John Chayka Shares Update on Maple Leafs' Coaching Search
The Toronto Maple Leafs finished the regular season with just 78 points and a 32-36-14 record, good enough to finish ninth in the Eastern Conference and fifth-worst across the NHL.
After parting ways with Craig Berube following the disappointing 2025-26 season, in which the Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade, the organization has conducted an extensive interview process under new general manager John Chayka to land the perfect head coach for the upcoming campaign.
Now, a decision appears imminent, with the Leafs nearing the biggest decision the organization will make this offseason as their head coaching search enters its final stage.
"I think we are on the final phases at this stage," Chayka said on Tuesday. "It's been a pretty thorough process so far and we've taken our time with it. We've had some in-person meetings recently and we are getting down to decision time, so it should be in the next, you know, several days."
Toronto has been without a head coach since May, when Berube was fired. Berube posted a combined 84-62-18 record during his two years at the helm of the Maple Leafs, reaching the playoffs in 2025 and going 7-6 in the postseason.
The Maple Leafs have interviewed multiple candidates, including experienced NHL coaches and others from outside the league, as part of what Chayka described as a comprehensive evaluation.
"We're in the final phases."
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 16, 2026
John Chayka says the Maple Leafs are nearing a decision on their next head coach. pic.twitter.com/1qBzKcAtvZ
"We didn't make this decision in a vacuum," Chayka said. "It's a bigger picture decision and it's not just about the coach."
The new Maple Leafs general manager has already begun reshaping the roster, including completing his first trade.
Toronto traded goalie Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday in exchange for netminder Samuel Ersson, blueliner Emil Andrae, and Philadelphia's third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
With the NHL Draft scheduled for June 26-27, the Maple Leafs are expected to finalize their coaching hire before stepping onto the stage with the No. 1 overall pick.
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This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 4:00 AM.