," he said. "I still haven't met with everybody fully, not for lack of effort. It's a big staff and a big team and at the right time we should have that discussion, but not today."
Chayka says he did not solicit opinions about Berube from the players he spoke with.
"The only things I heard about Craig were that they re-emphasized the type of person he is and how much they enjoy being around him," Chayka added.
In a statement issued earlier in the day, Chayka said the move "is more reflective of an organizational shift and an opportunity for a fresh start than it is an evaluation of Craig."
Berube's Tenure
In Berube's first season behind the bench, the Leafs finished first in the Atlantic Division for the first time. Toronto beat the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the playoffs before pushing the eventual champion Florida Panthers to seven games.
It was the longest playoff run for the franchise in the Auston Matthews era. But the second season under Berube saw the Leafs decline by 30 points in the standings, which was the largest year-to-year drop in franchise history.
Toronto finished fifth last in the standings and had the worst record in the NHL (5-15-5) after the Olympic break.
Chayka and Sundin met with Berube in person on Saturday before making the decision on his future on Tuesday.
"He's a great man, very good coach," said Chayka. "Did a lot of good things here. That's not lost on me. I told him [that] I hope to lead with the same class and grace that he did in his time here."
Berube was two years into a four-year contract. A decision on the rest of the coaching staff, including assistants Derek Lalonde, Mike Van Ryn and Steve Sullivan, will be determined by the new head coach.
Coaching Search
There is no timeline to hire a new coach.
"There's key milestones that are coming up," Chayka said. "And so, certainly, running an efficient process matters, but we're going to take our time and do a very wide search and talk to a lot of people ... It's the most critical decision as a general manager."
What is Chayka looking for in the next coach of the Leafs?
"Out of respect for the process and the candidates I don't want to get into that today," he said.
Is there a certain way Chayka wants the team to play regardless of the coach?
"That's a good discussion," Chayka said. "I think regardless of who the coach is, we should have an organizational vision on how we play and the things we value, and then certainly through that process align on it. So, again, I think it's best not to discuss all that today and not to bias the process."
Toronto is a unique market, which will play a factor in the search.