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Craig Berube Expected To Have Bigger Role in New Maple Leafs Era, Claims Insider

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated May 24, 2025 7:48 AM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs are restructuring their leadership following the departure of longtime president Brendan Shanahan while keeping general manager Brad Treliving at his current position.

Meanwhile, head coach Craig Berube, who signed his contract with Toronto ahead of this season, is expected to play a larger role in team decisions moving forward.

Shanahan's exit, announced Thursday, ended an 11-year tenure that included only two playoff series wins. The organization also confirmed it will not appoint a direct replacement, leaving Treliving and CEO Keith Pelley at the top of hockey operations.

Chris Johnston reported that Berube’s voice will now be more central to decision-making and have a larger impact on Toronto's moves going forward.

In the wake of the #leafs executive shakeup, it's clear Craig Berube will have more power or say in the operation than a typical NHL head coach. He had dinner with MLSE CEO Keith Pelley last night, and Pelley called Berube an "incredible asset."
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 23, 2025

"I’d say I came away from that feeling as though Brad Treliving’s making the final call on those guys," Johnston also said while appearing on TSN’s "Overdrive," referring to upcoming free agents Mitch Marner and John Tavares. "What has to be worked out a little bit here is, this was new, the idea that Craig Berube is kind of in the inner circle now."

Berube, who completed his first season as Leafs coach with a 52-26-4 record, had dinner with MLSE CEO Keith Pelley the night before the team’s press conference, per Johnston.

"I think it’s telling," Johnston said. "When we asked Pelley about it, he said he thinks Craig’s a tremendous asset to the organization.

"It’s someone he wants to lean on."

Johnston confirmed that there are no current plans to hire a new team president, while Pelley acknowledged that more changes are likely coming following those announced in the past few hours.

"We’ve made a lot of changes over the last year with this team, and we’ve made progress," Pelley said. "Further change will probably be needed to get us to the next level, and yesterday was the first step."

Toronto was eliminated in the second round by the Florida Panthers in seven games in another early postseason exit amid the current Core Four era of Leafs hockey.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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