Confidence in Leadership
In the face of a challenging start to the NHL season, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving has expressed his unwavering confidence in head coach Craig Berube. During his customary address to reporters on Tuesday, Treliving acknowledged the team’s disappointing record of 8-9-2, labeling their performance as “underwhelming”. He emphasized that he believes Berube is the right leader to reorient a team that has displayed signs of disconnection.
“I have complete faith in our coach, and I don’t see him as part of the problem,” Treliving stated. “Craig didn’t become a bad coach overnight.”
Berube was Treliving’s inaugural coaching choice after dismissing former head coach Sheldon Keefe in May of 2024, seeking a fresh perspective for a franchise seeking a resurgence. Under Berube last season, the Leafs thrived, clinching the top spot in the Atlantic Division with an impressive 108 points. However, the current season suggests a drastic downturn, with Toronto projected for only 78 points if their play does not improve.
Roster Concerns and Defensive Struggles
The decline raises questions about the Leafs’ current roster, which, apart from losing star forward Mitch Marner to free agency, largely mirrors the squad Berube guided to success the previous season. Yet, defensive performance has suffered significantly, with Toronto allowing the second-highest goals in the league at 3.79 per game, coupled with a disappointing average of 31.2 shots against. Additionally, starting goaltender Anthony Stolarz has not performed at the same level as last year, showing a record of 6-5-1 and an underwhelming save percentage of .884.
Need for Change and Player Performance
Treliving indicated a lack of “enthusiasm” among the players, hinting that alterations must be made to regain a competitive edge as the team inches closer to the playoffs, currently sitting four points shy of a wild-card position in the Eastern Conference. Heading into the matchup against St. Louis—Berube’s former team—Treliving underscored the necessity for the players to address their issues rather than rely on management to facilitate drastic changes or additional acquisitions.
“The reality is that you cannot trade your way out of problems,” he remarked, clarifying that his focus remains on supporting Berube and encouraging the team rather than succumbing to panic-induced decisions.
Treliving also downplayed injury concerns, as the team grapples with multiple absent key players, including Auston Matthews, who is sidelined with a lower body injury, and Stolarz, among others who are facing various ailments. This depletion has taken a toll on Toronto’s center and defensive line depth. To mitigate this, the Maple Leafs signed defenseman Troy Stecher off waivers from Edmonton, while goaltender Joseph Woll is expected to regain his form following a recent return from a personal hiatus.
However, Matthews only resumed skating on Tuesday and will miss a consecutive game, while Scott Laughton is anticipated to come back against Columbus. Treliving remains firm in his belief that individual roster changes will not rectify these underlying issues unless the team can elevate its overall performance. He lamented:
“There has been too much ‘vanilla’ play from our team; full, complete games have been few and far between. The result won’t improve regardless of who steps in without a collective effort.”
