CRAIG BERUBE HAPPY TO SEE MAPLE LEAFS BUYING IN WITH 13-2-1 FINISH TO THE SEASON
TORONTO — When Craig Berube was named head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs late in the regular season, there were questions. Could he connect with a core that had seen so many playoff heartbreaks? Would his demanding, physical style mesh with a group built on speed and finesse? Was there enough time to make a difference?
Just a few weeks later, those doubts have all but vanished.
The Maple Leafs surged to a 13-2-1 finish under Berube, looking like a completely different team from the inconsistent and at times disjointed squad that had limped through midseason. And perhaps most importantly, Berube has seen something more than wins and points — he’s seen belief.
“From the moment I walked in, I said this team had the tools to win,” Berube said following the final game of the regular season. “But it’s one thing to have the tools. It’s another to buy in. These guys have done that, and I’m proud of them.”
Berube, who won a Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019 after taking over midseason, knows what it takes to turn a team around on the fly. His approach in Toronto has been similar — demand accountability, bring structure, and make every player responsible for something.
“It’s not just about Matthews or Marner or Tavares,” Berube said. “It’s about everyone — the fourth line, the third pairing, the backup goalie. Everyone matters. Everyone contributes.”
And that message appears to have resonated.
Auston Matthews, who finished the season with a career-best 69 goals, has praised Berube’s direct style.
“He’s honest,” Matthews said. “There’s no fluff, no guessing what he wants from you. And he holds everyone to the same standard, whether you’re the first-line center or a rookie just called up.”
Indeed, players like Matthew Knies, Bobby McMann, and Simon Benoit have seen elevated roles under Berube and responded with consistent, physical play — something Toronto had been missing in recent seasons. The team has become harder to play against, winning board battles, forechecking with purpose, and defending with intensity.
“Guys are digging in,” said veteran defenseman Morgan Rielly. “We’re not just playing pretty hockey anymore. We’re playing the kind of hockey that wins in May and June.”
That shift was evident in the numbers. Over the final 16 games, the Leafs allowed just 32 goals — a dramatic improvement from earlier in the year. Their penalty kill clicked at over 90%, and goaltenders Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll found a groove behind a more structured and aggressive defense.
“It’s a lot easier to make saves when the team is boxing guys out and clearing rebounds,” Samsonov said. “Coach wants us to play tough, and it’s working.”
While fans have seen late-season surges before — only to be let down in the playoffs — there’s a different vibe surrounding this team. Part of that comes from Berube’s résumé. He’s done this before. He’s navigated adversity, silenced critics, and led a team to the top. And he’s not getting ahead of himself now.
“We’re not celebrating anything,” Berube said. “A strong finish is great. But this is Toronto. We all know what matters.”
Still, the momentum is real. The team’s energy is palpable. And players who once carried the weight of years of disappointment now seem to be walking taller, playing freer, and believing more.
William Nylander, who also posted a career-high in points, said Berube’s arrival brought clarity.
“Sometimes, we were trying to do too much,” Nylander said. “But he simplified things. He told us, ‘You guys have skill. Use it. But play with a purpose.’ That stuck with me.”
Berube has also placed a premium on leadership, leaning on veterans like Mark Giordano, Jake McCabe, and Ryan Reaves to set the tone in the room.
“Everyone has a role,” Reaves said. “And Berube makes sure you know what yours is. He’s tough but fair. And we all want to go to war for him.”
As the Leafs prepare for the playoffs, they do so with a renewed sense of identity. Gone is the pass-happy, defensively vulnerable squad that drew so much criticism. In its place stands a team that’s grinding out wins, standing up for teammates, and playing with purpose.
The city of Toronto has waited decades for this team to reach its potential. And while a 13-2-1 finish doesn’t guarantee anything come playoff time, it does offer hope — and belief — that something special might finally be brewing.
For Berube, that belief is the most important thing of all.
“I didn’t come here to tweak things,” he said. “I came here to win. And now I see a team that believes it can.”
Time will tell if the Maple Leafs can carry that belief into a deep playoff run. But one thing’s clear: Craig Berube has changed the tone, the trajectory, and perhaps the future of this franchise.
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