Exactly one year ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs hired Craig Berube as their head coach, hoping his past playoff success would alter their future postseason outcomes.
Four days after Berube signed on the dotted line in Toronto, he, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving, and President Brendan Shanahan sat inside a theatre room inside Ford Performance Centre, highlighting what the next version of the Maple Leafs would look like.
"Competitive," Berube said. "We don't want to get outworked ever."
It's been a rollercoaster 365 days for Berube and the Maple Leafs. He had the entire summer to meet with his new team, which included the infamous coffee shop photo with Mitch Marner. Entering the regular season, there were questions about whether this Maple Leafs team was better than last year's version.
Spoiler alert: They were.
Then, during the season, Berube and the team dealt with numerous injuries, but managed to stay strong and win their seventh division title in franchise history. Toronto's head coach remained cool, calm, and collected through it all, which is sort of the characterization of his team.
‘He’s A Very Important Piece': Maple Leafs Still Awaiting An Update On Matthew Knies After Apparent Injury In Game 6
The Toronto Maple Leafs could be without one of their top forwards when they face the Florida Panthers in Sunday’s winner-take-all Game 7.
The Maple Leafs had a chance to sweep the Ottawa Senators in the first round after winning their first three games of the series. Ottawa, however, wasn't going to go down without a fight and pushed it to a Game 6.
Amidst fans and media asking whether the Maple Leafs were swirling into another year of playoff failure, Berube gathered his players, walked into the Canadian Tire Centre with confidence, and left with a new opponent on their hands for the second round.
A similar situation occurred against the Florida Panthers. Toronto won twice at home before giving up the three, including a disastrous 6-1 showing in Game 5 at home. Again, many questioned whether we were watching the Maple Leafs of old bounce out of the playoffs.
‘Stuck With Our Guns’: Mitch Marner, Maple Leafs' Buy-In Leads Unified Effort In Season-Saving Game 6 Against Panthers
For the Toronto Maple Leafs, Game 6 was a clear example of what full buy-in to head coach Craig Berube’s system can look like when executed in a must-win Game 6. Backed by a composed, patient, and disciplined performance on the road, the Leafs weathered the storm and blanked the Florida Panthers 2-0 on Friday night to force a Game 7.
Spoiler alert, again (although this story isn't over): They might not.
All of his starts with Berube. His message, his voice, his demeanour — he understands how to win, and he's teaching his players.
"I think obviously he knows what it takes," said Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the morning after Toronto's Game 6 win in Florida.
"Going back to when we started this season, I think that's one thing that he really helped this group and relying on just staying in the moment and staying focused on what we have to do to the next shift. I think that's something that we have been getting better at throughout the year."
'We're Going To War': Maple Leafs' Max Pacioretty Ready For Game 7 In Toronto Against Panthers After Another Game 6 Goal
A new nickname is being dubbed for Toronto Maple Leafs forward <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDo_b3w04_M&pp=ygUOTWF4IFBhY2lvcmV0dHk%3D">Max Pacioretty</a>: Mr. Game 6.
Throughout this series and the playoffs, the Maple Leafs have voiced their knowledge of how difficult the postseason is. They're taking it one game at a time, one shift at a time, one moment at a time.
It feels different than in years past.
"The job’s only going to get harder," Mitch Marner said, with Game 7 ahead on Sunday, "so don’t be satisfied."
The tone and their play on the ice returns to Berube, and his experience of playing and winning the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019.
"I think just his demeanor, how composed he is. He trusts you, and you appreciate that as a player and talks to you, he lets you know where you're at," Scott Laughton, who joined the Maple Leafs at the trade deadline, said on Saturday.
"It's been a lot of fun and just a very composed guy, off the ice, and I think he's helped us a ton here."
Their toughest task yet, a win-or-go-home Game 7 against the defending Stanley Cup Champions, lies ahead. Florida has been there before and won (in the Finals against the Edmonton Oilers), the Maple Leafs haven't.
But if there's anything Toronto can lean on, it'll be their head coach, who won two Game 7s during St. Louis' Stanley Cup run in 2019.
"You're in the moment. There's a lot of emotion going on in the game, a lot of intensity," Berube said of Game 7. "As the head coach, it's important to stay calm and keep your players directed in the right way and staying calm too. But it's a lot of fun. I enjoy it."
Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.