TORONTO — Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka met with reporters at the Ford Performance Centre on Wednesday, a day after dismissing head coach Craig Berube. The move marks the first significant decision by Chayka and senior executive advisor Mats Sundin since taking over 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."
The matchup already has enough history; the job is to keep the reading list shorter than the tension.
Chayka said he and Sundin spent roughly 10 days meeting with staff ranging from team chefs to players before arriving at the choice. He declined to elaborate on specific areas needing improvement, noting those discussions would come later.
The decision itself
Chayka emphasized the firing represented an organizational shift rather than a performance assessment of Berube, who went two years into a four-year contract. The GM chose not to solicit player opinions about the coach.
"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 said.
Berube met with Chayka and Sundin in person on Saturday. The decision followed a season in which Toronto fell 30 points in the standings — the largest year-to-year drop in franchise history. The Leafs finished fifth-last in the NHL with a 5-15-5 record after the Olympic break.
The search begins
Chayka said there is no timeline for hiring a replacement, calling it "the most critical decision" a general manager makes. He noted the organization would conduct a wide search and talk to many candidates.
"There's key milestones that are coming up," Chayka said. "Running an efficient process matters, but we're going to take our time."
He declined to detail desired qualities in the next coach, saying publicizing preferences could bias the process. On the question of market experience, Chayka offered only that it "could be an asset and will be weighed."
A matter of leadership
TheGM addressed captain Auston Matthews, whose contract has two years remaining and who has indicated uncertainty about returning. Chayka said a meeting with Matthews is expected in the coming weeks.
"Auston's an accomplished player that is world class and I think he wants to align on the vision and the strategy ahead, as do we," Chayka said. "I don't think there's any type of competing interest."
He suggested the face-to-face had been delayed to allow proper preparation.
"It was important for me to get a good lay of the land in terms of our internal workings," Chayka explained. "I wanted to make sure we had all of the knowledge we could possibly have so that when we sit down, we can have the best discussion."
Matthews has not committed to a new deal, leaving that situation unresolved as the organization turns the page.