Berube joined an exclusive head coaching group with his 19th victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Craig Berube seemed genuinely surprised when asked about the milestone he had just reached. The Toronto Maple Leafs head coach had just picked up his 300th win as an NHL head coach after his club defeated the Buffalo Sabres 5-3 on Saturday, becoming the 56th bench boss to reach that mark.
"Oh, really? That's a lot of coaches. I got a long way to go," Berube said with a smile. "No, it's great. I don't even know. But I mean, I don't look at stuff like that too much. It's great. You know, I'm obviously happy about it."
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While Berube may be modest about the achievement, it's a significant accomplishment in a coaching career that has spanned nearly a decade. He reached this milestone in his ninth season as an NHL head coach, a journey that began with the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2013-14 season.
Berube's coaching career has been marked by both consistency and a knack for turning teams around. He led the St. Louis Blues to their first-ever Stanley Cup victory in 2019 after taking over mid-season and guiding them on an improbable run. His regular season record with the Blues was impressive, boasting a .597 winning percentage over six seasons.
Known for his demanding style and emphasis on defensive responsibility, Berube has earned a reputation as a coach who can get the most out of his players. His success in St. Louis, where he instilled a strong work ethic and defensive structure, is a testament to his coaching abilities.
Now with the Maple Leafs, Berube is tasked with bringing his winning formula to a team with high expectations. He's inherited a talented roster with offensive firepower, and early indications suggest he's implementing his system effectively. The Leafs currently sit atop the Atlantic Division with a 19-10-2 record, good for a .645 points percentage.
His influence on being a tougher team defensively has worked thus far. Toronto sits tied for 5th in the NHL in goals against per game at 2.61, a large improvement from the 3.18 per game allowed last season.
Per Hockeyreference.com, there have been 398 NHL coaches in the history of the league.