While the Toronto Maple Leafs started their season off with a victory, Craig Berube knows there’s a lot of room for improvement
Speaking with Nick Kypreos and Justin on Real Kyper and Bourne,the Leafs head coach believes that there were things that need to be worked on, especially the top line, which featured Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies and newcomer Matias Maccelli.
“I think they had some good shifts where they’re possessing the puck and doing some good things, but obviously it wasn’t enough. We all know that,” Berube explained. “It’ll get better. I do believe that. I think some of their puck touches were not great. I didn’t think that we were making good plays with it or executing our plays with the puck. “So, like I said, we’ve got to keep working on that. You know, that’s something we’re going to focus on tomorrow at practice. Just making better puck plays, better decisions with it, a little more directness.”
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Coming into the game, Toronto had to make some lineup changes following the injury to Scott Laughton, which forced Max Domi off the top line right wing spot and back at third-line centre, which is where he played for the majority of last season.
Berube understands that it will take some time for the new players to get used to their new roles on the team, especially Maccelli, who is playing in a prominent spot on the top line.
“He can pass the puck, he can make plays. He made some plays last night,” Berube said, “But I think they need to find some chemistry between the three of them. A little more chemistry than they’re showing right now.”
Among the positives was the play of Morgan Rielly, who scored a goal and had an assist in 20:47 of ice time.
During training camp, the Leafs made it known that they expected a bounce-back season from Rielly, especially spending the entire camp working with Brandon Carlo.
“I’m very happy. I thought all camp he moved like that, so I wasn’t surprised,” Berube said about Rielly’ play. “He’s skating and doing the things that we want him to do and that he needs to do. I was pretty impressed with him last night. Great to see him come out and play a real good game right off the hop, contribute offensively, do the things he’s capable of doing with and without the puck. He put the work in all summer. He was prepared.”
When looking at the other newcomers, Berube saw some up-and-down performances from Nicolas Roy and Dakota Joshua. The Leafs coach believed Roy’s game got better as the night went along.
“Early, like a lot of guys, he was maybe a little hesitant with the puck, feeling things out, but as we got into the second and third periods, thatâ€s when you started to see the player we know,” Berube said. “He was strong down the middle of the ice, winning battles, responsible in his own end. His faceoffs got better as the night went along, and I thought he really showed that big, heavy presence that we were expecting from him.”
Berube did shuffle lines during the game and said that’s something to expect as the season goes along, as he tries to find the right combinations. He believes it’ll take some patience for things to come together.
One player who will need to be patient before he gets his first crack at NHL action is Easton Cowan, who found himself sitting in the press box with Calle Jarnkrok drawing into his spot on the fourth line.
While it’s tough for a young player to be sitting and waiting, Berube stressed the 19-year-old wonâ€t be sitting long.
“Iâ€ve got to make sure heâ€s not sitting out too long because he needs to play,†Berube said. “Weâ€ll find a way to get him in there. Itâ€s something we talk about all the time with Brad [Treliving] and the staff. Heâ€s a smart kid, heâ€s got a great attitude, and when heâ€s in, I expect him to play with the same confidence he showed in camp.â€
With the depth the Leafs have at forward, the team is not short of options to play in the bottom six, but it’s been made known that their desire to eventually add a top-six forward, especially one that can log top-line minutes.
However, Berube didn’t rule out players currently on the team being capable of handling that task.
“We have guys capable of getting there,†he said. “Not everybody can play that many minutes, but there are some with the motor to do it,” Berube said. “Watching Easton Cowan from junior to now, heâ€s got a motor on him. Thatâ€s still a ways away, but I do believe in time he could be that kind of player.â€
Berube acknowledged that trades are always an option down the road if the need arises, but for now, heâ€s focused on developing the forwards already in the room and seeing who can seize the opportunity to play more.
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