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Toronto Maple Leafs management sends blunt warning to Craig Berube
Photo credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs recently fired assistant coach Marc Savard, and while Craig Berube didn't lose his job, he is still very much on the hot seat.
Craig Berube got lucky on Monday as the Toronto Maple Leafs opted to avoid firing him. Instead, the team fired assistant coach Marc Savard for his failures with the power play.
Overall, the Leafs have the worst power play in the league, and their struggles date back to last season. Simply put, it was a firing that was long overdue.
For now, it appears as though Berube's job in Toronto is safe. However, that's not necessarily true. Instead, it appears as though Savard's firing was a warning of sorts.
According to Chris Johnston of TSN, the Leafs do not want to make big structural changes to the coaching staff in the middle of the season, right before Christmas.
Maple Leafs send a message to Craig Berube
Instead, management wants to continue to give Berube a chance. After all, he did get this team one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals last season.
That said, it should be noted that Berube has a short leash right now and is going to have to prove himself, and fast. Otherwise, his job will be next.
Management isn't ready to move on from Berube and still believes he can guide the team through this rough patch, but his future depends on turning things around quickly. The losing streak and poor road trip have real consequences, and this move reflects urgency and accountability, aiming to refresh the bench and find solutions without fully overhauling the coaching staff.
It will be fascinating to see whether or not Berube is able to turn this season around, especially as the Maple Leafs sit last in the Eastern Conference with a record of 15-15-5.
They need to get things turned around here, and if they can't make that happen, then there are going to be a lot of angry fans looking to renounce their allegiance.
Tonight, the Leafs take on the Pittsburgh Penguins, and this one game could be the momentum shifter the Leafs need to finally break free and have a big season.