‘He Gets The Best Out Of His Players’: Lightning Coach Jon Cooper Reveals Insights on New Maple Leafs Head Coach Craig Berube

Berube was hired as the Maple Leafs’ 32nd head coach in franchise history on May 17, 2024.

After another disappointing Toronto Maple Leafs playoff loss, it's time to break up the core four forwards and that might mean moving on from Mitch Marner, who becomes a free agent at the end of the 2024-25 season.

A new beginning is on the horizon for the Toronto Maple Leafs and newly hired bench boss Craig Berube. Serving as the team’s 32nd head coach in franchise history, the organization is optimistic that the highly coveted veteran can push the Leafs over the hump.

One well-respected head coach seems to think he can.

Tampa Bay Lightning’s Jon Cooper, an established leader and among the best coaches in the NHL, had plenty to say in an interview on Leafs Morning Take with hosts Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill regarding the appointment of Berube in Toronto.

In a candid conversation, Cooper first started by emphasizing the competitive yet amicable nature of their relationship, followed by noting the impact and impression he’ll leave on his players.

“I have a solid friendship with him. I hate when these guys come into our division and I'm buddies with them,” Cooper revealed. “But I think he's a hell of a coach. I think he gets the best out of his players.”

Cooper acknowledged the presence and aura Berube brings, praising his coaching abilities while noting the challenges the Leafs can expect. Highlighting that he thought former Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe “did a heck of a job” in Toronto, Cooper believes that Berube will offer a different voice and perspective as the new season approaches.

"Honestly, I thought Sheldon Keefe did a heck of a job there. We played him the last two years in the playoffs and they were a hard team. But Craig will be a different voice for them," Cooper stated.

With a proven track record in the NHL, Berube is known for his ability to turn teams into contenders, most recently the Cinderella story of the 2018-19 St. Louis Blues. His tactical and clear approach, combined with his willingness to make necessary adjustments, is what sets him apart. Fans are looking for accountability and a coach who will get the most out of their players, and Berube is exactly that – a coach who expects an "honest effort" on a nightly basis.

“He's an honest coach. If fans of the team want to get the most out of their players and have them... I know the way he's going to play and it's going to be hard to play against. But the one thing he'll make sure he gets out of the guys is an honest effort. That's what Craig does."

As plenty of head coaching vacancies opened in the offseason, Berube interviewed with the Ottawa Senators, Winnipeg Jets, and New Jersey Devils. Ultimately, the 58-year-old of over 1000 NHL games as a player, instead became the 16th head coach in Maple Leafs history to have formerly played for the organization.

Split between time with the Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues, he has coached a total of 543 regular season games with a record of 281-190-72 (.584 winning percentage) In the postseason, he is 27-31 and a Stanley Cup Champion.