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The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to make several meaningful changes this offseason.
The first came quickly. Just days after being eliminated from the playoffs, the Maple Leafs moved on from Sheldon Keefe as head coach, firing him before a two-year contract extension even began.
Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving said the club would be thorough in its search for a new bench boss but acknowledged that plenty of vacancies are available. Toronto will have to move with some urgency.
According to oddsmakers at theScore Bet, Craig Berube is the favorite to be the Leafs' new bench boss, while Todd McLellan is hot on his tail.
| Coach | Odds |
|---|---|
| Craig Berube | -125 |
| Todd McLellan | +150 |
| Any other coach | +300 |
| Gerard Gallant | +800 |
| Dean Evason | +900 |
| Joel Quenneville | +1500 |
| Guy Boucher | +1700 |
| Bruce Boudreau | +1800 |
| Jay Woodcroft | +1800 |
| Darryl Sutter | +3000 |
| Dan Bylsma | +6000 |
| Claude Julien | +7000 |
There's been a lot of speculation regarding Berube to the Leafs, and understandably so. He's a hard-nosed coach who has a Stanley Cup victory on his resume.
With the Maple Leafs perceived to be a "soft" team that always falls short when it matters most, it's not surprising the organization may feel Berube is the perfect elixir.
However, McLellan seems to be firmly on the radar. He hasn't enjoyed much postseason success in recent years, but his squads have generally performed well in the regular season.
McLellan also has a reputation as more of a defensive-minded coach who could perhaps be a change of pace and provide a fresh voice to try to get over the hump.
Ultimately, I think Berube will be Toronto's guy when all is said and done. The Maple Leafs have the deep pockets to give him the kind of money he'll command. Berube is highly sought after and has a Cup ring, which undoubtedly provides ammunition in contract negotiations.
There has been so much talk about the Leafs doing the little things right, getting to the hard areas when the games are tough, and making things happen without relying just on skill.
Right or wrong, Berube seems to be the perfect fit for what the team wants.
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