Confirmed with Link: Craig Berube named the 32nd Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs

[1specter]

Like I said, he will win coach of the year this season.

I think ironically Keefe will win, because the Jack Adams generally favours the best 'bounceback' stories. NJ was shit last year and injury riddled with no goaltending, this year they've got goaltending and if they stay healthy they likely win the division with Keefe.

 

[Sypher04]

Yeah, I don’t think there is anything Berube can do in this regular season that would win him a Jack Adams. Not because I don’t think he’s gonna do a good job, I just think the media is already falling all over themselves to anoint the Devils.

 

[HockeyVirus]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1847333255001100362

'We Don't Want To Get Complacent': Maple Leafs' Head Coach Craig Berube Stops Practice In Ongoing Effort To Keep Club Focused Ahead Of Game Against Rangers​

Berube hasn't been shy of cracking the whip when he feels the team is getting away from their structure.

On Friday, ahead of their game against the New York Rangers, Berube again demonstrated his commitment to high standards, halting practice twice when he observed lapses in judgment during drills.

"We don't want to get complacent, right? That's the biggest thing. Staying sharp," Berube explained. "I stopped it a couple of times. Just execution for me, you know, being sharp and executing.

"It sort of goes back to the last game and 5-0. You take your foot off the gas a little bit. That's where we got to get. We don't want to do that."

Absolutely what this team has needed

 

[Leafs87]

I don’t see any reason to think it wouldn’t have gone positively

When it comes to the best goal scorer in the world, suggesting he reduces his goal total for two way play will affect his stats, legacy and likely his next contract. I’m sure he’ll focus on being better defensively but not at the cost of his goal totals

 

[OddyOh]

When it comes to the best goal scorer in the world, suggesting he reduces his goal total for two way play will affect his stats, legacy and likely his next contract. I’m sure he’ll focus on being better defensively but not at the cost of his goal totals

Ideally by now Matthews would be very tired of losing in the playoffs, and willing to do whatever it takes to earn the rank of Stanley Cup Champion.

 

[keonsbitterness]

which is great because to get that he'll need cup final or cup as an end result.

No, that gets voted on before the playoffs.

 

[DarkKnight]

I like how this guy rolls...

 

[Evilhomer]

I think ironically Keefe will win, because the Jack Adams generally favours the best 'bounceback' stories. NJ was shit last year and injury riddled with no goaltending, this year they've got goaltending and if they stay healthy they likely win the division with Keefe.

In any other situation, I would completely agree with you, and you may end up being right. My theory, however, is that Berube will win because the hockey media loves him, far more than they love Keefe. The latter may get sympathy votes, but I think the media will be heavily weighted in Berube's favour.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

I like how this guy rolls...

Keefe was kinda embarrassing in the dressing room.
it was frequently awkward.

 

[Antropovsky]

Keefe was kinda embarrassing in the dressing room.
it was frequently awkward.

Im sure in 10 years he will be better. Which is another reason you dont hire a rookie coach who has limited professional experience as a player.

You can tell Berube has been in the game a long time.

 

[Sypher04]

When it comes to the best goal scorer in the world, suggesting he reduces his goal total for two way play will affect his stats, legacy and likely his next contract. I’m sure he’ll focus on being better defensively but not at the cost of his goal totals

Matthew’s wants to win, that’s how you secure legacy. He’s already a Selke finalist while being the best goalscorer of his generation, I don’t think Berube is likely or needs to fundamentally ask him to change anything that will cause his offense to be limited. If he wasn’t already excellent defensively maybe, but that’s not where he’s starting from with Matthews and Marner as a duo.

 

[Metroid]

In any other situation, I would completely agree with you, and you may end up being right. My theory, however, is that Berube will win because the hockey media loves him, far more than they love Keefe. The latter may get sympathy votes, but I think the media will be heavily weighted in Berube's favour.

It's all about rage bait nowadays, what better rage bait that an ex leaf coach on a new team "winning" . Perfect headline that'll draw everything and everyone to it. (That's IF the devils make the playoffs)

I've already put down some money for Keefe to win just incase the stupid shit happens lol

 

[Gabriel426]

4 games into the season with a 3-1 record, and the coach already telling the guys to not get complacent. How can you not like that?
Quite surprised nobody came out and said, we are 3-1, what else do you want or something like that, lol

 

[Leaffan1991]

4 games into the season with a 3-1 record, and the coach already telling the guys to not get complacent. How can you not like that?
Quite surprised nobody came out and said, we are 3-1, what else do you want or something like that, lol

Who's going to say that to Berube? lol that man is intimidating as shit

 

[Jojalu]

The difference I see so far with Berube is that although he is a tough coach, the players will believe and trust he has their back and beat interests in place.

Being a hard ass doesn't work without players buyong in to you as a person.

If they do buy in, you can speak into their lives and discipline them accordingly.

If you are just an egotistical jackass that loves the sound of his own voice, you can yell and scream all day and no one will care.

College coaches were the last ones that really could do and say what they wanted, but the portal changed that.

 

[Gabriel426]

Who's going to say that to Berube? lol that man is intimidating as shit

Lilly in order to prove that he is tough in order for him to play, lol

 

[al secord]

Who's going to say that to Berube? lol that man is intimidating as shit

This generation doesn't always respond well to intimidation. Guys like Berube have a shelf life. Hopefully we win a few cups before his is up with our team.

 

[Burnie97]

The difference I see so far with Berube is that although he is a tough coach, the players will believe and trust he has their back and beat interests in place.

Being a hard ass doesn't work without players buyong in to you as a person.

If they do buy in, you can speak into their lives and discipline them accordingly.

If you are just an egotistical jackass that loves the sound of his own voice, you can yell and scream all day and no one will care.

College coaches were the last ones that really could do and say what they wanted, but the portal changed that.

Being in a certain profession with similarities... I can tell you if you try to teach someone anything and they don't like you one bit... good f***ing luck.

You can still be some what of a hard ass but you have to be likeable... and you have to be able to relate in some way to them.

They have to know you actually give a shit... but also it goes both ways... and you expect a certain level from them too.

 

[weems]

Being in a certain profession with similarities... I can tell you if you try to teach someone anything and they don't like you one bit... good f***ing luck.

You can still be some what of a hard ass but you have to be likeable... and you have to be able to relate in some way to them.

They have to know you actually give a shit... but also it goes both ways... and you expect a certain level from them too.

I also think most pro's are willing to be coached by a hardass as long as they're fair.

You can be a tough coach that sets a high standard and calls players out when needed but also will continue to back the player and give them opportunity.

Being a tough coach that has extremely short patience and puts tons of players in the doghouse can get old quick.

 

[Kazparov]

Agreed. This decision seems to be the right one for hiring Berube.

I am not sure the conversation with Matthews would have went positively lol, but I agree with the rest of your post.

Well I'm just imagining things over here. Nice little fantasy land.

 

[Kazparov]

I think it's gonna be great for their development as players, having Matthews PK for 82 games is gonna translate to a more successful game in the playoffs.

Kopitar, Datsyuk, Bergeron etc. these guys all PKd for their teams, same with Hossa/Marchand, guys who were considered elite 2 way players.

I think they'll be a lot more comfortable in tight situations in the playoffs, if they play all 82 like this.

Absolutely. The problem last few years is Keefe had them play 1 way all year and then try to switch in the playoffs.

But you only succeed at what you practice and get reps doing. You can't expect to change how you play all of a sudden compared with what you've repped all year.

 

[NJG]

This generation doesn't always respond well to intimidation. Guys like Berube have a shelf life. Hopefully we win a few cups before his is up with our team.

If that is "true" then it is the players who should have a shelf life. If the players can't hack it or can't handle a winning environment and winning mentality then they don't need to be here. We want players that want to win and that will do whatever it takes to win. If some guys can't handle that then they don't need to be here and we don't want them here and it doesn't matter who you are or how much money you make.

 

[rumman]

Im sure in 10 years he will be better. Which is another reason you dont hire a rookie coach who has limited professional experience as a player.

You can tell Berube has been in the game a long time.

If I recall things correctly everytime Keefe tried to hold players accountable he got his wings clipped by management, then he resorted to benching a fouth liner when one if the stars mailed it in………

 

[notbias]

Im sure in 10 years he will be better. Which is another reason you dont hire a rookie coach who has limited professional experience as a player.

You can tell Berube has been in the game a long time.

Jon Cooper is a good example of this.

What fool would hire him?

Don't even get me started on Bednar... Sakic was crazy for that one, they will never win.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Berube has ‘moved on’ as Maple Leafs coach, eager to help end Stanley Cup drought | NHL.com

58-year-old back in Toronto after playing there in 1991-92, guided Blues to championship in 2019

www.nhl.com

Straight. Simple. To the point. It’s how Berube played. It’s how he coaches. And it’s how he communicates with his players.

“He makes things quite clear how he wants things,” Toronto defenseman Morgan Rielly said.

What Berube wants is a simple north-south game. There are no pats on the back for dipsy-doodles, no extra points for artistic merit. While he’s not about to shackle his skilled players like Marner, Auston Matthews and William Nylander from being creative, the basic formula is the same -- a straight-ahead game plan with a strong forecheck and an emphasis on finishing checks and playing strong defense.

It’s a blueprint that has served him well during his coaching career, one that saw him compile a 281-190-72 record in 543 regular-season games coaching the Philadelphia Flyers and Blues before landing the Toronto job. He's 27-31 in 58 Stanley Cup Playoff games but guided St. Louis to the Stanley Cup in 2019, taking over that season after Mike Yeo was fired Nov. 20, 2018.

It’s early in his Maple Leafs coaching regime, sure, but there have been some optimistic signs thus far, especially defensively.

Through the first five games of the season, Toronto is 3-2-0 after a 4-1 loss to the New York Rangers at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday. The game was close until the end, when the Rangers scored two empty-net goals to seal the deal.

The biggest takeaway from the season to date: the Maple Leafs have allowed 11 goals in five games, including two empty-netters.

“It takes a while to learn a new system, but I think we’re getting there,” Rielly said.

Berube is seeing that firsthand.

“The work ethic this team puts in is really good,” he said.