Craig Berube Explains Decision to Demote Scott Laughton to Fourth Line

Ahead of their pivotal game against the Calgary Flames on Monday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs made a bunch of lineup changes, and it involved going back to the old style of things, as the new regime only got one game under their belt before Craig Berube made the switch back.

But in doing so, he also made a pretty controversial move when he demoted trade deadline acquisition Scott Laughton to the fourth line. It was a puzzling decision given the cost Toronto gave up to have him play the 3C, and putting Max Domi in is putting a band-aid on a cannonball wound.

Knowing full well that the move was something that might stir up some discussion, the head coach was quick to explain why he did what he did:

In doing so, it means that center David Kampf sits for a second straight game, and while it's a deserved break for his hard work this season, the lineup is worse without him in there (especially with Domi down the middle).

Safe to say, fans are not too pleased with the reasoning either.

Toronto gave up Nikita Grebenkin, an exciting though raw prospect, and a first round pick to grab Laughton at the deadline, and within less than ten games is already being demoted; new identity or not.

It's a bad look on Berube, and an even worse one on GM Brad Treliving, as the moves made at the deadline were supposed to elevate the team, not push them back into mediocrity. At least Brandon Carlo is doing well.

While it may work out in the end, and provide Berube and Toronto the identity that they desire, there's no guarantees, and putting back a lineup that has struggled to find consistent chemistry could be their downfall.

Who knows what really lies in the mind of Craig Berube, but he's done his best to explain himself. Even if fans may not necessarily like it.