The Best and worst moves by the Toronto Maple Leafs this offseason
By Edward Eng
In preparation for the 2024-25 NHL season, the Toronto Maple Leafs made various moves during the offseason with hopes that they would give them the best chance at success for the coming year.
Whether it was the signing of players, the changing of management personnel, or just the exodus of players that were no longer needed, the Toronto Maple Leafs tried to put themselves in the best possible position to be legitimate contenders for the Stanley Cup.
Looking back at the relevant transactions made, some of them would be considered great moves, whereas some others might not actually turn out so good in the long run for the Leafs.
As a result, let’s take a look at the best and worst moves made by the Maple Leafs during this offseason and how it may impact the team going forward.
The Best and worst moves by the Toronto Maple Leafs this offseason
Best Move: The Hiring of Craig Berube
Following year after year of playoff failure for the Leafs, it was about time that a major change be made in the coaching front to give this team a new approach and hockey culture. By relieving Sheldon Keefe of his duties and bringing in Craig Berube as his successor, the Leafs have now done exactly that. As a former Maple Leaf during his playing days, Berube knows exactly how hungry and starved the franchise is for a Stanley Cup title. If there’s anyone that could bring a team that seemed destined for failure and turn it into a championship-calibre group, Berube is certainly the right one to do it.
After all, one just has to look back to the 2018-19 NHL season when he took over an underachieving, bottom-feeding St. Louis Blues team and took them all the way to a Cup title. They also did so riding on the back of a young, solid goalie. Hopefully Berube can now do the same with this current Maple Leafs team, who also happens to have a young, solid goalie, and help finally end one of the longest title droughts in sports history.