Former Maple Leafs Coach Praises Craig Berube And Envisions Success

Former NHL head coach and Toronto Maple Leafs assistant coach Dallas Eakins spoke highly of the franchise's decision to hire Craig Berube as their new head coach, highlighting Berube’s no-nonsense, accountability-driven style as a potential game-changer for the team.

Right after that, Eakins also acknowledged the style fit in Toronto, believing Berube's approach to coaching could succeed within the Leafs.

“With Chief (Craig Berube) coming in, I thought that was a great hire," Eakins said.

"That is a Stanley Cup-winning coach. There’s no BS, no tip-toeing around any issues with Chief–he hits them head-on,” Eakins said during an appearance on Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill on August 15 .

Eakins, who coached within the Leafs’ system from 2005-13, believes that Berube’s direct style will help reshape the team’s culture.

Eakins pointed out that Berube’s “no-care” attitude, especially when it comes to dealing with external opinions and pressures, is crucial in a high-stakes environment like Toronto.

“Chief is not going to give a crap about what anybody is thinking,” Eakins said.

Eakins is optimistic about the Leafs' future and noted that Berube’s track record speaks for itself, having already led a team to a Stanley Cup.

Not only that, but Eakins also praised the broader changes within the Leafs’ organization, including the hiring of associate coach Lane Lambert and the leadership shown by General Manager Brad Treliving.

“I’ll back it up even a step further. Brad Treliving is a very passionate, smart general manager,” Eakins said. “Having him come in with a different way to play, you can see the difference in players they’re acquiring, that’s the first step of getting a new mentality on how to play.”

Related: Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner Issues Brief Statement About His Situation