Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Maple Leafs Announce Firing Amid Disappointing NHL Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Dec 22, 2025 6:27 PM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs made a change behind the bench on Monday as they attempt to halt the most severe downturn of the Auston Matthews era, and to salvage a season they entered with Stanley Cup aspirations.

The Leafs have fired assistant coach Marc Savard, Toronto confirmed in a statement posted on X.

Savard had overseen the team’s power play, which has struggled throughout the first half of the season and ranks last in the NHL at 13.3 percent.

The former NHL player was in his second season with Toronto and had joined Craig Berube’s staff following their previous collaboration when coaching the St. Louis Blues.

Throughout his 13-year career, Savard appeared in 807 regular-season games playing for the Calgary Flames, Atlanta Thrashers and Boston Bruins, scoring 207 goals and 706 points.

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— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 22, 2025

Savard’s dismissal follows a weekend in which the Leafs dropped back-to-back games, including a 5-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Sunday.

The Leafs’ power play has been at the center of mounting criticism, which is fair to assume is the main reason behind Savard's firing.

After mixing their units and sending John Tavares and William Nylander to the second line lately, the results failed to improve.

Over the full season, Toronto has only converted 12 chances, scoring three fewer goals than the second-worst team league-wide.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (88) warms up before an NHL game.Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Berube did not hide his frustration following a 4-0 loss to the Washington Capitals on Thursday.

“The power play has actually been getting better,” Berube said. “But tonight, it was God-awful, in my opinion.”

The team now sits last in the Atlantic Division at 15-15-5 and second-to-last in the Eastern Conference, only one point above the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Maple Leafs will host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET

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

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