Ten days into the job, John Chayka made his first major call as Toronto Maple Leafs general manager. Craig Berube, hired just two years ago, was relieved of his duties on Wednesday, May 13.
The firing came less than a week after Chayka and senior executive advisor Mats Sundin arrived to find a franchise in transition, a 32-36-14 finish fresh in the rearview mirror, and the most important player in the building still undecided about his future.
The question that immediately followed was unavoidable: Did Auston Matthews’ hesitancy cost Berube his job?
John Chayka Addresses Whether Auston Matthews’ Future Played a Role in Craig Berube’s Firing
Chayka answered that question before anyone had to ask it twice. “None. Zero.”
Two words. No qualifications, no caveats, no diplomatic deflection. The new GM was direct about it in his post-firing media availability, and the message was deliberate.
Whatever uncertainty surrounds Matthews and his contractual future with the Maple Leafs, Chayka was not about to allow the narrative to take root that his franchise player had forced the organization’s hand on a coaching decision less than two weeks into a new regime.
The Berube firing itself was framed as an organizational reset rather than a verdict on any individual’s performance. Chayka was measured in his praise of the man he had just let go.
“Craig Berube is a great man, a very good coach, and did a lot of good things here. That is not lost on me. I told him myself that I hope to lead with the same class and grace that he did in his time here.”
What Chayka was less willing to do was pretend the decision came without a broader context. Asked what the organization needed to do better, he acknowledged that the 10 days he and Sundin spent in the building, meeting staff from the chefs to some of the players, had led to the conclusion that change was needed beyond the coaching staff alone.
“We didn’t make this decision in a vacuum. This is a bigger picture decision. It is not just about a coach.”
On Matthews, Chayka was careful but not evasive. The two have spoken since his arrival, but a full sit-down has not yet happened, and Chayka explained why he was in no hurry to force it before he felt fully prepared.
“We’ve had conversations. I think it was important for me to get a good lay of the land in terms of internal workings and what we had in place here. I wanted to make sure that we had all the knowledge we could possibly have, so when we sit down, we can have the best discussion.”
Maple Leafs GM John Chayka on meeting with Auston Matthews:
“We’ve had conversations. I think it was important for me to get a good lay of the land in terms of internal workings and what we had in place here… I wanted to make sure that we had all the knowledge we could possibly…
— Anna Dua (@AnnaNoelleDua) May 13, 2026
It is a calculated approach, and one that makes sense given what is at stake. Matthews, 28, has two years remaining on his four-year, $53 million extension at $13.25 million per year.
He missed the final stretch of 2025-26 with a torn MCL, finished a season in which the Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time in his career, and has still not publicly committed to his future in Toronto.
Per TSN’s Chris Johnston, Matthews wants to see real action from the front office before making any decision, not promises or plans on paper.
Chayka’s framing of the relationship with Matthews as a partnership rather than a negotiation is notable. He was emphatic on that point.
“I view the players as our partners. Auston is an accomplished player who is world-class. He wants to align with the vision and the strategy ahead, as do we. I don’t think there is any type of competing interest. I think it is about getting on the same page.”
READ MORE: ‘We Had a Tough Year’: Maple Leafs Forward Makes Feelings Clear on Craig Berube Being Fired
Whether firing Berube gets them on the same page remains to be seen. What Chayka has done in his first two weeks is make clear that he intends to run the organization on his own terms, answer uncomfortable questions directly, and not allow the Matthews situation to become a shadow that falls over every decision he makes. That alone is a different energy from what Toronto has grown accustomed to.
The coaching search is now open. Matthews is still watching. The clock is running.
