The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to make headlines off the ice as the team announced on Wednesday they've fired Craig Berube from his head coaching position. Now, John Chayka and Mats Sundin get to bring in a fresh perspective behind the bench and hopefully the players will respond next season. There's been several names already linked to the Leafs bench, including Bruce Cassidy, who recently tried to interview with the Edmonton Oilers, but was denied by the Vegas Golden Knights, who still hav...
The dust hasn't yet settled on the firing of head coach Craig Berube Wednesday morning, but we're already hearing of a notable name being attached to the Toronto Maple Leafs' new opening behind the bench. Insider Elliotte Friedman tells us on Wednesday that former Leafs assistant and current Abbotsford Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra is now a prime candidate for the Toronto job. I did have a couple of candidates say to me that the Leafs wouldn't be afraid in trying an up-and-comer, a first t...
A lack of quality chances is becoming a theme.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have officially relieved Craig Berube of his duties. This was the only logical and appropriate step forward. The Leafs entered the season with the vast majority of the hockey world viewing them as a playoff team, and they didn’t even come close to qualifying. They finished fifth last in the NHL […]
The post John Chayka gets first big decision right; Maple Leafs finally pull trigger on Craig Berube firing appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
After Wednesday’s practice, Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discussed Craig Berube’s dismissal, his interest in the Leafs’ job, and the challenge in the third round against Cleveland. What was your reaction to the news about Craig Berube’s dismissal? Gruden: It is unfortunate. It is part of the business. He was great to work with, […]
The post John Gruden, after the Berube firing, on whether he feels prepared for an NHL opportunity: “That is not part of my aspiration right now” appear...
After the decision to relieve Craig Berube of his head-coaching duties, GM John Chayka discussed the process behind the decision, the start of his search for a new head coach, whether any players were consulted, and the plan to meet with Auston Matthews. Chayka’s Opening Statement Chayka: I just want to start out by thanking […]
The post John Chayka on whether Auston Matthews’ future impacted the decision to fire Craig Berube: “None. Zero.” appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
The Toronto Maple Leafs fired head coach Craig Berube, ending a two-year tenure that produced an Atlantic Division title in its first season and a 28th-place finish and first playoff miss since 2016 in its second.
New general manager John Chayka made the announcement in a statement issued by the club.
"Craig is a tremendous coach and an even better person," Chayka said. "This decision is more reflective of an organizational shift and an opportunity for a fresh start than it is an evaluatio...
So much for all that prognostication that John Chayka and Mats Sundin would adhere to NHL SOP.
Kyle Dubas’s routine end of season press conference yesterday went about as expected. Always a measured and composed speaker, Dubas gave credit to the team for having a good year but lamented some areas that he still needed to address to make them better. Dubas cited seeing teams like Colorado, Minnesota and especially using division […]
Has a player from your favorite team ever won the Conn Smythe? Probably not, because your team never wins anything, and the Conn Smythe is very much an award for winners. Even in those rare years where it goes to a player from the team that loses in the final, like Connor McDavid a few seasons ago, you’re still talking about somebody from a team that’s won three rounds. That’s a lot of winning. And since the Conn Smythe is the only playoff-specific award the NHL has, that means anyone whose te...
From all reports as of late Monday night, the Vancouver Canucks were leaning in the direction of Evan Gold as their new general manager. Now new insider information on Tuesday afternoon is that there's "momentum" behind the Canucks leaning towards their current assistant GM Ryan Johnson—for a "head of hockey operations" role. We will see where this goes over the next day or so, but hearing momentum is moving in Ryan Johnson’s direction for Vancouver’s head of hockey operations. Nothing is done...
Dan Vladar still sees the exact moment that ended the Philadelphia Flyers season. The starting netminder that has risen from being just some no-name backup to being one of the better goalies in the NHL, still watches that puck float past his head and across the goal line to hand the Carolina Hurricanes the series.
It was an extremely tough watch and still is to this day. Despite the Flyers beating out the preseason odds, making the playoffs, and beating the archrival Pittsburgh Penguins i...
After Tuesday’s practice, Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discussed goaltender Artur Akhtyamov’s strong playoff campaign, his comfort in rotating goalies, William Villeneuve’s productive postseason, and Ben Danford’s readiness to jump into the AHL playoffs. Sometimes, it can be tricky to rotate goalies in the playoffs. So far, it’s working out well. Why do you […]
The post John Gruden on Artur Akhtyamov’s rising profile in the Leafs organization: “I’ve said this since day one — he rem...
The Marlies move on to the next round of the playoffs against the Cleveland Monsters on Thursday.
Welcome to a new Morning Skate, folks! We’ll try to have some new threads up for you a few times a week as the playoffs play out, just as a place to discuss those games and anything else that may be on your mind. Playoffs roll on As we watch other teams have fun from […]
It’s been a back-and-forth battle between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Anaheim Ducks in the second round of the 2026 NHL playoffs. The Ducks have taken the hockey world by surprise this playoffs, eliminating the Edmonton Oilers in a six-game series. Now, they are going toe-to-toe with the Pacific Division champions, and the series…
Mitch Marner has played in the Vegas Golden Knights system for only a short while after his trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs. After being traded for depth forward Nic Roy, he signed an eight-year, $12 million average annual value deal with the Golden Knights. Coming off a 102-point season in 2024-25, there were questions of whether or not he could replicate his production in Vegas under Bruce Cassidy's system. Now the former Maple Leafs forward, and Selke-Trophy candidate,...
Brad Treliving almost traded Matthew Knies from the Toronto Maple Leafs shortly after signing him to a six-year contract extension. Now, Treliving is out of a job, and all signs are pointing to Knies staying long term in Toronto. There were multiple reports in March leading up to the trade deadline that Treliving was involved in trade discussions with the Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, and Utah Mammoth on Knies, but the talks fizzled out last minute. Meanwhile, John Chayka has now tak...
Colton Parayko didn't want to join the Buffalo Sabres, what about the Ottawa Senators. Reports have surfaced that both teams have been in contact to discuss the parameters of a Parayko trade, but as we know, his no-trade protection could be a big hurdle. Parayko, 32, is signed through the 2030 season at $6.5 million AAV, and holds a no-trade clause that doesn't go down to just 15 teams for two more summers. Bruce Garrioch: The Citizen reported that the Senators kicked tires on Colton Parayko; ...
The shake up in the Toronto Maple Leafs front office continues. After John Chayka and Mats Sundin were brought in to man the ship, there's been several Leafs executives who have fled, and on Monday, the team announced that they've parted ways with Shane Doan. Shane Doan and the Leafs have parted ways. His deal was expiring June 30. Sounds like a mutual decision. Doan was brought in by former Leafs GM Brad Treliving. Doan recently interviewed in Vancouver. We’ll see where Doan ends up but he’s ...
Keep an eye on the San Jose Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs. The two teams have been linked to a few offseason trade proposals, and one mega-deal could see the Sharks offering their number two overall pick at next month's draft in a package for Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews. Matthews and the Maple Leafs are not on the same page at the moment, and he's slated to sit down with new general manager John Chayka next week to go over the team's new direction. Matthews has hinted that if ...
After Monday’s practice, Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discussed Ben Danford joining the Marlies’ playoff run, Danford’s acclimation process to pro playoff hockey, Easton Cowan’s second-round performance, and the challenge against the Cleveland Monsters in the third round. Ben Danford has joined the team. What is the plan for him? Gruden: We know what […]
The post John Gruden on the challenge for Ben Danford acclimating to pro playoff hockey with the Marlies: “Good players like that...
As stated back on April 20 , HBIC will be using the summer to visit various cities and towns in Manitoba to document all the interesting, weird, and fun statues found in these communities while seeking out some local hockey stories as well. With me needing to head south down Highway 75 towards the Canada-US border, I thought I'd make a little detour and begin this fun project with a quick stop in Dominion City, Manitoba where we'll discover our first roadside attraction!
Dominion City site...
Here are your links for today: Devils Links A couple names to keep an eye on for front office positions: Hockey Links The Hurricanes are having a dominant playoff run: Playoff scoring leaders as of Saturday: Hart Trophy finalists: “Auston Matthews remains uncertain about his future with the Toronto Maple Leafs despite the team’s recent […]
“We showed a lot of resiliency, and it was just a full team effort all the way down. We’re ecstatic.” – Vinni Lettieiri “All the credit goes to the players and Artie for making some big saves when he needed to. We didn’t stray away from the process, and that’s a great road win against […]
The post Toronto Marlies upset Laval, advance to division final with come-from-behind Game 5 victory appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .