This is what Craig Berube means when he says the Leafs must 'play the right way'
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs must start playing the right way under Craig Berube, and former forward Patrick Maroon explained what exactly that entails.
Craig Berube is one of the more hard-nosed coaches to play for in the NHL. He expects dedication, passion and hard work, and if there are any weak points, he tries to snuff them out quickly.
It's led him to a lot of success, winning a Stanley Cup with St. Louis in 2019 and his debut season with the Maple Leafs was fantastic, winning the Atlantic Division and nearly getting through to the Eastern Conference Finals.
But this season has been far more inconsistent than last year, and with the team not playing the style of game that has made them successful, the Maple Leafs need to start playing more consistently.
What exactly that entails beyond hard work and passion is unknown, though former Blues player Patrick Maroon did his best to give the analysts and fans a bit more insight into the Maple Leafs head coach.
What Patrick Maroon actually said about Craig Berube's standard
Appearing on TSN's OverDrive, Maroon was asked by the panel what Berube means when he wants players to 'play the right way' and Maroon did his best to give the analysts and fans a but more insight into the Maple Leafs head coach.
Maroon stated:
Are your stars willing to play the right way? Are they willing to fight another day? Can you work both blue lines? Can you chip the puck into an area and go get it? Are you willing to grind teams down and not just hope for a chance in the middle?
That's what he means by playing the right way, to dive a little deeper into it. Like to me it's a simple way of playing, If you look at coach, his dump rate in the playoffs is like 75%; are your stars willing to put in that work for your team? It's a trickle down effect.
That's what he means by playing the right way, to dive a little deeper into it. Like to me it's a simple way of playing, If you look at coach, his dump rate in the playoffs is like 75%; are your stars willing to put in that work for your team? It's a trickle down effect.
It's a great bit of insight from Maroon, a player who spent several seasons under Berube, and it shows a facet of the game we have seen glimpses of from the Maple Leafs, but nothing consistent.
What 'playing the right way' would actually look like for the current Leafs core
Well, if we are to go by what Maroon mentioned, then the team has to start playing collectively, and start getting into the dirtier areas of the game.
The coach already called out the team for not playing heavy enough, and if they are going to be successful, then playing to their size is a key component of them winning.
But that includes names like William Nylander, who Berube has already challenged publicly at times for his effort and detail. He's got to be willing to dig deep, fight for pucks, and not just hope he can stay open while his teammates do the work.
It's about making smart plays and being there for your teammates too. If Toronto tightens up defensively, and makes smarter breakout passes then not only will it limit their opponents zone time, but also allow them to keep fresher.
One or two guys press, the rest change and come in to help, letting tired legs switch out while the pressure stays constant.
For Toronto, this isn't just conjecture. Over the next few weeks they'll face teams like Florida, Tampa Bay, and other Atlantic rivals who thrive on exactly the heavy, grinding style Maroon described.
If the Maple Leafs' core buys into Berube's dump-and-chase, forecheck-heavy standard, it could be the difference between simply hanging around the playoff picture and actually climbing back into contention.
It's not a fancy system but it's a successful one for Berube, and it's less about scoring goals at a rapid pace, but keeping things balanced while capitalizing on your chances. Unless the Leafs decide to start throwing 50 shots on net a game -- they need to buy in fully to Berube's style.
Berube explained earlier this offseason that being physically and mentally tough is how you win, and it doesn't just mean dropping the gloves.
It was a message to his players that there are certain things they might not like to do or feel comfortable with, but if they want their best chance to succeed, they'll need to swallow their pride and fully buy into their head coach's demands.
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