New Maple Leafs GM John Chayka Sets Meetings With Craig Berube, then Auston Matthews

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews

Two of the first big items on new Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka's checklist are figuring out what to do with head coach Craig Berube, and getting a feel from captain Auston Matthews on what he has in mind for his future.

Insider Pierre LeBrun told the gang on TSN Overdrive on Thursday that meetings are now in motion with both of those key figures. First up, a tete-a-tete with Berube.

Pierre LeBrun on OverDrive on John Chayka and Craig Berube meeting this week pic.twitter.com/xRz6hYVvAb
— OverDrive (@OverDrive1050) May 7, 2026

That meeting will come quickly, as Chayka is set to sit down with the head coach this weekend to see if they share a common vision on where the team is going moving forward, says LeBrun.

Nearly everyone who watched the Leafs play in this disastrous season has figured that Berube will not be back. Not so fast on that, however, says LeBrun.

“If I had to handicap it, I think John Chayka will be comfortable with keeping Craig Berube as his head coach.”

Sizing up the 'chicken and the egg' quandary of Leafs' plans vs. Matthews' plans

After the Berube talk is in the books, it'll be a trip to Phoenix for Chayka to meet with his captain.

John Chayka is trying to set a face-to-face meeting with Auston Matthews.

"My understanding is that John Chayka is throwing out dates to Auston Matthews to meet with him in Arizona to see his view." 👀@PierreVLeBrun on Matthews' future with the Maple Leafs and the conversations with the team.#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/1DoTGpnGyF
— OverDrive (@OverDrive1050) May 7, 2026

"My understanding is that new GM John Chayka is throwing dates back and forth with Auston Matthews... to meet with him in Arizona and... get a sense of where things are and hope they can sell their side of things to a point where Auston Matthews is on board with the vision of this off-season and where it's headed."

LeBrun indicates that the direction that the Leafs go with their Draft plans and everything else this offseason could depend on what Matthews tells them.

"That's the chicken and the egg of this whole thing," said LeBrun. "I think the Leafs would like to know where he is before they get going on the off-season, but Auston Matthews wants to see how the off-season plays out before he decides (what he wants to do)."

Either way, the fortuitous bounce of the lottery ping pong balls giving Toronto the No. 1 pick at next month's draft is one huge egg in the basket already for Chayka and the Maple Leafs.