Maple Leafs Fire Coach Craig Berube After Two Seasons

The Toronto Maple Leafs fired head coach Craig Berube on Wednesday after two seasons, part of an ongoing organizational overhaul following the team's first playoff miss since 2016.

General manager John Chayka, who assumed the role a week earlier, announced the decision. Berube had two years remaining on his contract, valued at 4.5 million dollars annually, which the Leafs will pay unless he secures another position. "Craig is a tremendous coach and an even better person," Chayka said in a statement. "This decision is more reflective of an organizational shift and an opportunity for a fresh start than it is an evaluation of Craig. We are grateful for his leadership, professionalism and commitment to the Maple Leafs organization and wish Craig and his family nothing but the best moving forward."

The move follows the dismissal of former general manager Brad Treliving at the end of March. In his first season, Berube guided the Leafs to their first Atlantic Division title with 108 points and advanced to the second round of the playoffs, where they lost in seven games to the Florida Panthers, the eventual Stanley Cup champions. The team posted an 84-62-18 record over 164...