6 coaching candidates for Toronto Maple Leafs to consider after firing Berube

After plenty of speculation, the Toronto Maple Leafs have officially fired head coach Craig Berube.

John Chayka, who was hired as the Leafs GM earlier this month, confirmed to reporters on Wednesday morning that Berube has been let go. This comes after a rough Maple Leafs season which saw them miss the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.

Chayka made it clear that there is no timeline on when a new coach will be hired, stating that the organization will have a thorough process in order to make sure they find the right person for the job.

With that said, here are six potential head coaching replacements for Berube:

Manny Malholtra

• Most recent coaching position: Abbotsford Canucks head coach 2025-26 

Manny Malholtra has yet to serve as a head coach at the NHL level, but it sounds like that will soon change.

The 45-year-old served as an assistant for both the Vancouver Canucks and Maple Leafs before landing a head coaching position with the Abbotsford Canucks ahead of the 2024-25 season. That first season saw him lead the Canucks' AHL affiliate to a Calder Cup championship.

During his time as an assistant coach in Toronto, Malholtra was tasked with running the team's power play. That's an area that needs to improve with this current group, as they finished 15th among all NHL teams this past season with a conversion rate of just 21.3 per cent.

Jay Woodcroft

• Most recent coaching position: Anaheim Ducks assistant in 2025-26

Jay Woodcroft hasn't been able to land a head coaching position in the NHL since being fired by the Edmonton Oilers early into the 2023-24 season, but that could soon change.

Woodcroft is earning rave reviews from many thanks to the job he is doing as an assistant coach with the surging Anaheim Ducks. He was brought into Anaheim to help the team with their power play and overall offensive play, making him a great candidate for the Leafs, who are looking to get Auston Matthews back on track.

Woodcroft has plenty of experience coaching star-level talent. Not only did he mesh well with both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in Edmonton, but he has also spent plenty of time with other former elite players such as Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Henrik Zetterberg, and Pavel Datsyuk. 

Bruce Cassidy

• Most recent coaching position: Fired as Vegas Golden Knights head coach in 2025-26

Bruce Cassidy hasn't been on the market long, having been fired by the Vegas Golden Knights in late March. To no surprise, plenty of teams are said to have interest in the former Jack Awards Award winner.

Cassidy brings a more old-school approach that can wear on his players over time, though he has proven he can improve a team in quick fashion. There are questions as to how he and Chayka, a new-aged GM, would co-exist.

David Carle

• Most recent coaching position: University of Denver head coach in 2025-26

David Carle has been a name linked to NHL head coaching jobs for years. The 36-year-old has spent the past eight seasons as the head coach for the University of Denver. It's been a heckuva run, as he's won three national championships over the past five years.

To this point, Carle has chosen to remain with the University of Denver, a position which gives him stability. That said, an opportunity to coach the Maple Leafs may be too good to pass up should he be offered the role.

John Gruden

• Most recent team coached: Toronto Marlies head coach in 2025-26

Most will see this suggestion and think of longtime NFL head coach Jon Gruden. While he has had a ton of success over his career, he might have his hands full when it comes to coaching an NHL team.

This John Gruden is the head coach of the Toronto Marlies, a position he's held for the past three seasons. Over that time he has amassed a 107-75-34 record. 

Gruden has never been a head coach at the NHL level, but has served as an assistant with both the New York Islanders and Boston Bruins. 

Derek Lalonde

• Most recent team coached: Toronto Maple Leafs assistant in 2025-26

Another potential internal solution for the Maple Leafs is Derek Lalonde. The 53-year-old recently wrapped up his first season as an assistant coach in Toronto.

Though Lalonde doesn't have as much experience as Cassidy, he did serve parts of three seasons as the head coach of the Detroit Red Wings. He was also an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning during their back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021.