The Toronto Maple Leafs might be close to naming their new head coach, or maybe not.
Reports surfaced this week that former St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube was recently in town to meet with team brass. He was already the favorite on our board at OntarioBets.com (as part of our Ontario betting sites coverage), and the news first reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman led us to shorten our odds on the 58-year-old. Friedman also happens to believe Berube, who coached the Blues to the 2019 Stanley Cup, is most likely to get the job.
However, rising up the board with a bullet is another coach who was fired during the most recent regular season. Todd McLellan, who was let go by the Los Angeles Kings just before the All-Star Game, also made a trip to meet with management. Previously at +4450, he’s now the second choice on our new board.
As a friendly reminder, these odds are strictly for infotainment purposes only. Don’t try to find them at Ontario sports betting apps. They won’t be there.
Toronto Maple Leafs Next Head Coach
Name | Odds | Percent Chance |
Craig Berube | +250 | 28.6% |
Todd McCellan | +600 | 14.3% |
Gerard Gallant | +700 | 12.5% |
Joel Quenneville | +2700 | 3.6% |
Mike Sullivan | +4050 | 2.4% |
Rod Brind’Amour | +4450 | 2.2% |
The Field | +175 | 36.4% |
Top Leafs Next Coach Contenders
Last week, after firing Sheldon Keefe, Leafs general manager Brad Treliving told media members that the team’s search would be expedient but thorough. However, while the Maple Leafs coaching job is one of the most high-profile positions in the NHL, it’s not the only one available. Media reports indicate Berube has also spoken with the New Jersey Devils and Winnipeg Jets about their vacancies. See our Stanley Cup odds page for teams remaining in the playoffs.
As we touched on last week, Berube and former Vegas Golden Knights and New York Rangers coach Gerard Gallant, our current third pick, both have taken teams to the Stanley Cup final. That’s an item missing from McLellan’s resume. In 16 seasons, some of which have been partial, he’s taken the San Jose Sharks, Edmonton Oilers and Kings to the postseason a total of nine times. Six of those playoff runs happened during his first years as a coach of the Sharks. He led the Kings to the postseason in 2022 and 2023, but L.A. did not move past the first round.
Whoever winds up behind the Maple Leafs bench at Scotiabank Arena might have a vastly different team than Toronto had for the past few seasons under Keefe. Mitch Marner might be moved; he is entering the final season of his contract and the Leafs could trade him to another team willing to sign the 27-year-old wing to a new deal. That move would also allow the Maple Leafs to make other changes to their roster, such as landing another goaltender to back up Joseph Woll or perhaps compete with the 25-year-old for the No. 1 spot.
Chances For Brind’Amour Fading?
Might Toronto be waiting to see what happens with Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour? The Hurricanes, were Stanley Cup favorites not long ago but found themselves down 3-0 to the Rangers in the second round (Caesars Ontario Sportsbook has the Florida Panthers at the current Cup favorite with +275 odds). Carolina has won the past two games in the best-of-seven to make things interesting. However, a loss tonight at home or Saturday in New York would end the Canes season and potentially make the sixth-year coach available. His contract is up this season, and while he’s expressed a desire to stay in Carolina, there’s no new contract announcement yet.
As the Canes have rallied, our odds on Brind’Amour have lengthened, and our odds on current Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan and long-time coach and three-time Stanley Cup winner Joel Quenneville.
Speaking of the Hurricanes and the Stanley Cup playoff odds, their price to win it all is now +1000 at Sports Interaction Ontario Sportsbook. The Rangers are at +500. The Florida Panthers are the favorites at +270, with the Dallas Stars (+300) and Edmonton Oilers (+475) not far behind.
