There’s little question about Craig Berube‘s impression as the brand new head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. His workforce has not been scored on once they’ve been killing penalties all preseason. Even when the Maple Leafs performed kids, his workforce held its personal.
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What’s he doing that’s been working – a minimum of to this point?
4 Points of Berube’s Teaching That Are Paying Dividends
Facet One: Berube Has Introduced a Contemporary Perspective
The Maple Leafs gamers acknowledge that with Berube, they’ve a “contemporary set of eyes” on them. Not like with earlier coach Sheldon Keefe, there are not any preconceived notions about their roles. This provides gamers, particularly those that got here up by way of the system below Keefe, like Timothy Liljegren and William Nylander, a possibility to redefine themselves and doubtlessly earn completely different roles.
Maybe the participant who has benefitted essentially the most is Nick Robertson. He was the participant of the sport on Saturday and scored twice to assist his case in making the workforce.
Facet Two: Berube Has Demanded Consideration to Defensive Element
Berube’s emphasis on particulars has considerably influenced the workforce’s early success, notably in its sturdy defensive play. The workforce appears extra dialed into Berube’s construction, which may very well be serving to gamers transfer up the depth chart or earn extra vital roles.
The preseason video games below Berube have featured lower-scoring affairs in comparison with earlier seasons. That aligns with Berube’s concentrate on a extra structured, defensively sound method. Though the workforce’s full roster isn’t current, the AHL gamers have purchased into the system. That bodes properly for depth and preparedness because the season progresses.
Facet Three: Berube Has Created Adaptability Underneath Strain
Patrick Laine was injured throughout recreation 4 in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens, which impacted the sport’s momentum. Nonetheless, Berube’s affect was seen in how properly the Maple Leafs stored their composure. On the identical time, the Montreal Canadiens misplaced their very own. This resilience and self-discipline below stress is likely to be a part of Berube’s teaching ethos.
Craig Berube’s Affect on the Maple Leafs Guarantees Lengthy-term Advantages
For now, Berube appears to be constructing a system that would pay dividends when the inevitable accidents hit through the season. Suppose gamers from the AHL (like those that performed in opposition to the Canadiens on Saturday) are already built-in into his defensive construction. That ensures that the Maple Leafs can have depth and consistency all through the lineup when they should name up reinforcements.
The underside line is that Berube appears to have established a disciplined, detail-oriented method targeted on defensive construction. He’s additionally allowed gamers to redefine their roles with out preconceived judgments. His affect is obvious within the workforce’s on-ice efficiency and the way the depth gamers purchase into his system, which may very well be essential for the Maple Leafs in the long term.
Thus far, for Berube, so good.
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