Each time a brand new head coach is available in, there’s all the time going to be a transitional interval for the gamers– each outdated and new. That’s the case with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Craig Berube as his fashion is one which’s completely different from what they beforehand had underneath Sheldon Keefe.
Whereas the Maple Leafs are extraordinarily expert, Berube has a brand new philosophy with the best way he desires his workforce to play. There’s extra of an entire fashion of play, nevertheless it’s one the place he desires his workforce to be extra intense and accountable with their strategy on the ice. He desires his workforce to have a robust id, the place they’re extra aggressive and it’s beginning to present. The offense remains to be there, it’s one the place the workforce continues to execute his fashion persistently.
Maple Leaf Amping Up Bodily Play
After a preseason the place we observed a change of their play, the Maple Leafs seem to have embraced Berube’s sport plan of being heavy and more durable to play in opposition to. They even began carrying a shirt with the slogan: “No Grit, No Grind, No Greatness.”
That phrase alone reveals that with out that mentality, they gained’t obtain something except they play a hard-nosed sport that made the Florida Panthers profitable profitable the Stanley Cup. That slogan was undoubtedly evident in opposition to the Maple Leafs’ 4-0 win in opposition to the Boston Bruins the place they not solely ended a shedding streak to them that spans two seasons, however the depth and bodily play was undoubtedly evident.
There was Max Pacioretty’s hit on Andrew Peeke that pressured him out of the sport the place he was initially given a significant however was known as again. Then there was Chris Tanev’s hit on David Pastrnak into the boards that did lead to a penalty and a scrum ensued. They didn’t again down from something with reference to “extracurricular actions” and made their presence identified when matching the depth of their opposition.
This sport alone was the right steadiness of enjoying a really bodily sport, but in addition displaying nice consideration to element on the defensive aspect of the sport. There was undoubtedly a playoff-like environment the place it was a good checking sport and minimal probabilities had been being given up. The Maple Leafs capitalized on the ability play after it was a priority as of late, however is displaying some life with their motion and aggressive play. Many in Leafs Nation need to see what this workforce can do within the postseason and a sport like this reveals what they’re able to at that degree.
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The Maple Leafs general are 11th in hits with 316 and the flexibility to indicate their dedication to play a robust defensive, grind-it-out type of sport when they should is the type of hockey that makes groups profitable. It’s nonetheless an adjustment interval at occasions in the course of the sport as they do lose their focus and stray away from the sport plan, however their new mindset and depth is tough to miss.
New Identification Continues to Emerge
For the longest time, the Maple Leafs have been seen as a extremely expert and puck possession fashion of workforce. They’re nonetheless that label, however this new id from not shying away from the physicality is certainly nice to see as they’ve been missing in that division.
You’re seeing it at loads of factors in the course of the season. Whereas they misplaced to the St. Louis Blues for the second time in as many weeks, Berube was impressed with the best way that captain Auston Matthews stood up for Mitch Marner after he obtained a late hit from defenseman Ryan Suter. Matthews ended up with a roughing penalty, however Berube mentioned he had no drawback with what transpired.
Having that mindset present from not simply depth and bodily gamers like Ryan Reaves, however out of your captain is an indication of progress and a workforce keen to do no matter it takes to face up for one another. Jake McCabe and Pontus Holmberg additionally displayed that gritty aspect by entering into fights themselves. Even Marner was in the course of all of it, mixing issues up with Minnesota Wild ahead Joel Eriksson-Ek a day later. The trickle-down impact from head coach to the gamers is certainly standing out and everyone seems to be right here for that.
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Whereas this is similar Maple Leafs workforce by way of being a talented group, the grit and toughness continues to develop with this workforce as they carve out a brand new id. They’ll nonetheless harm you offensively, however they’re now not going to be pushed round like they was. They’re not going to draw back from something they usually’re letting their opponent know that.
