Craig Berube will make his debut as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs when they open the 2024-25 season against their rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, on Wednesday night. Berube, who led the St. Louis Blues to a Stanley Cup title in 2019, replaces Sheldon Keefe, who was let go in May after yet another first-round playoff exit for the Leafs. Keefe was quickly hired by the New Jersey Devils.
Toronto enters the season with some key roster changes. Forwards Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz, both signed to one-year contracts, are set to bolster the Maple Leafs’ bottom six. Pacioretty, 35, will slot in on the third line after an injury-affected season with Washington, while Lorentz, 28, fresh off a Stanley Cup win with the Florida Panthers, is expected to play on the fourth line. Berube praised both players for their size and skating ability, noting their importance to the team.
Toronto’s offensive core remains formidable, featuring Auston Matthews, who scored a league-leading 69 goals last season, William Nylander (40 goals), and Mitch Marner (26 goals). The Maple Leafs also upgraded their defense with the addition of veteran Chris Tanev, known for his shot-blocking prowess, while Joseph Woll and new signee Anthony Stolarz will handle goaltending duties.
Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens are looking to improve after finishing eighth in the Atlantic Division last season. They face a setback with the loss of key offseason acquisition Patrik Laine, who will miss two to three months due to a sprained knee. Despite this, coach Martin St. Louis remains optimistic about the team’s five-on-five play and emphasized staying focused on their process.
Montreal’s young core—featuring Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky—will be essential to their success, and the return of Kirby Dach adds depth to their forward group. Rookie defenseman Lane Hutson is expected to make an impact, while Sam Montembeault and Cayden Primeau will share goaltending responsibilities.
Both teams will be eager to start the season strong in this classic Original Six rivalry.
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