Craig Berube Identifies What's Really Going Wrong With the Maple Leafs' Defense
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Something is amiss with the Toronto Maple Leafs defense and head coach Craig Berube tried his best to explain why they've faltered and how they need to improve.
It has not been the start the Toronto Maple Leafs wanted in 2025, as they have looked pretty underwhelming, with some very disappointing performances spread throughout the lineup.
But the one facet that was supposed to be their lynchpin to success was their defense, a relentless group who risked their bodies to prevent any scoring chances, and inflict some punishment as well.
Craig Berube Reveals Why Toronto's Defense Has Disappointed Thus Far
That defense has faltered heavily in the first seven games of the season, allowing 25 goals and being a combined plus-5; while that looks good on paper, the duo of Morgan Rielly and Brandon Carlo have a combined minus-5.
That kind of performance is not sitting well with fans, the team, and certainly not with head coach Craig Berube, who made sure to send a message to his backend after a 5-2 drubbing:
Our D are just standing in there, jumping in there, not reading what's coming out. We're late sometimes with our reloads and one of the biggest things is turnovers.. We got to be smarter.
Well, he's not wrong. The Maple Leafs have been puck-watching all season and several times were they unable to stop a pass, or have any general awareness of where they're supposed to be.
Toronto's Defensive Miscues Causing Major Headaches
Case in point last night's game against New Jersey. The top line ended up getting a rush in the offensive zone and well...take a look at what happened:
One mental error springs Jack Hughes who wired his second of the night past Anthony Stolarz, and they were caught lallygagging on a change and there was legitimately nobody within 75 feet of the Devils forward.
That wasn't the most egregious thing however, as the team ended up giving up; no joke, a 4-on-1 chance that led to a Brendan Dillon (yes, defenseman Brendan Dillon) scoring a goal:
You can't fault Jake McCabe for trying to pinch but he whiffed on the hit, and with Chris Tanev down with an injury; Morgan Rielly was caught way out of position in going for either a change, or just wasn't paying attention.
What was once a bright spot for the Toronto Maple Leafs has suddenly become a big question mark, and with Tanev down for the count it makes their defensive shortcomings even more glaringly obvious.
The team as a whole needs to be better, but it starts with the defense doing what they are paid to do.
Defend.
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