The New Jersey Devils came out of the 2023-24 season with the biggest decision to make of the Tom Fitzgerald tenure. He just fired his first head coach less than a year after giving him an extension. Lindy Ruff was great at developing some of the Devils’ stars, but he wasn’t the guy to get them over the hump and make them a constant contender. They gave former Vancouver Canucks head coach Travis Green a shot, but most Devils fans were apoplectic of his candidacy. They wanted a big-name coach to take the Devils into true Stanley Cup contention.
After Ruff allowed his players to do as they wished, many wanted someone who would stick their thumb on the pulse of this team. The most popular name amongst the fanbase was former St. Louis Blues head coach Craig Berube.
Berube was also fired earlier that year despite bringing a Stanley Cup to St. Louis in 2019. He actually did that as an interim head coach before officially getting the job. The success didn’t continue, and he eventually lost his job, but the Blues opened the door for Berube to be the top candidate available.
Then, the Toronto Maple Leafs lost in the first round to the Boston Bruins. Again. Enough was enough, and major changes came to the most popular and profitable team in the NHL. Then-head coach Sheldon Keefe was fired, and there was a new, desirable opening for coaching candidates.
Fitzgerald could not get this decision wrong, or he would be joining the coaches in unemployment. His job was on the line with a superstar lineup and multiple first-overall picks at center. This decision was on him, and him alone.
There were reports at the time that the Devils spent “multiple” days with Berube. That shows they were serious about the interview process. Some were worried that Berube would be “too tough” for the young, upstart Devils after the style Ruff brought to the room.
We’ll never know because Berube chose to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Devils welcomed the man Berube replaced, Sheldon Keefe.
Looking back at it, it looks like the Devils made the right decision, even if Berube made the decision for them. It’s not clear if Berube chose the Leafs over the Devils, or if the Devils changed their tune when Keefe became available. Either way, the goal David Pastrnak scored in overtime of Game 7 changed the history of two franchises and two head coaches that are now forever connected.
New Jersey Devils have to feel liberated in the struggles of Craig Berube's Toronto Maple Leafs
Well, connected until one moves on again. It appears there are some people who are not happy with Berube’s job in Toronto. He did win a first-round series last year and won the Atlantic Division, but he lost in the second round to the Florida Panthers. That’s not the end of the world, but the Maple Leafs want more with a high-powered roster.
This offseason was a transitional one for the Leafs. They let Mitch Marner go to Las Vegas, and they built the roster to better fit Berube’s vision. They added Nic Roy, re-signed John Tavares, added Dakota Joshua, and made a few other moves that provide more “grit” to the lineup. The Devils know how this story goes.
Now, the Maple Leafs aren’t a top team in the league. They are dealing with some injuries, but there’s something off about the Leafs. As of this writing, Toronto has 17 points in 17 games. Only the Buffalo Sabres are worse than them in the Eastern Conference. The bottom of the Eastern Conference has been incredibly competitive, but this is still unacceptable for Leafs fans.
There are even some saying the Leafs could fire Berube. That feels extreme, especially so early in the season, but the truth is nobody is saying that about Keefe. He’s actually in the early Jack Adams conversation after getting the Devils to first place.
The situations between New Jersey and Toronto are very different, but Berube is clearly not this magical coach who can deal with all problems like many thought. His tough coaching style might grind on his players. He might have a shelf life, similar to what we’ve seen from guys like Peter Laviolette.
As of today, Devils fans are happy with the decision that was made. Whether it was Berube or Fitzgerald, someone saved the Devils. Keefe has done an incredible job dealing with this team’s injuries and getting them to first place in the Eastern Conference. Would Berube have been able to do the same? Would he have even been able to get last year’s Devils team to the playoffs? We’ll never know, and we’ll never need to, thanks to Sheldon Keefe.