Calle Järnkrok Opens Up About His Time With the Maple Leafs – The Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs

It wasn’t the four seasons he had hoped for when he first signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but after signing a contract to return home to Sweden for the upcoming 2026-27 season, Calle Järnkrok reflected on his time in Toronto and how the final two seasons were tough to swallow.

After a 20-goal season to start his Maple Leafs tenure, Järnkrok saw a decrease in points, overall production and ice-time over the final three seasons with the team. Some of it – especially in 2024-25 – had to do with injuries, but in his final season it had to do with the shot caller behind the bench – an uphill battle that Järnkrok just couldn’t understand.

Järnkrok’s Farewell Not What He Expected

In his last two seasons with the Maple Leafs, Järnkrok played just 75 games. His ice-time fell from roughly 15 minutes per game under Sheldon Keefe to just over 11 minutes with Craig Berube. What remained consistent over that span was his shooting percentage, but he simply wasn’t getting the opportunities in his final two season under Berube.

Järnkrok closed out his NHL career with seven goals and 15 points in those 75 games. His production lacked, but his motivation and drive also seemed to fall off. It all seemed to be a breaking point for the 13-year veteran who has since signed with the SHL’s Brynas in Sweden – a three-year deal to return home and continue his hockey career.

But in a piece from hockeysverige.se, Järnkrok shared in Swedish that he wishes it hadn’t ended that way for him in the NHL.

“I’ve had two tough years, and it feels a bit sad not to be able to finish over there the way I wanted,” stated Järnkrok, adding that his was in limbo for a bit before signing his SHL contract, debating if that was the end for him in North America.

While the 2024-25 campaign saw him out most of the season with injuries, Järnkrok noted that there was one main factor that contributed to his eventual decline in 2025-26 – head coach Berube.

Berube’s Decision Didn’t Make Sense to Järnkrok

As the Maple Leafs and Järnkrok kicked off the, eventually tumultuous, 2025-26 season, the right winger would open up the season with goals in three straight games. His highest ice-time over that span was 12:04. He was eventually scratched by the sixth game of the season and would ultimately be a platoon player through the remainder of the season.

The decision was surprising to Järnkrok who admitted that it eventually took a toll on his game.

“I was very surprised,” he noted. “I understand that if I don’t get to play when I score in every game like I did in the beginning…then it will be tough. It’s the GM and the coach who decide, but it was an uphill battle. I did well but wasn’t allowed to play. It was tough to motivate myself to keep going.”

He went on to add, “Last year I came in and felt in really good shape, I scored goals… and then he [Berube] put me in the stands. It was a little weird.”

Järnkrok Still Enjoyed Playing For the Maple Leafs

Outside of questioning Berube decision-making on his playing time, Järnkrok did make it clear that it didn’t change his opinion on having played a member of the Maple Leafs, the organization itself or the city of Toronto.

In fact, he made it known that he enjoyed his time with the Maple Leafs outside of the final two seasons due to his lack of playing time. He touched on the pressure of playing in the city, the love for the game that the fanbase has and added that it’s exactly the kind of pressure that players want.

“It was a blast playing in Toronto,” Järnkrok said in Swedish, “even if the last year wasn’t that fun. The whole city loves hockey, just like here in Gävle, and there’s a pressure that comes with that. I think that’s how everyone that plays wants it to be.”

As for his NHL career, Järnkrok closes it out with 143 goals and 316 points in 774 career games over 13 seasons. While it didn’t end the way he wanted, he will get close out his hockey career back home in Sweden.