Former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube recently cleared the air about his involvement in the Edmonton Oilers' coaching search. Speaking on the Leafs Morning Take podcast, Berube revealed that while he did have a great experience interviewing for the position, he ultimately chose to withdraw from consideration.
Berube explained that his conversations with Edmonton's management group, specifically General Manager Stan Bowman and CEO of Hockey Operations Jeff Jackson, were very positive, but the timeline didn't work for him.
"It was good. I had a great conversation with Stan Bowman and Jeff Jackson for quite some time and went through the process, and it just got dragged out too long. So, I just took myself out of it. They've got decisions to make, and they're going to do what they do," Berube said.
Despite bowing out, Berube emphasized that there were no hard feelings and that he valued the chance to connect with Edmonton's front office, noting that paths always have a way of crossing again in the NHL.
"So it's always good to meet people and they get to know you and know what you're like and, you know, what your process is and your identity and how you want your team to play," he added.
Following his withdrawal, the Oilers pivoted and eventually hired another former Maple Leafs bench boss, Mike Babcock, to take over the team.
Berube's exit from Toronto came after a tough season where the team missed the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade, leading new GM John Chayka to opt for an organizational shift.
He also opened up about the team's struggles, pointing heavily to the loss of Mitch Marner as the moment Toronto lost its "emotional leader" and daily energy source.
As for what's next, "Chief" made it clear that his coaching days are far from over. Even though he's not on a bench for the upcoming season, he stressed that he has "a lot left" and is eagerly waiting for his next chance to get back into the game.
"I'll see what comes up. Hopefully I'll get a call at some point, get back into the game and into coaching," Berube said . "I've got a lot left, and I'm ready to get back in it."
While Craig Berube won't be behind the Oilers' bench, his comments make it clear that stepping away from the coaching search was about timing, not a lack of interest.
