The Toronto Maple Leafs have hired Craig Berube as head coach.

Berube replaces Sheldon Keefe, who the Leafs fired on May 9. Berube was fired by the St. Louis Blues in December.

"We're not waiting," Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving said May 10. "We're going to be thorough. This isn't something that's going to be hastily done, but we certainly know that there's some quality candidates out there. We want to get them as fast as we possibly can."

Another disappointing end for the Toronto Maple Leafs could -- and should -- be a catalyst in a potentially painful new beginning for the organization.

That was the message from Leafs' management on Friday in the wake of Toronto bowing out in a first-round Stanley Cup playoff series for the sixth time in seven full seasons. The Leafs already axed head coach Sheldon Keefe on Thursday, and attention turns now to how Toronto will handle expectations for its expensive core of players who failed to deliver when it matters most.

Toronto's president Brendan Shanahan didn't immediately have all the answers but pledged -- again -- to try finding them.

The Toronto Maple Leafs relieved Sheldon Keefe of head-coaching duties Thursday.

According to a statement from the club, a search for Keefe's replacement will begin immediately.

"Today's decision was difficult," Leafs general manager Brad Treliving said. "Sheldon is an excellent coach and a great man; however, we determined a new voice is needed to help the team push through to reach our ultimate goal. We thank Sheldon for his hard work and dedication to the organization over the last nine years, and wish him and his family all the very best."

Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov were named finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award on Wednesday.

Voted on by fellow members of the NHL Players' Association, it is presented annually to the most outstanding player in the NHL.

Toronto Maple Leafs star forward Auston Matthews was named a finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy on Saturday.

It marks the third time that Matthews has been a finalist for the award, which is presented annually to the player voted to best combine sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct and ability as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin also were named finalists.

Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews has been ruled out for Game 6 of the first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Bruins on Thursday.

Toronto trails the Bruins 3-2 in their best-of-seven and face elimination from the postseason with another loss.

Matthews missed the third period of Game 4 and all of Game 5 with what the Leafs have deemed a "lingering" illness.

Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews is still feeling the effects of an illness that forced him from the third period of Toronto's 3-1 loss in Game 4 of Toronto's first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Bruins on Saturday.

Star center Auston Matthews did not finish Saturday's Game 4 because of an illness, as the Toronto Maple Leafs fell 3-1 to the Boston Bruins.

Toronto now finds itself on the brink of elimination in its first-round playoff series, with a must-win Game 5 on Tuesday in Boston.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander will be a game-time decision for Game 2 on Monday night in Boston with an undisclosed injury.

"We'll see how he feels here the rest of the day here and make a decision," coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters after Monday's morning skate.

The Bruins aren't committing to a goaltender for Game 2 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday even after Jeremy Swayman's dominant 35-save performance in Saturday's 5-1 victory in Game 1.

Boston has used Swayman and Linus Ullmark in strict rotation during the regular season, and Boston's coach Jim Montgomery may keep that pattern alive in the playoffs, too.

"We're still contemplating that and [deciding] if that's the way to go," said Montgomery following the Bruins' team meeting Sunday.