The Toronto Maple Leafs have had a solid start to the season putting up a 3-1 record through four games, good enough to be tied for second in the Atlantic Division. That good start, however, has head coach Craig Berube trying his best to keep his team from resting on their laurels ahead of a difficult matchup against the reigning Presidents' Trophy winners, the New York Rangers, on Saturday. That's why Berube halted a practice session at the Ford Training Center on Friday , sending a direct message to his players ahead of their matchup against New York.
Berube, known for his no-nonsense approach, explained that he stopped the session because he felt the team's execution wasn’t up to his standard, despite the Leafs starting the season with a 3–1 record. Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images "We don’t want to get complacent, right?" Berube said, via Maple Leafs Hot Stove . "That is the biggest thing.
"I stopped it a couple of times. It was just execution for me, being sharp and executing. It sort of goes back to the last game.
At 5-0, you take your foot off the gas a little bit, and we don’t want to do that." Berube was referencing the Leafs' 6-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday. Toronto went up 3-0 in the first period, entered the final frame 5-0 up, but then allowed two quick goals in the third period.
The Leafs decided to replace former head coach Sheldon Keefe this offseason with Berube trying to instill a stronger sense of discipline and accountability. Before annou.