Ex-Blues Defenseman Speaks Out on Craig Berube's Locker Room Impact

There was a big identity change this past offseason for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Out was Sheldon Keefe after another disappointing playoff performance, and in was Craig Berube, known for his no-nonsense attitude and grittier style of play.

So far it's been a success and for the first time coach, even though there were certainly some growing pains, it seems the team has adjusted well to his system and while the offense is a bit decreased from past seasons, there's no doubt the defense and goaltending has been a massive improvement.

Berube has been around the game for a long time, and there's a certain aura he brings to the bench and the locker room. According to former St. Louis Blues defenseman Jordan Schmaltz, the reason he is so good at commanding the roster is his attitude toward the game:

There was a lot of questions about Toronto's inability to play hard or get into the grittier areas of the game and worked more with a finesse-based style and a run and gun offense.

It's almost the complete opposite with Berube, and while he still likes to utilize his offensive arsenal, there's no doubt he prides himself on defense and hard work; heck, he even had it etched into the team's practice arena.

A lot can be said about how the identity of the Maple Leafs hasn't transformed them overnight into a defensive powerhouse, but this is year one.

It's going to take time for Berube to get things going and so far he's had a lot of success. Yes, there's bumps but that comes with the territory, and he's navigated some rough patches.

Given how different Toronto looks this season and how well prepared they are even if it sometimes looks like they struggle to keep it together, it's safe to say Craig Berube has succeeded year one.

Which means that it can only get better from here. Right?