The first domino has fallen in Toronto.
Less than 24 hours after a demoralizing 5-1 loss to the Dallas Stars left the team reeling, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced Monday afternoon that they have relieved assistant coach Marc Savard of his duties. The move comes as the Maple Leafs (15-15-5) sit in the basement of the Atlantic Division and 15th in the Eastern Conference. While the heat has been rising on the Treliving-Berube era as a whole, it was the catastrophic failure of the special teams—specifically the power play—that ultimately cost Savard his job.
The 13.3% Failure
When Marc Savard was hired in June 2024 to join Craig Berube’s staff, he was tasked with modernizing a power play that had grown stagnant. Instead, the unit cratered.
Toronto currently ranks dead last in the NHL with a 13.3% success rate on the man advantage. For a roster that boasts the offensive firepower of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Matthew Knies, these numbers aren’t just poor—they are statistically baffling.
The power play has become a momentum-killer rather than a weapon, often looking disorganized and predictable. In the team’s current three-game losing skid, the man advantage went completely dry, failing to provide the spark needed to keep the Leafs in games they eventually lost by wide margins.
No Outside Help Coming—For Now
According to reports, including insights from Pierre LeBrun, the Maple Leafs do not plan to make an external hire to replace Savard immediately. The team is expected to distribute the power play responsibilities internally among the remaining staff, which includes Derek Lalonde, and Mike Van Ryn.
Lalonde, who has seen success with the team’s penalty kill this season, may be the frontrunner to take over the reigns of the man advantage as the team looks for a spark before the holiday break.
Is This Enough to Save Berube?
While Savard is the first casualty of this disappointing season, many in Toronto are wondering if this is a “shield” for the man at the top. Craig Berube and Brad Treliving hand-picked Savard to fix this specific issue.
By firing Savard now, the organization is sending a clear message that the current results are unacceptable, but it also places the remaining staff under an even brighter microscope. If the power play continues to flounder and the losses pile up, the pressure will continue to pile onto the Head Coach and General Manager.
What’s Next?
The Maple Leafs return to action tomorrow night at Scotiabank Arena to host the Pittsburgh Penguins. It will be the final game before the Christmas break and the first test of a Toronto bench without Marc Savard.