Craig Berube had choices for his subsequent NHL head-coaching job, however he selected to guess on the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Toronto is a workforce in turmoil, reeling from one other unsuccessful postseason run and confronted with rampant hypothesis over the way forward for its star gamers — together with Mitch Marner and John Tavares. Berube sees potential within the Leafs simply as they’re, although, and it is why he determined to slip behind the bench once more in a pressure-packed Canadian market.
“That was one of many sights — the core participant group is nice right here,” Berube mentioned at his introductory information convention Tuesday. “That was positively one of many sights to return and coach this workforce. Should you have a look at the roster, there’s nice gamers and it is an awesome alternative to construct a workforce that may transfer ahead and develop into one thing … not higher however recover from the hump slightly bit right here. And also you need to work with good individuals, and [here are] nice people who find themselves pondering lots like I do on how we need to construct a workforce and the way we need to play.”
The Leafs employed Berube on Friday to switch Sheldon Keefe, who was let go on Could 9 following Toronto’s first-round Stanley Cup playoff collection loss to Boston. It was the third time in 4 seasons below Keefe that the Leafs didn’t advance within the playoffs, regardless of recording three consecutive 100-plus-point common seasons.
The teaching change occurred amid continued scrutiny round Toronto’s core failing to ship — once more — within the playoffs. Whereas Auston Matthews and William Nylander had been each sidelined by harm all through the seven-game collection in opposition to Boston, Marner and Tavares had been mediocre, producing three factors and two factors, respectively, in these seven contests. They’re each coming into the ultimate yr of their contracts and could be eligible to signal extensions with the Leafs on July 1. The query is whether or not Toronto can afford — figuratively and actually — to maintain each skaters.
Matthews, Nylander, Marner and Tavares account for over $40 million of Toronto’s present cap house, an untenable scenario that has saved the Leafs from with the ability to signal extra complementary gamers to assist their efforts — particularly within the playoffs.
Berube claimed to not be involved about Toronto’s notorious core struggles or how the workforce has fared leaning on them up till now.
“That stuff is previously, to be sincere with you,” mentioned Berube. “I am targeted on now and the longer term. I will clearly convey my very own model right here and [with] how we need to play the sport. [GM Brad Treliving] and [president Brendan Shanahan] are onboard with that, and so they suppose [similarly] to me. All I can do is give attention to now and going ahead, how we need to construct the workforce right here and the way we need to look on the ice.”
Ideally, that can be championship-caliber. Berube has expertise there, having received a Stanley Cup in 2019 as head coach of the St. Louis Blues. That workforce was final within the standings when Berube was promoted to switch the fired Mike Yeo in November 2018, and Berube guided St. Louis to the franchise’s first title. He remained with the Blues till being let go in December 2023 and waited from there to determine on his subsequent teaching route.
Berube is entrenched now with the Leafs on a four-year deal, and he’s desperate to get engaged on a retool that goes past simply Toronto’s extremely paid core skaters.
“It is all in regards to the workforce for me,” mentioned Berube. “Everyone’s essential on the workforce. Everyone’s acquired for use on the workforce. And so they all have jobs and roles on the workforce and that is an actual essential side for me. We need to play a north recreation, we need to play quick, we need to be a heavy workforce. After I discuss heaviness, it is not working guys by means of boards and preventing and all that stuff. The sport has modified. However you continue to must be sturdy on pucks. You bought to win puck battles. These are priorities for me and simply taking part in predictable and north and taking part in as quick as we will. Construction is large, and we have got to have construction in all three zones and that is going to be a precedence.”
Treliving mentioned he met with upward of 9 candidates for the Leafs’ head-coaching position. It was Berube’s skill to carry gamers accountable and get essentially the most of them that saved Treliving going again to him, although, and so they share a philosophy on learn how to assist the Leafs transfer past what has continually held them again previously.
“This isn’t about one, two, three, 4 or 5 individuals. It is a few workforce,” mentioned Treliving. “It is in regards to the Toronto Maple Leafs. On the skin, you should utilize all of the catchy phrases about ‘core 4’ however it’s a few workforce and the power to construct a workforce and the power to attach with gamers. You have acquired to have the ability to push individuals into uncomfortable positions and into uncomfortable issues, however it’s a must to join with individuals first. There must be a partnership, a relationship and a belief. And presence is a crucial factor for me. You both have it or you do not; Craig has it.”
The query now’s how the Leafs can be reimagined inside Berube’s imaginative and prescient. Berube was noncommittal on who his assistant coaches may be going ahead, and each he and Treliving repeatedly sidestepped direct questions on participant personnel. The clearest message was that every part is on the desk for Toronto in what they’re attempting to construct for subsequent season — and past.
“You undergo the roster of what we have got proper now, with Craig giving me his ideas, me giving him my ideas,” mentioned Treliving. “However right this moment is day one. We’re going by means of the method of how we construct a workforce. We will begin digging in right this moment. We’ve got a workers to [assess] and have a look at and have these discussions with guys which are right here and determine the place we go from there. After which most significantly, dig proper into our roster and begin to get to work on that.”