Maple Leafs Full Media Availability | Post Game vs Los Angeles Kings | November 13, 2025

What do you uh take away from the game like that? Well, I think we we continued with uh the way we we kept battling, stuck together. Obviously, I think second and third we’re just we’re head were defending too much. We’re on our heels and in saying that we defended I think a lot better uh than we have been. I think it was a lot tighter. Um, you know, still at times we got to execute a little better, but uh, it was, you know, other than giving up more shots than we’d like to, um, I think it was harder to get to our net, harder to get cleaner looks, you know, obviously we got to do a better job of building our game after having to check and defend at times. Other teams make pushes, other good players make plays, and getting back to our game and wearing the opponent down. So unfortunately when you’re just on your heels a little too much uh you know they eventually were able to find one to to get by us. What did you make of your goender? He was our best player no doubt. I think uh just stood tall was real calm. Trust his game. Obviously his size um covers a lot of nets. So he was tremendous. What’s the next step in terms of building the game the team’s game out moving forward here John? Well I still think we can just win more pucks. uh we can be a little bit quicker with our pace, the way we move the puck up the ice and you know how we’re just on top of the opponent. Um you know at times um just a little bit too much separation and and I still think there’s loose pucks 50/50 pucks that we can be uh more on top of and that we can earn um you know and then you know try to build that lineto line and uh set yourself on the right side of it each line going out on the right side of it and uh you’re defending less. What are you seeing from Bobby McMahon during this last stretch here? Yeah, I mean Bobby’s got a good nose for the net and I think his his speed and his power is such a weapon and his ability just to get on top of the opponent uh goes a long way not just on uh his ability to to finish uh like he did being able to streak in all alone, but just the way he was able to be a oneman for check there on a line change for us that led to led to our second goal. So just those little things go a long way in in uh um being an effective player and helping the team out and um doing a very good job of it. John, knowing what this group is, knowing what they can be or maybe even should be, did you ever expect to be sitting here close to the 20k mark of the season trying to figure out really who you are? Well, I don’t think you go out and expect anything. I think you got to go out there and earn it. And uh you know I think the type of team we have veteran team we know we haven’t been been to the level that we expect like I’ve said on a consistent basis and uh we got to work our way through it. Obviously it’s been a battle for us and we got to continue to stay with it and find our way here. You know it’s uh you know things are only getting tougher and tougher within our own division within the league. I think we just got to kind of stay at it and know that uh we got a lot better in our game, a lot better individually. Um but uh the urgency has to be high. Is it starting to get that starting to feel that way just with the where the season is right now? Like a lot of the season has passed you guys. There’s lot there’s lots of there’s lots of hockey left, but that doesn’t mean you you don’t take any game for granted. They all mean the same. Um just obviously more games that go by there’s less runway. So, we still have more than half a season to go. We’re not even at the quarter mark yet. So, you know, just stay together, stay composed, and know we have to play better, and we just got to continue to stay with it. So, obviously, it’s been a grind for us, but uh the way we’re competing the last couple nights, and uh the way we defended was better. We just got to get the other parts of our game going here. Dennis, John, just said you are the team’s best player tonight. How would you describe how you were feeling between the pipes? Uh yeah, I know. I thought I thought I did some good good things, but I definitely could have done done things differently. Uh as well, so I mean, it’s hockey. You make mistakes. Unfortunately, sometimes you get punished for them, but yeah. How would you feel your comfort level is the more you’ve got in there and sooner come? Yeah, 100%. It’s spending a lot of NHL hockey this this past week. So, yeah, the more time I get, the more confident I would be. Obviously, this that’s natural. So, yeah, it feels better, but there’s some things want to do different sometimes, but yeah, it’s hockey. Things would you like to either improve or do different? It’s just small things. Sometimes I do them right. Sometimes I miss him. Like the consistency of it all. What goes through your mind when the puck bounces in front of the net early in the third period there when you’re trying to play behind the net. Oh yeah, it’s a bad handle there. Bounced on my blade a little bit. I’m just Yeah, I’m just happy I managed to make the save there. It would have sucked letting that one in. But yeah, even your, you know, week, what’s what’s your feeling, your sense of of where the team’s at, the group in this room right now? Uh, trending in the right direction, I’d say to battle hard. I think I think we deserve more today. Uh, and it’s definitely coming. It’s just got to keep battling and definitely get it done. What’s looking like to you right now? I mean, what’s he looking like? Yeah. How would you describe his game right now? What are you what are you appreciating about him? I mean, he’s he’s an incredible player. Obviously, I have a hard time focusing on anyone other than myself when I’m playing, but whenever I see him play on TV, he’s solid player and like he’s had a great career for a reason. Uh, and incredible guy in the locker room too. Very supportive, which which is appreciated from from a young guy like me. How challenging is it to face a team like the Kings? They just get to the net so often. 37 shots. Yeah. Uh throw a lot pucks at the net. I mean, it’s always fun getting getting to see a lot of rubber. Uh it’s obviously challenging. Pretty big team, too. Some big guys there in front, but I’m big as well. So, uh, yeah, it’s it’s you got to battle to see the puck all the time, but it’s it’s it’s a fun challenge. What can the team take away from tonight’s game? Uh, I mean, we we started good in first period. We took the lead there. Uh, you know, it has been our I don’t want to say our weakness, but the last couple games we we were trailing, but this game we were were leading after one. So, uh, I think we just need to start like that every game. Defensively, did you see some small improvements tonight? I know the moments they didn’t tell what happened. Did you just see anything that made you improve? Yeah, I mean there there’s improvement everywhere. You know, sometime you just have to put everything together to have a complete game. We started well and then uh in second they made a comeback and we just couldn’t hold them off. What made it tough to hold them off today? We just have to play 60. I mean, we had the lead. Uh we have to keep the lead there. uh we just have to shut them down. I mean, they’re a good team, obviously. Uh but it just in my book, it’s it’s not acceptable. We need to uh to bear down and uh get those two points. How do you think Sorry. How do you think Dennis uh has done in that given all the psych? No, he he played great. I mean, like we we give it like 35 shots, right? He made some really good saves for us. Uh kept us in it. You know, it’s not easy to get that many shots as a goalie and we we have to make a better job for him. So, what’s your sense of the group and the belief in the room now? It’s really tough stretch. No, everybody everybody wants everybody wants to win. I mean, we’re all we’re all in this together. Uh anybody like nobody other than us can help us, right? So, I think like the the mental is good. We everybody want to win. Everybody wants to work. Everybody wants to figure out that little slump we have. Uh just to get on the right track of the the winning the winning uh that’s it. How have you felt since been back with Jake there? How have you felt about your game since you got back with Jake? Fine. I mean, like I played with Cabra pretty much uh all my first year, so uh nothing new there. He’s a really good player. I just try to support him and let him do his stuff out there. From a defenseman’s perspective, what’s it like? What’s the challenge defending a guy like Bobby with the speed he’s got? No, I mean, he’s a big boy, right? So, uh when he has that much speed, it’s hard sometimes to contain him, especially if he leans into it and gets the net. So, he just have to keep going. And what do you appreciate about how Tavarus has started the season? Good. I mean, he he brings so much experience, you know, he’s been around the league for so long and he’s such a good guy out the ice, too. He’s always ready to help out, give some advice. Uh, having him around is has been a blessing. What do you take away from? Uh, I mean, you look at uh look at how we we came out. Um, we came out hard. We came out with a lot of energy. Um, and then it’s just knowing that we got to stick with it. We got to stick with the with our game plan and and with what works and making sure we’re uh making their detour and go 200 f feet and continue to push that game and not not change because of um things not going our way. What did John say to Dennis who’s the best player tonight? What did you make of the way the way he’s going? Solid. Um he was just so solid back there and then couple times we really needed I mean he came up with huge saves um coming across the crease there few times. Um he was really good. So, uh, definitely, uh, he definitely did his part tonight. Working at hard to sustain your game right now. Uh, I think, um, I think we’re just, uh, we’re trying to maybe change things up a little bit. Um, I think we want to just continue to push. Um, trust that our abilities uh, are going to carry us through. trust that if we continue to um play with pace, play up the ice, move pucks quick, um we’re going to be playing in their zone more and then when we’re doing that, we we’re a skilled team and we can we can win games. What do you see in your goal? Uh just trying to get the puck out there and then um was able to poke one free and then I just tried to bury my head a little bit and take off and then um luckily that one trickled in. Good point. you know, I guess with when it comes to John, you just almost you’re not surprised by his intent performances. Yeah, I mean, that’s that’s all in the preparation. The guy comes prepared uh 100% best of his ability every single night. Um and then you see that in the outcome of his game. So, yeah, it’s it’s predictable and that’s that’s just who he is. What’s your sense of of the group right now, Bobby, through this this stretch? Um just leaning on each other. Um, I think we’re we’re just trying to continue to work every day and push each other and and be at our best and continue to give one or two% more to um continue to work through it. What do you appreciate about John off the ice? The way he he finds a way to lead you guys. Yeah, he’s always he’s always got the the right voice. He’s always got a good voice, good things to say. Um has a good beat on the room. uh he’s been around a long time and he knows he knows that there’s es and flows in seasons and um he knows that it’s not the end all be all and we need to we need to continue to work at our game and work at our details and that’s what’s most important. How have you felt about your game this stretch? What’s allowed the offense to come? Uh just trying to skate on pucks. Um be physical, skate on pucks, be competitive. Um and then trust that if if I’m doing those things, things will happen offensively. Craig, how do you digest that one? Yeah, I liked our first period. I thought we did some real good things. Defended well, you know, really our sticks were good. You know, we did a lot of good things. And I thought they three quarter ice in the second. The reason that is because, you know, when you get pucks back in our own zone, we got to get out of it. We got to make a play to to advance it up the ice. We didn’t do a good job of it. And then, you know, we got the lead in the third. And I thought we sat back a little too much. Um, you know, again, just advancing that puck up the ice with speed. jumping, getting the holes. It’s confidence for me a little bit. Um, and puck play. Like, you know, the plays are there. We’re just we’re not we’re not making them and just not seeing it well enough right now, but it’s we’re just we got to pick up our pace. You know, we got to be more confident in that in those plays. To me, that’s the difference in the game. Your confidence there. Is that something you’ve got like the base that you got to build and then the rest of the home? Well, I think we we are doing that, but you know, we got to like I said, I think we defend it a lot better tonight, but you know, we give up that many shots because when we get pucks, we’re not advancing them up the ice and and getting to the offensive zone. That’s that’s the difference in the game. You have a long when you have a laundry list of things that you need to to work at now, what becomes the first thing or the second thing, what’s the most important? Well, to me the most important thing is um the defensive play right now in our game. Um which we did a better job tonight, but you know that’s for me I thought that we were too loose uh you know lately and um that’s the one thing you got to tighten up. You know the other stuff and will take care of itself. But, you know, it’s about seeing the plays, making the plays, confident, advancing the puck up the ice, and and getting to the offensive zone more. We didn’t we weren’t there enough. And when we were there, it was too much in and out. What stood out about Hillbee’s night for you? Yeah, I know. He battled hard all night. You know, he you know, he faced quite a few shots, so he he battled hard tonight. I’m sure he wants that first one back, but you know, he battled hard tonight. What was your message to Willie after their second goal? Well, I just I thought he was hurt for a minute. I didn’t know the way you know he whatever. It’s just I was just talking to him about that. What’s the biggest challenge getting the confidence back when it goes away in the middle? I think confidence comes from hard work obviously and doing the right things every shift and you know it’s you know we’ll look at video and they’ll see it and they’ll see the plays and you know work on it in practice. Eight wins in 18 games. It’s tied for the fewest in the last decade. So, how do you how do you walk the line, Craig, between not panicking, but also maybe having some level of urgency right now? Well, panic’s never going to help, but there’s a level of urgency for sure. It’s been there for a bit, but you know, not going to panic. That doesn’t help anything or anybody.

Players and Coach address the media following the Leafs’ 4-3 OT loss to the Los Angeles Kings.

00:00 – John Tavares
03:39 – Dennis Hildeby
06:41 – Simon Benoit
09:03 – Bobby McMann
11:41 – Craig Berube

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40 comments

  4. Derek Lalonde needs to go his defensive eyes must not be seeing how bad the defensive game is all jt is grinding and scoring but we need more out of all the boys let’s go and wake up like come on guys

  6. Outshot again played in their end defending again! Maybe the team should look at these comments. And talented veteran team playing like they should be in a minor hockey league.

  9. Outshot 37 to 15. There were no positives. Berube walks out and says the same thing every post game. They get outshot EVERY game. LA didn't play well at all. Hildeby played well. That's the only positive. FOUR SHOTS ON GOAL IS NOT A GOOD FIRST PERIOD. Matthews being on the ice means nothing. He and the rest of them were playing awful game after game when he was playing. People need to stop acting as if Matthews is the best player on the team and shows up every night. He is useless. He is no captain. They play the same garbage game with him as they do without him.

  10. This team is horrendously bad to its core. Rebuilt all the way from management down and start fresh. Mark my words, nothing of significance will ever come of this team.

  15. What a joke. I blame management not the players. Trading away 1st-round draft picks for the past 20 years, so not how you win championships. I can see them trading Hildeby, Cowen and a 1st (2028) to Pittsburgh or Boston for nothing.

  16. I thought that going into the season that they would be hard pressed to make the playoffs. I am changing my mind on that. Mainly because , even though they are struggling now, they are still basically playing 500 hockey. As bad as they are playing. But it is really early, only 25 percent into the season. I think they may just turn this around and surprise everyone. It is not as good a team as last year's team. But things can change.

  22. Give the team reigns to coach themselves, if everyone feels like a leader and is given a voice, that's how teams win championships.

    For instance ask every guy what they need to do to improve their game on and off the ice individually.

    Also ask what each person thinks the team needs to improve on in practice like specific techniques, stretches, exercises off the ice, dietery additions, etc.

    Working towards that ultimate goal, through all the diminutive steps / smaller goals that lead up to it.

    #WeBeleaf

  25. This is so sad…for fans who pay so much to see continual loss..for Berube who used to be a winning coach..for the players who must feel totally screwed and to that poor goalie…has no team to help him out…and to ME just because.

  26. When you can't properly break out of your own zone and get stuck – you exhaust your engines. Look at every goal, tired players standing around. Can't do anything. Get the puck up the ice, stop cheating for offence, get off the ice.

  27. Craigy clueless.. The most pathetic lineups, 1000x midgame line changes. His focus on playing 'big guys' is our #1 biggest issue. Every week is a new and stupid experiment, people play well and it gets totally ignored while he focuses on his ogres. Blais was hot garbage, jarknrok was hot garbage, lorentz was a whole bunch of meh, and joshua has just about proven he needs to be traded, on that note Carlo probably too. The only 'big' addition that has been alright is Roy. Maccelli has been ok at best, but I'd rather see Cowan in the lineup than all the other forwards previously mentioned. At least he plays with some heart.

  30. I wanna know where Pelley is now! Big tough talker when it no longer matters. Now …nothing but crickets, sitting back counting the dollar bills coming in while the team flounders. So typical going right back to the Ballard days…same thing . This city does not deserve this crap. I only wish Leaf fans wake up and demonstrate how unacceptable this crap is. Pelley is so fortunate knowing that it just won’t matter. The level of preparation for this season is pitiful just like their management team.

  31. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a team so 💩 in their own end….ever!!! They spend 80% of the game stuck in their own end, and that helps with getting massively out shot every game. It’s not just out shot, it’s like 40-15 every damn game; complete garbage!!!

  32. Is a Shame the Leafs are now running by Keith Pelley who knows nothing about Hockey therefore he relies everything on Tree however Tree should be a assistant GM dealing with contacts only not a GM who build a team , remember how he screwed up the Flames , Keith who never show up , allowing Tree continue Fuc ing messing up the Leafs if they allowed Tree to continue running the team either retool or rebuild the minimum charge is 10 years before we see light of the tunnel , shame on you Keith is a disgrace you are ruining the Leafs

  33. LA 37 SOG. Leafs 15 SOG. Another game L outshot by over 100%. Absolutely disgusting offence and defence. wHAT ARE THE COACHES AND ASSISTANT COACHES DOING? SERIOUSLY. What is their gameplan? I'll tell you exactly what I see. NO GAMEPLAN. Oh sorry, gameplan is to stand around and let the other team shoot, dump and chase the puck, turn over.

  37. I’m tired of hearing we need to get back to our game. In the last 10 years what is your game. This team still has never established any identity. The only identity they have formed is anytime you pressure them enough they will fold.

  39. Last night was probably the first meaningful regular-season game in almost a decade where Matthews and Marner were both missing from the lineup at the same time and this is the kind of team you got without both of those

  40. They can't even make a trade because they're almost up against the cap how the heck can they be up against the cap? They saved 12 million on Marners salary plus Tavares is making a lot less and they're still up against the cap????? How?

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