Tavares spoke with NHL.com while at the World Championships in Prague, Czechia, where he's the captain and has five points (one goal, four assists) in four games.
Tavares spoke with NHL.com while at the World Championships in Prague, Czechia, where he's the captain and has five points (one goal, four assists) in four games.
John Tavares doesn't know new Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube, but he's excited for what's ahead.
Toronto's captain, and currently Team Canada's leader at the World Championships in Prague, Czechia, spoke with NHL.com about the organization bringing in a new head coach.
"I don't know him at all, just connected with him via text early this morning. It's what I woke up to," Tavares said via NHL.com. "Obviously very difficult to see 'Keefer' go, but part of the game at times, and for us as players, it's on us to do a better job. With Craig coming in, he's going to help us with that.
"I'm excited to work with him. He's got a tremendous pedigree. [General Manager Brad Treliving] sent a quick note out to myself as well, just about the excitement of bringing him in and how he can help our group. That process has already begun and we're looking forward to having him."
Berube was announced as the Maple Leafs' 32nd head coach on Friday evening, eight days after Sheldon Keefe was relieved of his duties. Keefe began his NHL head coaching career in Toronto and wasn't able to help get the Maple Leafs fully over the hump, only winning one playoff series during his five-season tenure.
"It's still really difficult, I think," Tavares said via NHL.com. "He'd been around five years with the team. Everything we've been through and certainly from a personal note how he's helped my game grow and how he's challenged me, I think back and forth you develop a lot of trust and respect.
"As a player, you wear that, you feel that. That's a wound that you take."
The resume of Berube, though, is undeniable. He played 40 games with the Maple Leafs in the 1991-92 season, but what stands out most is his Stanley Cup win as head coach of the St. Louis Blues in 2019.
He's a coach that doesn't take no for an answer. He holds his players accountable.
"Obviously they (St. Louis) had a tremendous amount of success with him, and even before he was hired there were a lot of rumors and they mentioned how much they enjoyed playing for him and the good things that he does," Tavares said via NHL.com.
If Toronto can win a Stanley Cup under Berube, it'll be their first since 1967. And for the 58-year-old bench boss, it'll be his second time hosting the trophy, but on a different team — something only a handful of NHL coaches have ever done.
"Excited to be coached by him and to learn and get better and for me to grow and how he's going to help our team get to where we want to get to."
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