The debate over who was the better coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Sheldon Keefe or Craig Berube, is a complex one, filled with nuances that extend beyond mere wins and losses. Keefe, who was replaced by Berube before the start of last season, consistently led the team to the playoffs, but failed to achieve significant postseason success. Berube, on the other hand, faces the challenge of potentially missing the playoffs altogether this season.
Keefe is known as a tactician who focuses on details. He emphasizes the importance of analytics when making decisions, and his teams are built to withstand the regular season grind by making adjustments to the lines and maximizing the efficiency to get as many points as possible. His approach involves adjusting lines, finding efficiencies, and squeezing points out of games. Under Keefe, the Maple Leafs played an "east-west" style of hockey, which prioritized puck possession and passing the puck to teammates while moving toward the opponent's net. This resulted in the Leafs having a high puck possession ratio.
Berube's style is almost the opposite; he is a motivator who embraces an old-school approach to hockey. His simple and direct messages resonate with players when things are going well, creating confidence and momentum. However, when the team faces challenges or the structure breaks down, Berube tends to become stubborn and sticks to his original message. Berube employs a "north-south" system that emphasizes constant pressure on the defending team and a more chaotic style of play.
Halfway through the 2024-25 season, the Maple Leafs had a record of 30-16-2 under Berube, which is better than their 25-15-8 record at the same point last season under Keefe. However, some argue that the team's underlying statistics do not support these on-ice results. The Maple Leafs' offensive output has decreased this season. At five-on-five, the team is averaging fewer shot attempts, shots on net, scoring chances, and high-danger chances per 60 minutes compared to last season. Defensively, there has been slight improvements, such as allowing fewer high-danger chances and scoring chances per 60 minutes, but they are allowing more shot attempts and shots on goal.
One notable difference between Berube and Keefe is how they deploy their players. Berube trusts his bottom-six and third defensive pairing more than Keefe did, resulting in the stars remaining fresh while the rest of the lineup stays engaged. Under Keefe, the Leafs relied heavily on their stars, sometimes to an excessive extent, and did not involve their bottom-six as much.
Ultimately, the question of whether Keefe or Berube was the better coach depends on what one values most. Keefe's regular season success and tactical approach are contrasted by Berube's emphasis on motivation, different system of play, and playoff performance.
