Eakins, who coached within the Leafs’ system from 2005-13, also discussed the pressures of coaching in the Toronto market.
The growing support for Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube continues to build.
On Thursday, former Leafs and Marlies coach Dallas Eakins, who was involved with the Leafs’ system from 2005-13, commented on Berube’s no-nonsense approach on the latest episode of Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill. Eakins expressed optimism that the Leafs’ culture could undergo a significant transformation under the new leadership of Berube and associate coach Lane Lambert.
“With Chief coming in, I thought that was a great hire. That is a Stanley Cup-winning coach. There’s no BS, no tip-toeing around any issues with Chief – he hits him head-on,” Eakins explained.
“The other thing that I love that Chief and Brad (Treliving) did there, and I think there should be more of this in the NHL, I’ve been fairly vocal about this, is I think the more leadership you have on the bench, the better. Hiring Lane Lambert, who’s been a head coach in the league, I think that is one hell of a hire. I think it’s an incredible hire because of the leadership there.”
Going further down the line, Eakins mentioned that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, pun intended. He highlighted how it starts from the top and general manager Brad Treliving setting the tone through his acquisitions and changes behind the bench.
“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. I know you have to have success in the regular season just to get to the playoffs, but then you have to have a certain kind of team to win in the playoffs.”
He emphasized that while regular-season success is important, the key to playoff success is building a team with the right mindset – a challenge that Berube is well-equipped to tackle. However, it’s easier said than done, and Eakins understands this better than anyone as a former coach and player in the Toronto market.
Eakins was quick to point out that he doesn’t turn a blind eye to the fact that Berube won’t be distracted by the outside noise.
“I know the passion of that Toronto market. It’s either win or bust, it’s either parade or doom, that’s just how that market is. This is why I love Chief there. Chief is not going to give a crap about what anybody is thinking,” Eakins remarked.
Claiming he still owns a property in Toronto and watches them rather closely, Eakins praised now-former Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe for his efforts while at the same time, underscoring the need for a fresh voice and approach, stating the Leafs “really hit it out of the park” with their newly formed personnel.
“I think Sheldon Keefe did a hell of a job. I think he did everything he could but I do think Chief coming in there will give the team a different way of doing things, a different voice on how to encourage them and inspire them to do things,” Eakins said.
“Chief has already taken a team all the way down the road to win a Stanley Cup and he certainly knows what it takes to get there. I think they really hit it out of the park with the general manager, with Chief and Lambert coming in.”
Eakins joins a growing list of current and former NHL coaches, including Tampa Bay Lightning’s Jon Cooper and veteran coach Bruce Boudreau, who have publicly praised Berube this summer. The consensus seems to be that Berube’s track record and straightforward style make him the right fit for a team looking to shake off years of playoff disappointments.
Berube was hired as the Leafs’ 32nd head coach in franchise history, following another first-round postseason exit in 2023-24. The 58-year-old has coached a total of 543 regular season games with a record of 281-190-72 (.584 winning percentage) split between the Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues. In the postseason, he is 27-31 and a Stanley Cup Champion with the Blues in the 2018-19 season.
