Calle Jarnkrok left Toronto with a pointed message about former coach Craig Berube, while Jim Hiller now runs the Maple Leafs' bench.
Jarnkrok is returning to Sweden with Brynäs IF after failing to secure another NHL contract, and his comments about his final stretch in Toronto made his frustration clear.
The former Calgary Flames forward believed his play warranted more opportunity. Instead, he found himself watching games from the stands despite feeling healthy and productive.
“It was a little weird,” Jarnkrok said when discussing the decision. His reaction centered on being removed from the lineup at a point when he believed his game was moving in the right direction.
That's what gives the comments some bite. This wasn't a player simply looking back at a difficult season. Jarnkrok directly connected his frustration to how Berube handled his deployment.
The winger also made it clear that his feelings about the coaching decision didn't erase everything he enjoyed about Toronto.
“The whole city loves hockey,” Jarnkrok said while reflecting on his time with the Maple Leafs.
Jarnkrok leaves Toronto with unfinished business
Jarnkrok's NHL path took him through Nashville, Seattle, Calgary and Toronto before his return to Sweden. His stay with the Flames was brief after Calgary acquired him at the 2022 trade deadline.
He recorded 4 assists in 17 regular-season games for Calgary, then added 1 goal and 3 assists across 12 playoff appearances.
Toronto became a much longer stop. Jarnkrok spent several seasons with the Maple Leafs, filling different roles throughout the lineup before his usage declined during his final stretch.
His criticism now puts a sharper ending on that chapter. Players rarely leave a market like Toronto and immediately speak so openly about being frustrated by their place in the lineup.
Berube is no longer behind Toronto's bench, with Jim Hiller taking over as head coach in June 2026.
For Jarnkrok, the next move takes him away from the NHL entirely. But his comments ensure his Toronto exit won't be remembered only as a quiet return home.
Did Craig Berube mishandle Calle Jarnkrok's role in Toronto?
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