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. During a heated on-ice moment in the early 2010s between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers, retired NHL defenseman Chris Pronger shared a memorable story on The Cam & Strick Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mux6PEIJWbA] Tuesday about former Leaf Colton Orr showing respect to newly appointed Leafs head coach Craig Berube – who served as an assistant coach for the Flyers at the time. “When he got fired in Philly I didn’t really understand it,” Pronger said, as then general manager Ron Hextall parted ways with Berube. “Hexy wanted his own guy in there. But I like Chief (Berube). I had him as an assistant coach there, and obviously played against him for a long time.” Looking back on a particular incident that showcased the respect Berube commanded, he stated, “It was funny though. This was when Colton Orr was in Toronto and he was kind of running the roost, right? He’s coming by our bench and he’s motherf****ng everybody. ‘What are you f****ng doing?’ He was like ‘I’m not talking to you, Chief’. I mean, as he’s going at it, he saw Chief, I think they locked eyes, ‘I’m not talking to you’.” Berube, who had a long and respected career as an enforcer before transitioning to coaching, clearly left an impression on players like Orr – who made his money playing with a similar style of toughness. From a broader perspective, it also offers a glimpse into the character of Berube, a figure respected by his peers both on and off the ice. Berube was hired as the Maple Leafs’ 32nd head coach in franchise history [https://x.com/MapleLeafs/status/1791574496282907024] on May 17, 2024. At 58 years old, the ‘Chief’ was formerly the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers for two seasons (2013-15) before spending six seasons as the bench boss with the St. Louis Blues, where he compiled a regular season record of 206-132-44 (.597). He won a Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019, their first in franchise history, and was named a finalist for the 2019 Jack Adams Award. In 543 regular season games as an NHL head coach, Berube has a record of 281-190-72 (.584). Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTk1MTUxMDE2NDM2ODQ0/cf1808c0-6a82-4298-9049-3eb2eae105b0.jpg] Related Report: Lane Lambert Could Become Associate Coach of Craig Berube's Maple Leafs Staff, Not Assistant, Dean Chynoweth 'Not Going to be Back' [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/report-lane-lambert-could-become-associate-coach-of-craig-berubes-maple-leafs-staff-not-assistant-dean-chynoweth-not-going-to-be-back] Maple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan Shows Love to London in Instagram Post Following Memorable Season with Knights [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-prospect-easton-cowan-shows-love-to-london-in-instagram-post-following-memorable-season-with-knights] 'I Don't Know if Toronto's Cheering For Us': Oilers Forward Zach Hyman Doesn't Expect Maple Leafs Fans to Support Them in Stanley Cup Final [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/i-dont-know-if-torontos-cheering-for-us-oilers-forward-zach-hyman-doesnt-expect-maple-leafs-fans-to-support-them-in-stanley-cup-final] News from THN.com The Florida Panthers Face a Busy Off-Season Following the Stanley Cup Final [https://thehockeynews.com/news/the-florida-panthers-face-a-busy-off-season-following-the-stanley-cup-final] 'You Don't Have to Be a Die-Hard Hockey Fan to Appreciate Connor McDavid' — Why U.S. Sports Fans Are Cheering for the Oilers [https://thehockeynews.com/news/you-dont-have-to-be-a-die-hard-hockey-fan-to-appreciate-connor-mcdavid-why-u-s-sports-fans-are-cheering-for-the-oilers] Carolina's Martin Necas On the Move? Three Potential NHL Landing Spots [https://thehockeynews.com/news/carolinas-martin-necas-on-the-move-three-potential-nhl-landing-spots]
