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Could Craig Berube be the solution to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ playoff woes?
The last time Craig Berube stepped into a head coaching role, his team won a Stanley Cup just a few months later. Could the Toronto Maple Leafs be next in line for such success?
Reflecting on Sheldon Keefe’s tenure as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, there’s room for disappointment, but also for celebration. Keefe took over a team fatigued by Mike Babcock’s rigid coaching techniques and transformed them into an Eastern Conference powerhouse.
Keefe delivered three of the four highest winning percentage regular seasons in Leafs franchise history. Had his key players performed in Game 7s, he might have lifted a trophy himself. His coaching prowess is evident, proven by his success at every level, notably with the 2017-18 Calder Cup championship with the Toronto Marlies.
Berube Coaching Change Could Be All the Toronto Maple Leafs Need
During that Calder Cup run with the Marlies, Keefe’s best players excelled in critical moments, and his goaltender was the standout player on the ice, leading to their American Hockey League championship victory.
Despite his efforts, it was time for Keefe to move on, and this could be the best thing for the Leafs in years. Although Keefe did nothing wrong during his tenure, a fresh voice can invigorate a team, as history has shown. When Berube took over the head coaching job in St. Louis, the Blues won the Stanley Cup that same season, a remarkable but not unheard-of feat in hockey.
To win a Stanley Cup, a team needs to get into the playoffs and peak at the right time. A coaching change can ignite a season and breathe new life into a team, precisely what happened in St. Louis. The Blues transformed from one of the worst teams in hockey to Stanley Cup champions by June.
Since the NHL Lockout, five coaches have won the Stanley Cup in their first year, and nine have done so in their second year. Coaches like Joel Quenneville, Darryl Sutter, and Mike Sullivan, who won in their first or second year, went on to secure additional Stanley Cups shortly after.
These examples suggest that a new voice can bring immediate results. While there’s talk about the Leafs needing to trade Mitch Marner, acquire a top defenseman, or find a better goaltender, perhaps the real solution lies in hiring Craig Berube.
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