Paul Maurice Gets Fans Talking After Recent Comments on the Toronto Maple Leafs
Paul Maurice had some kind words for his opponents ahead of their second round matchup, stating perhaps the team is way better off now with Craig Berube.
While the Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers can consider themselves bitter rivals after the past few seasons fighting out in the Atlantic, the teams are set to do battle once again, with the Leafs hoping for a different result.
Both teams are wildly different from 2023, and with the potential for either of these teams to be Cup finalists, the series is going to be intense, hard-fought, and one filled with bitterness and physicality.
But for both head coaches, it seems like they would rather go out and grab a beer than to face off against each other in a seven game series.
Paul Maurice and Craig Berube's Mutual Respect
Speaking to media prior to Game One, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice ended up giving a lot of credit to Craig Berube's Leafs, and may have even thrown a bit of shade at Sheldon Keefe too:
There's more patience in their game.
Maybe in the past, it was an attack mindset kind of offensively all time and now they are more patient.
They will put more pucks deep ... I would say maybe more of a mature game.
Maybe in the past, it was an attack mindset kind of offensively all time and now they are more patient.
They will put more pucks deep ... I would say maybe more of a mature game.
It's certainly a compliment toward Berube and can definitely be seen as a slight towards Keefe.
Maurice's team dominated Toronto physically and defensively the first time they met in the postseason, now it's different under Berube.
Adding a ton of size, strength and grit in the offseason and at the deadline, Berube's lineup is full of no-nonsense ruffians who don't mind letting the bodies and potentially, fists, fly.
The Maple Leafs bench boss was also complimentary towards Maurice, showing that even though the two teams may have bad blood on the ice, there's a ton of respect off it:
Anytime you're playing the Stanley Cup champions you're going to be the underdog.
They've proven they're a great team over the last few years. We're a good team too.
We're approaching this business-like, we've got to go out and do our job and play the way we can.
They've proven they're a great team over the last few years. We're a good team too.
We're approaching this business-like, we've got to go out and do our job and play the way we can.
Play like they have been might be their best course of action, as it not only got them there in the first place, but it's going to be imperative they don't get too flustered with Florida's constant hounding.
Toronto needs to dump the puck, cycle it properly, and not try and get too cute with their chances.
Which means they need to keep the pressure on at all times, throw tons of shots towards Sergei Bobrovsky, and not panic when they see a couple of Panthers over their shoulder in the defensive zone.
But through all the turmoil and animosity, at the end of the day it's going to be a battle of who can outcoach who.
For Craig Berube and Paul Maurice, that's perfectly okay with them. No hard feelings regardless of the result.
| POLL | ||
MAI 5 | 1509 ANSWERS Paul Maurice Gets Fans Talking After Recent Comments on the Toronto Maple Leafs Who do you think is the better coach in the series between Toronto and Florida? | ||
| Craig Berube | 1315 | 87.1 % |
| Paul Maurice | 194 | 12.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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