Surprising Change in Style of Play for the Toronto Maple Leafs Under Craig Berube

Surprising Change in Style of Play for the Toronto Maple Leafs Under Craig Berube

Introduction:
When the Toronto Maple Leafs hired Craig Berube as their head coach, many in the hockey world were surprised. Known for his tough, defensive-minded coaching and leadership with the St. Louis Blues, Berube’s hiring signaled a shift for the Leafs, a team traditionally built on speed, skill, and offensive firepower. The question on everyone’s mind was: could Berube’s old-school approach be the answer to Toronto’s playoff struggles and bring them the elusive Stanley Cup they’ve been chasing for decades?

Now, several months into his tenure, it’s clear that the Leafs have undergone a significant transformation under Berube’s guidance. While the team is still filled with star power, the style of play has shifted in some surprising ways. Gone are the days of purely relying on a fast-paced, high-scoring game; under Berube, the Leafs have become a team that blends skill with a more structured, gritty approach.

In this article, we’ll explore the changes in the Maple Leafs’ style of play under Craig Berube, analyze how these changes are affecting their overall performance, and assess whether this new direction can help Toronto finally break through their playoff woes.

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1. The Old Toronto Maple Leafs: A Team of Speed and Skill
Before Berube arrived, the Leafs were known for their dynamic, fast-paced style of play, centered around high-end offensive talent. Players like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander were the focal points of the team’s attack, often playing a possession-heavy game designed to create open ice and scoring chances.

Toronto’s power play, often regarded as one of the most lethal in the league, was an extension of this philosophy, relying on the ability of their star forwards to create opportunities with their skating and puck-handling skills. While this approach allowed the Leafs to rack up impressive regular-season wins, it often came up short in the postseason. Despite their offensive prowess, the team struggled in physical, defensive playoff matchups, often being ousted by teams that were more willing to grind out victories in the trenches.

As a result, there were growing concerns about Toronto’s ability to adapt in high-pressure situations and against teams that played a more physical, hard-hitting brand of hockey. This frustration ultimately led to a change in leadership behind the bench, with general manager Kyle Dubas turning to Craig Berube to implement a new strategy.

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2. Berube’s Impact: From Offense to Balanced Hockey
From the moment Berube took over as head coach, it was clear that his approach would be drastically different from his predecessor’s. Known for his work with the St. Louis Blues, where he led the team to a Stanley Cup victory in 2019, Berube’s coaching philosophy centers around tough defense, physicality, and team cohesion. Unlike the Leafs’ previous high-flying, offensively focused game, Berube immediately began instilling a more balanced approach.

One of the first noticeable changes was in the team’s forecheck. Under Berube, the Leafs began to deploy a more aggressive forecheck, one that focused not just on speed but on pressure and physicality. Players like Michael Bunting and the newly acquired Ryan Reaves were brought in to bring an edge to the Leafs’ game, ensuring that Toronto wasn’t just trying to outscore opponents but could also wear them down physically.

While Toronto still leaned on its top offensive players for scoring, Berube’s system also emphasized a more structured and disciplined defensive game. This shift became evident in the way the Leafs defended their own zone. Gone were the days of simply relying on a breakout pass to spring a rush; now, Toronto’s defensemen were more active in the neutral zone and more involved in breaking up plays at the blue line.

Perhaps most notably, the Leafs’ power play began to look more like the defensive-heavy Blues’ special teams than the wide-open offensive juggernaut they were accustomed to. While still potent, the power play became more focused on maintaining possession, cycling the puck to tire out penalty killers, and getting the puck to the point for shots from defensemen rather than relying solely on precision passing and high-danger shots from the top forwards.

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3. The Emergence of Physicality: A Tougher Toronto Maple Leafs
Berube’s philosophy is built on the idea that hockey isn’t just about scoring goals—it’s also about winning battles. Under his leadership, the Leafs became noticeably more physical, and this change was seen both in their forecheck and in their play away from the puck.

One of the most significant changes was in the team’s response to physicality. In the past, Toronto had often been criticized for being a team that could be bullied in the postseason. Teams like the Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning, both known for their size and aggressive play, had dominated the Leafs in recent years, exposing their lack of grit and toughness in high-pressure playoff games.

Berube’s approach has worked to change that perception. He encouraged his players to engage more physically, whether it be through finishing checks, protecting the puck, or standing up for teammates in scrums. The addition of players like Ryan Reaves and Noel Acciari, who thrive in the physical aspects of the game, helped facilitate this transformation. But even the more skilled players like Matthews, Marner, and Nylander have been seen stepping up in this department.

Perhaps the most symbolic moment of this shift came in a midseason game against the Boston Bruins, where the Leafs not only matched the Bruins in physical play but at times outmuscled them. For the first time in years, Toronto was able to dictate the pace of play in a physical game, and it was evident that Berube’s emphasis on grit and toughness was paying dividends.

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4. Defensive Improvements: The Leafs’ New Commitment to Team Defense
Another key change under Berube has been the improvement in the Leafs’ defensive game. While the team still has its offensive stars, they are no longer a team that simply tries to outscore their opponents. The emphasis on defensive responsibility has been a hallmark of Berube’s coaching style, and it’s clear he’s had an impact in this area as well.

The Leafs have become far more structured in their defensive zone play. In particular, their neutral zone coverage has improved, making it harder for opponents to break through to the offensive zone. Defenders like Morgan Rielly and T.J. Brodie have become more reliable at breaking up opposing rushes, while the defensive corps as a whole has embraced a more physical style of defending. They are not simply sitting back and waiting for mistakes, but instead, are actively engaging in the forecheck and aggressively pinching down the boards when necessary.

This newfound defensive commitment has also helped Toronto become one of the league’s better penalty-killing teams. With Berube’s emphasis on blocking shots and maintaining strong positional play, the Leafs’ penalty kill has become a far more dangerous unit, one that can not only stop the puck but also create opportunities to score shorthanded.

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5. Auston Matthews and the Leadership Role
One of the most interesting aspects of Berube’s system has been the transformation of star players, particularly Auston Matthews. Known primarily for his goal-scoring prowess, Matthews had long been regarded as one of the top offensive players in the league, but often questioned for his overall commitment to two-way play.

Under Berube, Matthews has embraced a more well-rounded role. Not only is he still one of the top goal-scorers in the league, but he has become a more engaged player in all three zones. His physicality has increased, and he’s shown more willingness to engage in the corners and in front of the net. His defensive responsibilities have also expanded, with Matthews frequently being deployed in key defensive situations, especially in critical moments late in games.

This shift in Matthews’ approach has been emblematic of the broader transformation of the team under Berube. No longer are the Leafs simply a team built around offense—they are becoming a more complete team, one that can both score and defend with the best of them.

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6. Will This Approach Lead to Playoff Success?
The true test of Berube’s system will come in the postseason, where the Leafs have so often faltered despite their regular-season success. But early returns are promising. Toronto’s defense-first approach has made them a much more resilient team, one that is difficult to break down, even when facing tough, physical opponents.

While it’s still too early to declare the Leafs’ playoff woes over, the changes under Berube are undeniably positive. The team looks more balanced, more prepared for the grind of the playoffs, and, perhaps most importantly, more capable of winning in a variety of ways. Whether it’s through the high-scoring play of their top forwards or the grit and toughness of their bottom-six, Toronto is showing that it is a team that can adapt to any style of play, a crucial trait when facing the rigors of postseason hockey.

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. 7. Conclusion: A New Era for the Toronto Maple Leafs
The transformation of the Toronto Maple Leafs under Craig Berube has been nothing short of remarkable. What was once a team defined by its speed and skill is now a more balanced, tougher, and defensively responsible squad. Berube’s impact is felt in every facet of the game, from the forecheck to the defensive zone, from the physicality of the bottom six to the leadership of Auston Matthews.

While it remains to be seen how the Leafs will perform when it matters most—the Stanley Cup playoffs—the changes under Berube have reinvigorated the team, providing them with a new identity and a sense of confidence that they can win in multiple ways. The hope is that this shift in style will finally help the Leafs break their playoff curse and bring a championship back to Toronto for the first time since 1967.

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