Toronto Maples Leafs GM John Chayka spoke to reporters Wednesday after the team fired head coach Craig Berube.
Berube’s firing comes after a season in which the Leafs failed to make the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
In the first year of his two-year term, Berube led Toronto to the top of the Atlantic Division with 108 points. Things took a turn last season, when the club fell to the bottom of the division with 78 points.
Chayka, who was awarded the GM spot earlier this month, announced Berbube’s departure in a news release, saying: “This decision is more reflective of an organizational shift and an opportunity for a fresh start than it is an evaluation of Craig.”
Here’s what he said:
12:55 p.m. - No timeline for Berube’s replacement
In terms of replacing Berube, Chayka said there’s no timeline in place.
“There’s key milestones that are coming up, and so certainly, you know, running an efficient process matters. But like I said, we’re going to take our time and do a very wide search and talk to a lot of people.”
12:50 p.m. - Leafs did not ‘solicit feedback’ from players, coaching staff about Berube
The Leafs GM admitted that the front office didn’t “solicit feedback” from players or coaches before firing Berube.
“You know, the only things I heard about Craig (were) just the type of person he is, and how much they enjoyed being around him.”
12:45 p.m. - Who will be the next coach?
Chayka stayed tight-lipped on who will helm the Toronto hockey club next.
“Out of respect for the process and the candidates, I don’t want to get into that today... we’ll have a thorough process. It’ll be a wide search. We’ll take our time try to get it right. It’s the most critical decision,” he said.
12:40 p.m. - Chayka said he discussed the situation with Berube before his dismissal
Chayka said he met with Berube before he got the axe.
“We had some discussions. We met in person, you know, yesterday we came to that conclusion, and, I just say again, you know, a lot of respect for him and everything he did. And out of that respect, felt like when those decisions are made, it’s better not to delay. We thought it was the right thing to do at the right time, and we made the decision,” he said.
12:35 p.m. - Decision to fire Berube wasn’t made ‘in a vacuum’
Asked how Berube’s firing marks an “organizational shift” for the club, Chayka said the decision wasn’t made “in a vacuum.”
“This is a bigger picture decision. And it’s not just about a coach. Mats (Sundin) 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...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 Keith (Pelley) on board aligned on a vision and a path ahead.”
Toronto Maple Leafs great Mats Sundin was named senior executive adviser, hockey operations by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment CEO Keith Pelley earlier this month.
12:30 p.m. - ‘This was the right decision’
Chayka started his remarks Wednesday by saying that Berube’s firing was “the right decision.”
“It was not a verdict on Craig’s coaching. I think it stands for itself, and we felt that this was the right decision at this time,” he said.
