Perimeter play is the opposite of work ethic.
Confirmed with Link: Craig Berube named the 32nd Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs
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tuckerintensity
armed with will and determination
- Jul 16, 2022
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It's early, it'll take some time for everyone to settle (Mo is correct there), and we'll see where this all plays out as we get deeper into and (hopefully) into the playoffs... but damn, that is one meh average record.
Jimmy Firecracker
They Fired Sheldon!
Evilhomer
Registered User
- Oct 10, 2019
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LastOne2100
Registered User
- Jan 2, 2017
- 8,309
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Breath of fresh air to see the team putting in full 60 minutes of effort. Every game so far.
We won't win them all, but it was never about that.
The problem was letting them show up for 20-40 minutes night after night and thinking that was ok if the score went our way.
We won't win them all, but it was never about that.
The problem was letting them show up for 20-40 minutes night after night and thinking that was ok if the score went our way.
The team is competing and they are motivated. It’s really nice to see.
The Blueprint put out a video on Berube. He has a way with the guys. He’s firm but he’s also got jokes with them and is very personable, the way it should be a good balance. Doesn’t coddle them but really makes an effort to know each guy personally.
I can only imagine what else he can do with some solid trade deadline acquisitions. Grab another center so we can move JT to the wing and let Berube do his thing for creating great match ups
The Blueprint put out a video on Berube. He has a way with the guys. He’s firm but he’s also got jokes with them and is very personable, the way it should be a good balance. Doesn’t coddle them but really makes an effort to know each guy personally.
I can only imagine what else he can do with some solid trade deadline acquisitions. Grab another center so we can move JT to the wing and let Berube do his thing for creating great match ups
How big of an upgrade over Keefe is it looking like so far?
The Shadow
Registered User
- Feb 9, 2013
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I love how they keep to their game plan even when up by a lead. Instead of letting the opponent claw back they keep at it
This is the best system and team play I’ve seen in the Leafs in the last 15 years at least
This is the best system and team play I’ve seen in the Leafs in the last 15 years at least
Jimmy Firecracker
They Fired Sheldon!
We're also playing "playoff style hockey" right from the get go instead of meandering through the regular season then trying to switch gears 3/4 of the way into the season to try to get into playoff mode. Florida plays the same way in the playoffs as they do in the regular season, Leafs need to do that as well.
I'm not going to pile on Keefe, but clearly this team needed a change and has completely bought into what Berube wants them to do. Whether its successful in the playoffs is up in the air, but they are actively playing differently. It looks differently stylistically and the effort seems different.
Leafsfan74
Registered User
- Jul 2, 2018
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Keefe wanted to go along to get along. It was his first time in the NHL and he wanted to please a little too much. In terms of his coaching, I thought he was fine, but he didn't have that extra "playoff beard" mentality that the players would respect.
Look, it worked for him. The team never missed the playoffs but choked in every game 7. Hard to blame him for game 7 folding of this team and I dont think any coach is immune to that if players aren't Gamers. He kept his poise and didn't bad mouth anyone in public, thus, he landed on his feet in NJ. Good for him.
Berube has been in the league before, won the Cup, built a track record. This means he will always have job opportunities in the NHL. I said before that a guy like Torts could work here because he doesn't care, he is going to be direct and challenge players which is what they need. The Clubhouse mentality often produces happy losers.
I never truly thought Torts would be the type considered, but they did get a coach who demands accountability and the players must play the game the way it will be played come playoffs. He values the types of players that knowledgeable fans understand win rings. Tanev, a new addition obviously; being a key example. The guys further down the lineup are going to get their chances because Berube wants to roll a balanced lineup and play heavy hockey. This has always been known as lacking to anyone watching this team the last 8 years.
I recall for years the new generation of fans on here believing that the team was only acceptable if it was a video game all-star team. This was foolhardy, especially on defense where you need guys who can defend and sacrifice before you have guys who can rush end to end but go -3 on the night.
Berube is comfortable right out of the chute and he doesn't like losing. If a team doesn't like losing they will sacrifice and compete every night. They will make visiting teams dread having to play in Toronto because they know that no inch of ice will be easy to claim and every puck battle will represent a desperate battle.
Few teams ever hoisted the Cup by being easy to play against.
Last edited:
HockeyVirus
Woll stan.
- Nov 15, 2020
- 18,981
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Yes. The playoffs were the same way, in a 7 game series we would get 1-2 stinkers from them every time. And I don't mean losses, I mean the Game 3 against Panthers, Game 1 against Tampa 2023, etc. Same as the regular season, they felt fine taking periods or games off effort wise as they wanted to.
The fact the core has bought in as heavy as they have, I do think they want to win and I do think they want to prove people wrong about them. I think they recognize Berube is telling them straight up this is how you win, and they know this is what they have avoided buying into their whole careers.
IDK if we win the cup this year, but if this maintains and we don't get so injured the roster is unrecognizable we are going to go deep. We will have a few seasons of deep playoff runs
ULF_55
Moderator
Keefe's Devils last night were brutal, while the new Leafs coach was ... umm brutal.
Nothing to do with players, all on coaching.
Nothing to do with players, all on coaching.
ULF_55
Moderator
Craig has his work cut out for him.
They're already playing like they're in the playoffs.
Hopefully, Berube isn't teaching them to be slow thinking, and pedestrian. Could it be worse than we thought, this transition from free flowing attack hockey to heavy playing.
Maybe they've confused heavy hockey with heavy skates.
They're already playing like they're in the playoffs.
Hopefully, Berube isn't teaching them to be slow thinking, and pedestrian. Could it be worse than we thought, this transition from free flowing attack hockey to heavy playing.
Maybe they've confused heavy hockey with heavy skates.
‘Obviously no music’: How Maple Leafs practice has changed under Craig Berube - The Athletic
That’s gone now. There’s no more music at Leafs practice. It’s one of many ways practice has changed under Keefe’s replacement, Craig Berube.
Short and intense
Keefe-led practices began at noon when the Leafs were in Toronto, and later than that when they were on the road.
Berube’s practices begin an hour earlier, at 11 a.m., and started even earlier at training camp (the first group took the ice at 9:30). It’s a change that’s gone over well.
Berube likes his practices to be short and sweet — or short and intense, rather. These days, the Leafs practise for around 30 minutes most days, never coming close to sniffing the hour mark. Skill development sessions appear less frequent too.
...............
“Obviously no music. But pretty intense,” Nick Robertson observed of the Berube practice. “Not much room for rest and more just go, go, go, and it’s pretty intense.”
‘He just goes right to the point’
Berube “keeps us accountable,” Robertson added.
The Leafs coach doesn’t keep his opinions to himself even a little that way. He frequently shouts (and I mean, shouts) out his displeasure when he sees something he doesn’t like. Last week, Berube halted practice multiple times to bark at his team.
During Monday’s morning skate, ahead of a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Berube was displeased by the execution of a special teams drills: “Let’s go! We gotta be stronger on that play. Make the f—– play.”
Before the Leafs take the ice for practice, Berube will explain the upcoming drills for that day. “He just goes right to the point,” Benoit said. “Black and white.”
“I like that,” Benoit said of Berube’s blunt approach. “It’s like, hockey’s a pretty simple game. Sometimes when you try to overthink it, that’s when it gets complicated.”
“I think he’s (got) a good balance,” Rielly said of Berube’s direct but thorough approach, “whereas there’s been coaches that will drag on meetings.”
Because he’s explained himself in detail beforehand, Berube tends to limit mid-practice sessions at the whiteboard, too. “We don’t go to the board very much with Craig,” said Rielly. “He likes to go quick.”
That’s gone now. There’s no more music at Leafs practice. It’s one of many ways practice has changed under Keefe’s replacement, Craig Berube.
Short and intense
Keefe-led practices began at noon when the Leafs were in Toronto, and later than that when they were on the road.
Berube’s practices begin an hour earlier, at 11 a.m., and started even earlier at training camp (the first group took the ice at 9:30). It’s a change that’s gone over well.
Berube likes his practices to be short and sweet — or short and intense, rather. These days, the Leafs practise for around 30 minutes most days, never coming close to sniffing the hour mark. Skill development sessions appear less frequent too.
...............
“Obviously no music. But pretty intense,” Nick Robertson observed of the Berube practice. “Not much room for rest and more just go, go, go, and it’s pretty intense.”
‘He just goes right to the point’
Berube “keeps us accountable,” Robertson added.
The Leafs coach doesn’t keep his opinions to himself even a little that way. He frequently shouts (and I mean, shouts) out his displeasure when he sees something he doesn’t like. Last week, Berube halted practice multiple times to bark at his team.
During Monday’s morning skate, ahead of a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Berube was displeased by the execution of a special teams drills: “Let’s go! We gotta be stronger on that play. Make the f—– play.”
Before the Leafs take the ice for practice, Berube will explain the upcoming drills for that day. “He just goes right to the point,” Benoit said. “Black and white.”
“I like that,” Benoit said of Berube’s blunt approach. “It’s like, hockey’s a pretty simple game. Sometimes when you try to overthink it, that’s when it gets complicated.”
“I think he’s (got) a good balance,” Rielly said of Berube’s direct but thorough approach, “whereas there’s been coaches that will drag on meetings.”
Because he’s explained himself in detail beforehand, Berube tends to limit mid-practice sessions at the whiteboard, too. “We don’t go to the board very much with Craig,” said Rielly. “He likes to go quick.”
Larcos_Unal
Excuses are for losers
Berube will need to drop the hammer soon before things get off the rails. We've got Boston & Winnipeg coming up, that's a very possible 4 game losing streak on our hands.
One thing to note, Berube only coached half a season in the blues cup win. Then every full season afterward was a disaster
tuckerintensity
armed with will and determination
- Jul 16, 2022
- 311
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There was always going to be growing pains. These last two games were horrid, but it's not indicative of how we're going to be all year. I do actually worry that Berube's style exposes our weaknesses a bit more (coughcentrecough), but it's so early and it takes time for any coach to implement systems.
Gary Nylund
Registered User
- Oct 10, 2013
- 31,002
- 24,355
Amazing what a difference a few days makes. I liked what I saw the first few games as well, oh well. We should all probably step away from the cliff, it won't be until the playoffs until we see what we have here (for those of us still hoping the same old core might product something other than the same old result) but still, those last two games were just brutal.
Oh well, another game tomorrow. GLG I guess. LOL.
HockeyVirus
Woll stan.
- Nov 15, 2020
- 18,981
- 29,042
Makes me shake my head people lose their minds over the first 10 games of the season. Especially when the past 3 years, October has been a slow start for this team.
Gary Nylund
Registered User
- Oct 10, 2013
- 31,002
- 24,355
Nobody should be losing their minds, just like nobody should have gotten carried away after we played well the first few games. That said, there's nothing wrong with saying they played great when they played great and saying they sucked when they sucked, that's just telling it like it is. And you're as guilty as anyone of knee-jerk reactions with this comment in the post I quoted:
"We will have a few seasons of deep playoff runs"
I mean we haven't even played 10 games yet so I don't know what the hell this was based on, sounds like something @Evilhomer would say.
People just wanna see effort every night .
Still dicking around for goaltending after 9 years
No one expects a cup with this core
Good point but all signs point we won't win a cup with this group
Too many good goaltenders in this division
Vassey swayman ullmark bob just name 4
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