SAD NEWS: John Tavares of the Toronto Maple Leafs has terminated his employment with the team today……….

The Toronto Maple Leafs ended rampant speculation about their vacant coaching position late Friday afternoon by announcing former St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube will replace Sheldon Keefe behind their bench.

Berube’s no-guff approach and Stanley Cup-winning pedigree were massive selling points for Leafs GM Brad Treliving and team president Brendan Shanahan.

Now, Berube will be tasked with putting his stamp on the Buds, on and off the ice.

The Leafs had no shortage of assistants under Keefe – including veterans Guy Boucher, Mike Van Ryn, Manny Malhotra and Dean Chynoweth.

While some have linked former NHLers Steve Ott and Marc Savard as potential assistants in Toronto, both of them are under contract to other teams and would need permission to leave to take a Leafs job.

Van Ryn might be the one coach who sticks around, as he has experience with Berube under his belt.

Toronto’s abject failure in the power-play department in the 2024 playoffs could mean the end of the line for Boucher, the man in charge of it.

Savard’s experience as a crafty offensive force makes him a viable candidate to take over the Leafs’ power play if he becomes available.

But regardless of who Berube and the team chooses as new assistants and associates, the coaching dynamic is going to change in this new era.

The coaching carousel is spinning faster than ever.

If the Buds have difficulty moving many of their veteran players this summer, the very least that will happen is a notably new group of hockey minds running things on the ice alongside Berube.