Report: Maple Leafs grant Oilers permission to speak with Craig Berube about head coaching vacancy

Edmonton is seeking to interview Craig Berube, after requesting and receiving permission from Toronto. Berube was fired May 13 following Toronto missing the playoffs for the first time since Auston Matthews was drafted. An initial meeting between Berube and Edmonton general manager Stan Bowman is expected to be followed by a formal interview. Edmonton recently fired head coach Kris Knoblauch after a first-round loss to Anaheim, despite back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances. Connor McDavid is entering a two-year contract, and Edmonton plans to hire a sixth head coach since his draft. McDavid described the team as average with high expectations. Berube’s Toronto teams advanced further than prior coaches, emphasizing team defense supported by strong goaltending.

"Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reported on Monday morning that the Oilers requested, and were subsequently granted permission from the Maple Leafs to speak to head coach Craig Berube, who was fired on May 13 after the Maple Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time since Auston Matthews was drafted (or 2020 if you're not counting the bubble play-in series as a playoff round). TSN's Ryan Rishaug then followed up on the report, saying that a formal interview was expected after an initial meeting between Berube and Oilers general manager Stan Bowman."

"While the Maple Leafs' offseason situation has been one that's taken centre stage among discussion around the league, even with the playoffs ongoing, the Oilers have quietly been having a tumultuous offseason themselves. They just fired head coach Kris Knoblauch after losing in the first round to the Anaheim Ducks following back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances. Connor McDavid is about to enter a two-year contract, and the Oilers as a whole are going to be ringing in that new deal by looking for their sixth head coach since McDavid was drafted."

""We were an average team all year," McDavid told reporters after their season ended. "An average team with high expectations, you're going to be disappointed.""

"The Maple Leafs had an admirable commitment to team defence that was propped up even further by elite goaltending, and it seems like the Oilers are looking for a similar commitment between their team and next head coach. While Bruce Cassidy appears to be Edmonton's top choice for their head coaching vacancy, the Vegas Golde"

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