Your thoughts on Berube & coaching staff

[TopCheeseShotta]

Still elite...

Ya...

E ventual
L osers
I n
T he
E ast

 

[ItsFineImFine]

You know Berube didn't have a guy as good as Nylander or Matthews on his 2019 Blues team but he also had Parayko, Pietrangelo, Dunn, and JBo on defence and he made good use of them.

Defense wins championships, can't have half your cap allocated to four forwards, one of which is past his prime and another who's a regular season perimeter player.

Also despite that cap allocation to four forwards, Leafs can't dominate with one line like Landeskog/MacKinnon/Rantanen could.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Ya...

E ventual
L osers
I n
T he
E ast

E ven in darkness
L et
I n
T he light
E ventually...

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

E ven in darkness
L et
I n
T he light
E ventually...

Deep cut.. I like it

 

[Suntouchable13]

Give Keefe this goaltending and the team still looks about the same. Iffy to come out of the 1st round. This team needed a major core shakeup, along with the coaching change. So if Berube sitting at the podium after another 1st round exit this spring, what exactly did he accomplish that's different from Keefe? Does he have any answers?

 

[CabanaBoy5]

I'm beginning to worry about Berube and some of his post game comments. He thought that the Leafs put in a good effort against the Canucks? Was he watching the same game the rest of us watched? I understand if he said it was the end of a long road trip, the team was a little fatigued, but to say that the team played well is disingenuous to the fanbase. If it wasn't for Woll, the Leafs would have lost by 3 or 4 goals. I also don't like how he doesn't have accountability with his players. OEL boneheaded penalty at a key point in the third, sit his ass down for a few shifts.

 

[Menzinger]

I'm beginning to worry about Berube and some of his post game comments. He thought that the Leafs put in a good effort against the Canucks? Was he watching the same game the rest of us watched? I understand if he said it was the end of a long road trip, the team was a little fatigued, but to say that the team played well is disingenuous to the fanbase. If it wasn't for Woll, the Leafs would have lost by 3 or 4 goals. I also don't like how he doesn't have accountability with his players. OEL boneheaded penalty at a key point in the third, sit his ass down for a few shifts.

I'd imagine there's a big gap between what's said to the press and behind closed doors on a regular basis

Getting the media riled up doesnt do him any good

 

[authentic]

It's too early, but a great start when you consider all the injuries.

Toronto has been able to stay in 1 goal games, and hold a lead in the 3rd period better than other years.


You're not going to give Berube the 82 game benefit of the doubt?

I would say this is mostly due to goaltending though. Still though, can’t complain with his coaching. The results speak for themselves at the end of the day, and if we win the Cup or even reach the finals this year then we can safely say we likely have a better coach.

 

[Evilhomer]

I'm beginning to worry about Berube and some of his post game comments. He thought that the Leafs put in a good effort against the Canucks? Was he watching the same game the rest of us watched? I understand if he said it was the end of a long road trip, the team was a little fatigued, but to say that the team played well is disingenuous to the fanbase. If it wasn't for Woll, the Leafs would have lost by 3 or 4 goals. I also don't like how he doesn't have accountability with his players. OEL boneheaded penalty at a key point in the third, sit his ass down for a few shifts.

I generally believe about 0% of what coaches in any sport say to the media.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

I'd imagine there's a big gap between what's said to the press and behind closed doors on a regular basis

Getting the media riled up doesnt do him any good

I wouldn’t want him to throw any specific players under the bus, but an acknowledgment that they didn’t play a good game would be reasonable. I don’t believe that would rile the media. If he said Matthews and Marner were lazy for parts of that game then I agree that the media would jump on that. Best coaches are honest in their assessments. Best coaches also hold players accountable. Didn’t Cooper healthy scratch Kucherov for a game? I can think of several players who could use a seat in the press box, eg Domi

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

I wouldn't say I'm disappointed in Berube.

But I'm not impressed either. The differences between him and Keefe are way overrated. The hype surrounding his hiring blown out of proportion.

I've seen very little that distinguishes him from his predecessor.

Neither one of them have a backbone. A couple spineless yes men kissing the players butts. Doing everything they can to appease the stars.

Even if it's to the detriment of the team.

Sixty goal scoring centremen don't grow on trees around the arena. Coaches are a dime a dozen. A smart coach who knows his job isn't dependant on winning won't risk upsetting the children's feelings.

It's easier to replace the coach than a team of players.

 

[ToneDog]

I wouldn't say I'm disappointed in Berube.

But I'm not impressed either. The differences between him and Keefe are way overrated. The hype surrounding his hiring blown out of proportion.

I've seen very little that distinguishes him from his predecessor.

Neither one of them have a backbone. A couple spineless yes men kissing the players butts. Doing everything they can to appease the stars.

Even if it's to the detriment of the team.

Sixty goal scoring centremen don't grow on trees around the arena. Coaches are a dime a dozen. A smart coach who knows his job isn't dependant on winning won't risk upsetting the children's feelings.

It's easier to replace the coach than a team of players.

If what you say is true, no coach can win here with these 3 losers. Can the same be said for winners like MacKinnon, McDavid, Crosby, Petro, Kopitar, M Tkachuk, Barkov etc.?

 

[IPS]

I wouldn't say I'm disappointed in Berube.

But I'm not impressed either. The differences between him and Keefe are way overrated. The hype surrounding his hiring blown out of proportion.

I've seen very little that distinguishes him from his predecessor.

Neither one of them have a backbone. A couple spineless yes men kissing the players butts. Doing everything they can to appease the stars.

Even if it's to the detriment of the team.

Sixty goal scoring centremen don't grow on trees around the arena. Coaches are a dime a dozen. A smart coach who knows his job isn't dependant on winning won't risk upsetting the children's feelings.

It's easier to replace the coach than a team of players.

Agreed, there were folks who were really all in on Keefe being the "root of the problem" and how Berube was going to come in and transform everything.

There's a culture problem on the team that can't be fixed with coaching alone.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

If what you say is true, no coach can win here with these 3 losers. Can the same be said for winners like MacKinnon, McDavid, Crosby, Petro, Kopitar, M Tkachuk, Barkov etc.?

I don't think it matters who the next-guy-to-get-fired is behind bench.

These coach killers will eventually have their way with whoever is back there. ML$E needs to be careful about what kinds of precedents they're setting. They've already chewed up and spit out two coaches from polar opposite ends of the spectrum.

These players who admit they are treated like gods know they don't have anything to fear from whatever buttkisser Shanahan hires to chew gum and wave pom poms.

Agreed, there were folks who were really all in on Keefe being the "root of the problem" and how Berube was going to come in and transform everything.

There's a culture problem on the team that can't be fixed with coaching alone.

With large salaries come large egos.

These players are treated like gods. They are paid enormous sums of money to play a game for a living. They know they are the most important assets to this team.

Coach, GM, and President don't have jobs without their sixty goal scoring franchise centreman and his 100 point sidekick buddy and they know it.

 

[thewave]

Not liking his accountability and reward system for players that perform at depth. Steeves 5mins last night, why? Robertson has been better why not load test him up in the lineup sometimes, give him some shifts.

Just weird, he seems to be heavy on the playing favorites and lacks developmental skills. Seems like a coach that needs to be given a finished product to Marshall to victory.

 

[ponder]

I went with “Just OK. Some good some bad.”

On the good side, I like that we’re playing tougher, more playoff style hockey, grinding it out and strong defensively. When the whistles get swallowed and the physicality ramps up, I think we can keep playing this game, vs struggling to change how we play once the playoffs start.

But I definitely have some concerns:

1) Our special teams are completely middle of the pack, both PP and PK. Under Keefe our PP was elite most years, and special teams are where coaches make a lot of impact IMO. Our PP just sucks given the talent, very predictable, lacks the creativity and pace you see from top PPs

2) Our 5v5 offence is kind of similar, predictable and safe, not that effective, again pretty middle of the pack league wide. Keefe would be pushing the barriers, bringing in extreme possession hockey before it was popular (including higher risk plays in our own end to spring a cleaner breakout), and trying stuff like having guys exit the o-zone without the puck during the cycle to re-enter with speed. I haven’t seen anything creative from Berube and co, and I do think our offence is suffering for it

Also, re: us being 1st in the division, a lot of that is that there’s worse competition at the top of the Atlantic this year. Boston have fallen off, Florida and Tampa are both good but not great this year. If you look at our point percentage by year: Maple Leafs Points Percentage By Year Last 8 Years | StatMuse

It’s just mediocre compared to recent seasons, .638 this year. In the best Keefe years we were at .701, .688 and .677. It’s like a middle of the road Keefe season, not a high end one.

 

[Guinnes66]

He is about as average as it gets in my opinion. Like a lot of older coaches, he is too rigid in his ways. Last night was a perfect example of this. Robertson had one of his best games as a leaf and the rest of the forwards were mostly bad and instead of recognizing that he had jump and deserved more playing time, robertson ends up playing just 12 minutes. Not enough shuffling of players down the lineup when they are playing bad and shuffling of players up the lineup when they have it going. This is a demotivating thing for players at the bottom if they feel like playing better will not be rewarded and on the flip side if players at the top play bad they have no fear.

 

[Stephen]

I find it like an odd mix of just clearing the bar but somehow also racking up wins any means necessary. You wouldn’t think they were 3-0 coming off 4 Nations but there they are in 1st. They keep trucking along but it doesn’t really look convincing. I’m not sure where that leads.

 

[thewave]

He is about as average as it gets in my opinion. Like a lot of older coaches, he is too rigid in his ways. Last night was a perfect example of this. Robertson had one of his best games as a leaf and the rest of the forwards were mostly bad and instead of recognizing that he had jump and deserved more playing time, robertson ends up playing just 12 minutes. Not enough shuffling of players down the lineup when they are playing bad and shuffling of players up the lineup when they have it going. This is a demotivating thing for players at the bottom if they feel like playing better will not be rewarded and on the flip side if players at the top play bad they have no fear.

Notice the same. It's a red flag for sure as far as development goes especially. If they want to run a top heavy team by way of cap, they better be drafting and developing fast and well.

Special teams needs a revamp

I find it like an odd mix of just clearing the bar but somehow also racking up wins any means necessary. You wouldn’t think they were 3-0 coming off 4 Nations but there they are in 1st. They keep trucking along but it doesn’t really look convincing. I’m not sure where that leads.

The not convincing to me part is the lack of ability to fix the flaws the team has on the fly. The problems persist

 

[Stephen]

Notice the same. It's a red flag for sure as far as development goes especially. If they want to run a top heavy team by way of cap, they better be drafting and developing fast and well.

Special teams needs a revamp



The not convincing to me part is the lack of ability to fix the flaws the team has on the fly. The problems persist

I don’t know if it’s a solving problems on the fly. Just feels like the team is stuck on Eco mode, but somehow gets the job done and racks up wins. There doesn’t seem to be a next gear however. Or they haven’t switched it on.

 

[Warden of the North]

I am overall very happy, but the playoffs will inevitably tell the tale here. We will see if he pulls the right strings at that time of year.

 

[Mess]

I find it like an odd mix of just clearing the bar but somehow also racking up wins any means necessary. You wouldn’t think they were 3-0 coming off 4 Nations but there they are in 1st. They keep trucking along but it doesn’t really look convincing. I’m not sure where that leads.

The Florida Panther's won the 2021-22 President's trophy with 122 points while Jonathan Huberdeau tied fro 2nd in NHL scoring.

But they were and easy out getting swept by TB in round #2.

Then they made that BIG Matt Tkachuk for Huberdeau deal and have gone on to be consistent Cup contenders and even Stanley Cup winners.

The fear is this could parallel Leafs fate as pretenders but not contenders until Leafs core 4 is also addressed and perhaps a big change required to fuel future serious Cup success..

This years playoffs will help define if serious change to the core is needed as cruising through the regular season has resulted in constant playoff failure annually.

 

[Sypher04]

Tkachuk is the poster boy for didn’t do shit in the post season until he did.

 

[Guinnes66]

This year is

I don’t know if it’s a solving problems on the fly. Just feels like the team is stuck on Eco mode, but somehow gets the job done and racks up wins. There doesn’t seem to be a next gear however. Or they haven’t switched it on.

Its hard to judge this current team. From the eye ball test, they do not appear to be as good as previous years and they very rarely have any dominant games and offensively they have been really subpar. About the only thing to hope for is that the increased focus on defence and that having one of the best goalie tandems in the league is going to work out better in the playoffs compared to previous teams. Its really hard to say.

 

[colchar]

Neither one of them have a backbone. A couple spineless yes men kissing the players butts. Doing everything they can to appease the stars.

And when, exactly, has Berube done this?