After a "soft" response to a hit on their captain served as a reality check, Craig Berube is using that failure as a daily blueprint to reshape the Maple Leafs' identity.
Craig Berube’s vision for the Toronto Maple Leafs was rooted in being a team that is tough to play against. But in the immediate aftermath of Radko Gudas’ knee on captain Auston Matthews, that identity was nowhere to be found. The hit itself, and the glaring absence of a physical response from the players on the ice, became a lightning rod for criticism.
Berube didn't let the moment slide behind closed doors; in fact, he ensured it remained at the forefront of the players' minds. Following his team’s morning skate Tuesday as they prepared to host the New York Islanders at Scotiabank Arena, Berube was asked if the incident is still brought up as part of his everyday preparations.
"It's something we've talked about almost daily about getting in there for each other and being physical and hard to play against," Berube said. "When somebody takes advantage of—just the other night, with the goaltender in Buffalo, OEL (Oliver Ekman-Larsson) is right in there and we have everybody in there. That's what we need to look like all the time".
The soft response to the Matthews hit appears to have served as a catalyst for change. Since Matthews went down, the Leafs have managed to secure five of a possible six points, playing a style of hockey that more closely aligns with Berube’s philosophy.
"Sometimes it's a wake-up call. It really is," Berube admitted. "I think if I look back from that game on and how competitive we've been and how physical we've been, it's a big difference for me".
While Toronto’s playoff chances remain slim, they aren’t mathematically out just yet. With 14 games remaining, the team is 11 points out of a playoff position, but perhaps this moment could change the direction of where the club goes next season. It remains unclear, however, if Berube will get that chance. The same goes for the rest of Toronto’s front office, who are bracing for their first playoff miss in 10 years.
