It's been confirmed the Maple Leafs are waiting on one final coaching decision

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Vincent Carbonneau
June 4, 2026  (2:51 PM)

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Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

David Carle and Craig Berube are now tied to the same Toronto coaching story, and the Leafs may be closer than ever to their choice.

This search just changed shape.

The latest report says there is belief Carle and the Maple Leafs have already agreed to the terms of a deal.

That is a major step.

But it is not the finish.

Because the same report says the final call still belongs to Carle, who has not fully committed to making the jump to the NHL yet.

That is the tension now.

Toronto may have done its part.

Now it is waiting on whether Carle truly wants this job.

That wait matters because the report also says Carle told the Leafs, out of respect, to keep going with their search.

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That line says plenty.

If Carle wanted to slam the door and lock this up immediately, the process likely would already be over. Instead, he apparently told Toronto to continue interviewing, which suggests he is still weighing the size of this move very seriously.

And honestly, that makes sense.

This is not a quiet NHL opening.

This is Toronto.

It is the biggest spotlight in hockey, a star-heavy roster, and a market that tears apart every lineup choice before breakfast.

So even if the contract framework is there, Carle still has to decide whether this is the right moment to leave the college game and walk straight into that pressure.

The Leafs, for their part, do not sound willing to wait forever.

The report says they need an answer by the end of next week, which would also mark the end of their interview process.

That is a real deadline.

And it tells you Toronto is trying to balance patience with control. The organization may love Carle, but it is not going to leave the whole summer hanging on one maybe.

That is why this feels so important.

If Carle says yes, the Leafs get the bold hire that has hovered over this search for weeks.

If he says no, then Toronto pivots fast and probably lands on one of the experienced names it has kept alive in the background.

Either way, the clock is now visible.

And that changes everything.

This is no longer a vague rumor about mutual interest.

This sounds like a deal structure in place, one final decision still pending, and a Maple Leafs search that may finally be heading toward its answer.

Previously

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It was just confirmed by Pierre LeBrun for Martin St-Louis and his future with the Canadiens organization

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2 HOURS AGO   |   185 ANSWERS It's been confirmed the Maple Leafs are waiting on one final coaching decision Should the Maple Leafs keep waiting for David Carle's final answer ?

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