Craig Berube’s comments describe the Maple Leafs team he’s been begging for since October
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Craig Berube is finally seeing the Toronto Maple Leafs he wanted, even if it's come too late.
Giving praise for the Leafs physical play in Wednesday's 4-3 win against the New York Rangers, head coach Craig Berube is finally getting the style of play he wanted from this Toronto roster.
Speaking after the game against the Rangers, Berube had praise for his team's effort, calling the victory a team one. Berube also singled out the goaltending of Joseph Woll, who made 40 saves on 43 shots.
Berube also had praise for defenseman Jake McCabe, impressed with how well he played with defenseman Chris Tanev, as well as afterwards when Tanev suffered a season-ending injury.
If you go back to last season, what a pair he and Tanev were all year in a shutdown role. It’s the sacrifice they make night in and night out, the simple things in the game, shot blocks, defending, all of that, and taking pride in it. He's been a hell of a leader for us this year and last year. We’re lucky to have him.
The 25 penalty minutes in two wins cannot erase the image of the Maple Leafs standing still while their captain was injured
The Toronto Maple Leafs are finally playing a physical, aggressive game in order to win, and getting good results. It's only a shame that it's come as the Leafs face a playoff miss.
It took until the end of the Leafs season for the team to get going in the right, the ideal time to push forward was the post-
Olympic stretch in February. Instead, Toronto lost eight straight games, pushing them further away from playoff contention.
Olympic stretch in February. Instead, Toronto lost eight straight games, pushing them further away from playoff contention.
Now at the brink of elimination, the only positive that can be seen is a potential game plan to execute next season, learning how to play with more effort.
Toronto has also had a change correlate with Auston Matthews being injured two weeks ago against Anaheim. The Leafs did nothing to retaliate until the third period, taking the Leafs captain going down to bring some effort into the team.
If this version of the Maple Leafs existed in October then Craig Berube would not be coaching for his job in Toronto
The one question MLSE may have on Craig Berube's future after this season is asking how much of the Leafs lack of toughness his doing?
Like how Wayne Gretzky couldn't translate being the greatest player of all time to a winning coach, Craig Berube can't take having been one of the NHL's most infamous fighters and turn that knowledge into execution from the bench.
The last few games show glimpses of how Craig Berube's system can work, but also a much larger body of how the system doesn't.
An unsuccessful season for Toronto is marred by a lack of physicality, and it's an indictment on GM Brad Treliving's plan to add more grit last offseason.
If the Toronto Maple Leafs had been playing like this earlier in the season, they may be in the playoff hunt, and not wondering how to fix things.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
The Maple Leafs finally get their shot at Gudas and there’s no excuse left not to answer for Auston Matthews
The Maple Leafs finally get their shot at Gudas and there’s no excuse left not to answer for Auston Matthews
Previously on Hockey Patrol