Maple Leafs notebook: Nuclear option now on the table?

TORONTO — This malaise of the Toronto Maple Leafs feels different than any lull Craig Berube endured in his first season as head coach.

The NHL is a hard league, and its schedule can be relentless. Injuries hurt, and new acquisitions need time to find their footing.

Thereâ€s no shame in losing to a decent team, like Toronto did to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday and the Seattle Kraken on Saturday.

But itâ€s the quest for a full 60-minute effort and the frequency of self-inflicted errors that leave Berube puzzled over the pieces.

“Some of our new guys coming in, finding some chemistry, where they fit, and trying to prove themselves almost a little bit, you know?†Berube said Wednesday, after a tema meeting and a highly optional practice in which the leadership group remained off the ice. 

“And then, our whole team in general, in my opinion, is shooting themselves in the foot at different times in the game where thereâ€s no need to do that. Like, we didnâ€t do that stuff last year.â€

The 2024-25 Leafs were superb at holding leads. They thrived in one-goal nail-biters. They locked it down.

The 2025-26 Leafs have more giveaways (130) than any team in the Eastern Conference and the 29th-best power-play in the league (12.5 per cent).

“Itâ€s all mental for me, more than anything,†Berube said. “We got to play to our identity for 60 minutes and understand what we need to do to be successful. Itâ€s just got to keep banging away at it and keep working at it. But sometimes early adversity is OK. I mean, itâ€s all part of it. You go through it throughout the year at times, and weâ€re going through it right now.â€

William Nylander has received nearly 21 minutes†worth of bump-up shifts to Matthews†unit over these first seven games, usually when pressing for a tying goal or in an O-zone faceoff near the end of a period.

The top line has been out-chanced 17-15 and outscored 2-1 when Knies-Matthews-Nylander has hit the ice. Not great. But there have been dangerous moments, and those have been few and far between with lesser right wings in that spot.

Prolonged zone time and second chances are an issue for Torontoâ€s top unit since that groupâ€s puck-carrier and distributor chose Vegas.

“When you want to create offensive zone time, you got to put pucks in with a purpose. You got to then you got to go and get it, and you got to be physical, and you got to be heavy on your sticks,” Berube said of Matthews and Knies. “You got to win those battles to get those pucks back. And they just got to do better job with it. Thatâ€s really the bottom line.â€

To think: The Leafs used to toy with spreading their offensive threats over three lines. Now, theyâ€re considering stacking them onto one.

“I mean, I always want a little balance,†Berube said. “But itâ€s definitely something that Iâ€m thinking about.â€

In the meanwhile, rookie Easton Cowan (scratched Tuesday) should get another top-line trial against the Sabres in a home-and-home series Friday and Saturday. If the team is hesitant to dress the kid against Buffalo, it might as well send him to the AHL so he can touch the puck.

Chris Tanev, who suffered an upper-body injury Tuesday, did not hit the ice Wednesday and is questionable to participate in this weekendâ€s set against Buffalo.

“When he stays down, itâ€s definitely scary, because Iâ€ve never played with a guy as tough as Chris Tanev,†Max Domi said. “Itâ€s not a good feeling as a group when you see a guy like that go down, but he seems to be doing well. And tough as nails. Huge part of our team.â€

Tanev was just one of Torontoâ€s “banged up†players that prevent Berube from delaying a full practice until Thursday.

Next-man-up Philippe Myers conducted partner work with lefty Oliver Ekman-Larsson, suggesting Simon Benoit and Jake McCabe could reunite as a pairing.

Scott Laughton (foot; week to week) has ditched his walking boot and may return to the ice for solo work as early as Thursday. 

“Heâ€s trending really well,†Berube said. “Hopefully heâ€s back on the ice with us shortly.â€

As for Joseph Woll, the coach says he hasnâ€t spoken with the goaltender (leave of absence for a personal matter) but assures heâ€s doing fine. Cayden Primeau (1-0-0, .867) is the backup until further notice.

No update on Joseph Woll from Craig Berube ahead of another Maple Leafs back-to-back.

“When he’s back, he’s back.”

Is he skating?

“When he’s back, he’s back.”

— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) October 22, 2025

Source link