Maple Leafs Full Media Availability | Practice | December 1, 2025

Maple Leafs Full Media Availability | Practice | December 1, 2025

I’m fine. I’m feeling good. So, um just uh yeah, taking care of the body and uh making sure that it was uh all good. You mentioned you’re feeling good. Um why is your play really reflective of that of late? It looks as though you’re really yet another gear. I don’t know. Sometimes you get lucky. Uh but I mean, I’m just trying to to shoot the puck, move my legs, and yeah, do whatever I can to help the team out. And uh yeah, I don’t really think about points and and that kind of stuff. So uh it’s all about winning hockey games right now. So yeah, I mean it’s it’s nice to chip in once in a while, but uh yeah, I I know I have that in my in my game and my toolbox. So uh but yeah, it’s it’s not the most important stuff, but winning is and we did that uh the other night. So it was great. What do you think tomorrow will be like? What do you like most about that? maybe the take away from that you want to keep going into the match tomorrow? No, I I did feel like we uh we defended uh well uh we kind of just kept on the on the outside. It wasn’t those great a chances in the middle. I I didn’t feel like uh so we cleaned that up a little bit and and I like that. and obviously scoring seven goals. It’s it’s uh impressive and yeah, like I said, I liked our uh these side of things. What do you think tomorrow night will be like? Playoff rematch and two teams trying to kind of get up the standing. Yeah. I know it’s it’s going to be a big big one for uh for us uh tomorrow and obviously we got to make sure that we’re ready because uh every every game is so important right now and and uh we need this one and and um yeah we uh but at the same time we want to build uh from what we did uh good uh last night and and uh uh obviously uh put some wins together here. How much do you allow yourself to use game seven as motivation or do you try to forget about or do you try to use that? No, I think it’s it’s good to to use that. I think it’s good to you always want to learn from from games and and your experience. So, I think it’s it’s great to to have that back of your head and and obviously uh yeah, that’s how you how you learn and how you how you how you move on and and kind of get better from it. So uh um no I think and it’s good to have What is stood out for you about Tetris? No, I think I said that when we when we got him. Um just a veteran pro. Uh he leaves everything on the on the ice and you know what you’re getting every single single game and single night. So uh I’m I mean skates well, move the puck well and plays really hard. So, uh, uh, he’s been looking really good and and been been helping us a lot. You’ve been playing, I think personally, a more physical game as a mature defenseman than you were as a younger defenseman. Would you agree? And if so, why do you think you’ve evolved that way? Uh, I felt like I had it a little bit in my game uh, when I first got into the league. Uh, obviously I was a little bit lighter back then, but I I kind of like that part of the game. I I want to try physical when I can and and kind of that helps our our team getting the play stopped and and we need uh we need that in our game and and I like playing that way. What’s it like battling Marian? It’s fun. It’s a good Yeah, it’s a good challenge and um yeah, it’s uh obviously unbelievable player and he got some uh got some good hands and and obviously um competes very hard out there. So, it’s it’s it’s a good challenge. What have you like playing about the Dennis Hillbe we’re seeing this year as opposed to last year? No, I think he’s more uh obviously a year older, more calm in in the net. Uh I really feel like he’s been really good for us and and been been giving us chances to win. Uh so uh no just more mature and and obviously it takes time sometimes to to kind of uh yeah find your spot and and obviously uh find your game at the same time, but I I thought he was really good last year. I thought he’s been unbelievable this year. You’ve been playing a lot with uh with Mo lately. How do you like that? No, I like it. Uh I think uh we’ve been doing a good job kind of reading off each other when to get up and play in play and and uh obviously uh yeah playing some big minutes. So it’s been been fun. Yeah. And doing it at 34. What’s your secret, you know, to say keep off other time? Yeah. I mean obviously a lot of work goes in in the summer and to prepare and then just stay stay fresh and and just uh have fun with it. That’s that’s the key. Do you know you have a chance to tie a lease franchise record for point streak by a defenseman uh tomorrow? No, I didn’t know that. Thanks for telling me. No pressure. Well, what did you like about what you saw Saturday at this? Um yeah, just kind of like I said the other night, just uh confidence throughout our lineup. Um you know, all four lines contributing. I think that just uh builds throughout uh you know the whole room and you just want to continue to grab that momentum and and kind of run with it. What’s it like for you to see puck going in like that? Uh what’s it do for you as you come back? Yeah, it feels good. I mean I think it always helps um you know the first couple games getting back you just want to try to find your rhythm and uh get back to um you know just your momentum and uh your feel and touch out there. So, it always feels good to to put one in the net and obviously getting a win like that. I think like I said, it just does a lot for our confidence and um you know, we just want to continue to put the push the pedal to the ground. How much could all use what happened in the playoffs as motivation when you look across and see? Yeah, I mean there you know obviously you’ve been uh the standard of the league over the last two three years and um you know I think you use it as motivation. I think at the same time it’s a divisional game. Um, you know, looking at where we’re at in the standings and just how important these games are, especially against your own division. Um, I don’t think there’s really any extra motivation needed. We know we have to be ready to play. They’re a very detailed, structured team, physical team. Um, got a lot of depth throughout their lineup. So, um, you know, for us, it’s just all about, uh, competing out there. Um, setting each other up for the next shift, taking care of pucks, and, um, you know, just making sure that we’re winning the net fronts as well. What do you remember most about the series last year? I mean, losing obviously, I mean, I think that kind of goes without goes without saying. Um, you know, you get on the wrong end of uh of a series, it’s never a good feeling. I mean, I think he’s stepped in and he’s made an impact right away and um, you know, it’s never easy to kind of come over to a new team and I feel like he’s uh, he’s fit in so well. I think he, you know, he’s known a couple guys kind of throughout his uh, hockey career here. So, it kind of helps when you’re coming into a new scenario, a new situation. And um I mean, he’s a veteran guy. I don’t think he’s uh very shy. I think he just came in and he knows his job. He knows his role and he just tries to do that to the best of his ability. Uh he communicates a lot on the ice. Uh and I think he’s fit in really well and made a big impact for us right away. Has points in nine straight. What has stood out to you about his game this season? Uh I mean, I think offensively you can just see he’s up in the play. He’s got so much poise with the puck, too. And um I mean, he’s a guy that’s, you know, he’s done it before. I’ve been watching him since I was a young kid and he was in the Coyotes and um you know he’s always been great offensively with the puck. He plays with uh a little edge to him as well and um I think you’re just seeing it him jumping up in plays um being available. He’s got a he’s got a good shot. He can get pucks through and um you know it’s finding him right now. So it’s been great to see. Coyote’s days. Do you ever get into that with him? Yeah, a little bit sometimes. I mean, it’s just uh just here and there um through conversation, but um yeah, like I said, I definitely remember watching him uh playing and when I was growing up um and just the kind of player that he was and always loved his game. So, it’s pretty cool to be able to play with him and um you know, having known him for for a while, even when he was back with the Coyotes, and now playing with him, it’s pretty cool. Was just saying that he feels like you’ve come become tougher to deal with in your own end and it would be easy for you to chase offense, go for 60 goals or whatever. I’m just wondering what that balance has been like for you. Do you feel like that you’ve been kind of I don’t know sacrificing offense for dec def defense in the last year and a half or so? I mean I think in the end like you know you just want to win and have them you know I’ve been fortunate to accomplish different things but like in the end uh you look at the teams that win. It’s the teams that are defensively structured that you know all four lines play uh essentially the same and they have you know good special teams and whatnot. You know for me that’s all I want to do here is win. So all the individual stuff um you know it’s it’s nice and uh it’s it’s you know it’s not like you’re not striving for that. I always want to be the best uh player that I can be and produce and do all these things. But you know in the end um the most important thing to me is is winning with this group here. And so um whatever the sacrifice needs to be I mean I’m willing to make it but um I’m always going to want to obviously put the puck in the net and produce offensively. I think there’s a good balance between that and like I said you look at the teams that win um you know the Barovs um Berserons Crosby’s all those guys TA uh Kopitar all the guys that win playing that center position I mean they do it on both ends of the ice so I definitely want to be that kind of player. How have you found the top of the power play? Like how big of an adjustment is that for you? Uh it’s I mean it’s a pretty big adjustment. I think I was telling Mo it’s definitely not as easy as it looks up there but I think it’s come along all right. Um, I thought we had some better looks yesterday and it was nice to be able to practice it out here and um, you know, for me, I want to still be aggressive, but knowing that I’m, you know, kind of that last man back, I can’t get, uh, sucked in too far into the ozone there, but just trying to move it and, uh, you know, create some space for other guys and shooting the puck when I can and just trying to find some openings. What was it like playing with, uh, Jake the other night? What did you like about how you guys kind of worked together? Yeah, I thought it was good. Um, I met Jake this summer actually skating in the offseason. So, um, just kind of that little familiarity definitely helps. But, um, he’s been around the league a long, long time. And he’s a really, really good two-way defenseman that moves the puck really well. So, um, I mean, for me being here, I’ve been on the right side the whole time. For him, he’s been left right. So, as a lefty, he’s back on the left. and I thought we were vocal together and we tried to put our best foot forward, but um the onus is on us to do it again tomorrow night. What you made of your head now? I’ve had like six games here to kind of get acclimated and um I think first and foremost I just wanted to kind of dive in and just try to play my game and systems and kind of tendencies would fall into place over repetition. And um I give a lot of credit to my teammates and the coaching staff for allowing me to kind of play that way. And um overall I feel like I’ve had my legs which is a strength of mine. and saying that there’s some details that I’ve seen in film that I definitely like to clean up, stick work in the Dzone and having tighter gaps. So, overall, I feel good. But, um, just like anybody, you’re always striving to be be better every day. As a group, what do you do you take from last night’s game or the other night’s game against Pittsburgh from connectivity to the offense to maybe what you saw defensively? What’s the biggest takeaway that you want to use tomorrow? Um well I think anytime you score seven like it just gives you a lot of individual confidence as players. So um guys putting the puck in the net they’re I know they come to the rink the next day they’re a little more upbeat and a little happier and it’s just kind of a better atmosphere to be around. So um definitely the goal scoring department was huge but I don’t think we get that if we’re not checking the way we were. Our forch check was really good. Like Robbiey’s goal for example he strips a Dman and um even Dom center into Roy off of forch check. So, I just felt like our system play was really good, which provided us opportunities to to put the puck in the net. Stands out to you most about Oliver and his importance to this dec. He doesn’t say much. His number, his name gets called and he goes out there and he does a really good job every single time. So, it’s been impressive. But, I mean, with O like he was a captain of an NHL team at one point. He’s played here in Florida, won a cup. So, um, he’s seen it all and with those experiences, I think it’s allowed him to be the player he is. He’s very impressive. So, uh, he’s been really, really good. It’s a playoff rematch for the Leafs. Playoff rematch for you. Like, what what’s it going to be like, do you think, tomorrow night, the emotions of of this game? Um, I think maybe in the back mind it’s there a little bit, but you look at the standings where we are, and not just where we are, but where the team, the other teams are in the standings, too. like it’s so tight that I think we’re just focused on trying to get two points and um I think when you have that focus then maybe you’re going to be a little more physical here or there or maybe the rest will put their whistles away just knowing that it’s kind of a rival and they want to let the guys play. So I don’t know just I think our main focus is trying to get two points not worried about what happened in the past. Panthers were saying they feel like Brad Marshian’s kind of just carried over the playoffs into the start of this year. What What’s the biggest challenge when you’re out there against him? There’s a lot. Um he’s a world class player for a reason. He’s won it all. So um I don’t know, just being aware when he’s on the ice, understanding his tendencies. He’s trying going to try to get under your skin. Obviously, that’s what he’s known for, but he’s got really good feet. He finds ways to get behind defenseman. So just as a Dman and a Dor understanding that we need to keep him in front of us. And um you know, you kind of asked me the same question about Tom Wilson. You know, it’s just like you’re always aware when certain guys on the ice, but you still have to go out there and play. You just kind of know where they are being up close with Austin now that he’s kind of back. What do you appreciate about his defensive game? Obviously, we know we can put the puck in the net, but he was talking about the balance. You know, he doesn’t want to cheat for offense. He wants to play good defensively. What do you notice? He’s got a really good stick. Like, uh he’s a big body, too, and strong. So, like he uses body really well to get in guys way. He’s cutting off hands. But I don’t want to say like when he loses a battle, but if he gets on the other side of them, it he seems to have the ability to strip the puck from behind them and um not just strip it, but he like transitions the other way so quick. And um to kind of like morph your question, like as a team, you always try to like catch teams quick. You try to turn it over and get it up the ice. So I think that’s kind of what Austin does like as an individual player. So, um, yeah, it’s been impressive to be on his team and see it firsthand. Now, what happened last last year, game seven, how much as a coach do you kind of lean into that as motivation or do you try and not even bring it up? Like, how do you treat that? Yeah, I don’t think we I don’t think you, you know, look at the one game. You know, it was a big game obviously, but I think, you know, we look at the series, where we’re at, what we could have done better, and to move on. Um, yeah, we’re we’re motivated. We want to come out and, you know, obviously play, keep keep it going here. We we got to win pit. So, I think that’s our focus, right, is just trying we got to do do things a certain way to to be successful. And, um, we’re, you know, try to get that win tomorrow. That that’s what I that’s where we’re at. Like, you know, I don’t know if bringing up game seven of last year does a whole lot to our group right now. You won’t bring up the playoffs at all. Like, just Well, I’m not saying that. Okay. I’m I’m not saying that. Okay. How have you felt about Austin’s game since he came back? What do you think seeing the puck go in the way it did on Saturday might might Yeah. It was good to see, you know, like it what what was good about it for me is um the distance shot, you know what I mean? And um you know he’s he’s scored a lot of goals that way in his career and uh it’s good to see that one go in cuz his shot can be goalies from distance and um for me I mean his game I think he’s starting to feel better and more comfortable out there and um getting better looks. Um and on the power play too like he’s up top he’s got an opportunity to shoot a lot of pucks from there and the puck is on his stick a lot which which we like right now. Appreciate about the way Oliver Yeah, it’s just it’s Yeah, you know, he’s he’s got um you know, a full package that way. He’s um he likes to be physical and get involved and um obviously he has the ability to uh shoot pucks and u make plays, which he has, and he’s he’s done a great job for us. Like I talk about he’s um he’s a selfless player. He does what we ask of him, where to play, right side, left side, like so he does a lot. And uh it’s been very good for a while now. What do you like about playing him with Riley? Yeah. No, it does. And I think that um you know the it’s it’s really good puck movement between the two of them. That’s what I see. You know, they move the puck well to each other. They they activate uh in the play and then in the offensive zone they they have movement and create some chaos for the other team. What have you been like about Troy Centur’s six games with the teams? very good. Um, you know, just he plays with pace. I think that’s one of the biggest things I noticed. He plays with a lot of pace. Like he closes on people quick and um moves his feet really well. Um, and just he’s simple with the puck, right? He makes the first pass or makes a hard play when he has to and uh he’s been defending well. He’s been defending hard at our net and things like that. So, he’s been a good player for us since he’s gotten here. Has he forced the issue to kind of move over to you left? just in the way he’s played or it just kind of you want to get Mabe on the other side? Well, I do like McCabe on the left and um you know that that they look Cber he he was a lot better on the left with that that game and not that he hasn’t done a good job on the right but it’s I’d rather him on the left as much as possible and uh him and St were good together the other night. So um obviously Benois Benny’s back so we we’ll have to get that sorted out. What did you see on that hit on McCabe at practice? Well, I asked him if he was all right. I mean, uh, I was doing this same drill a few years ago in St. Louis and David Pon ran me right over like I didn’t see him, you know, I was a little too close involved, you know, and I went down. I cracked a rib. We were laughing. So, the next day the boys drew an outline of me on the ice. We got a good chuckle out of that. You guys miss Newsie getting ran over, boys. He got rocked. Is he okay? I didn’t go now. No, you didn’t. He’s okay. He’ll coach tomorrow. Yeah, he’s fine. He’s fine. Yeah. Carlo Carlo had to go back um back to um Toronto and um getting looked at by the doctor again. Was that a plan thing or was it a setback kind of thing? More of a setback I would say. Uh where he’s at. Um so he’ll get, you know, we’ll know something probably in the next 24 hours on him. How would you describe how your relationship with William has evolved now that you’re in year year two with him? It’s tricky. I mean, uh, no, it’s a good relationship. I always say that, but I never know what I’m going to get from Willie. You know, keeps me on my toes about things, but, uh, no, I think our relationship is good. I mean, um, we obviously, you know, have our opinions about things and and certain things, but, um, for the most part, I think we communicate really well together. And um you know like I said he communicates with me or I’m I you know vice versa. And uh so he’s um for me personally it’s uh I really enjoyed the challenge of coaching them. Can he take criticism better than the average? Takes it really well. Yeah. Yeah. He does. I mean there’s different guys I’ve had over the years that uh they could take it better than others. Um and he’s very good at it. What was your perspective on the conversation you had with him in the third period in Columbus? Looked like there was some give and take. Uh uh I don’t know if you remember that, but third period in Columbus, you guys were chatting on the bench. Looked like he was he said trying to get on the same page, but I can’t remember honestly or a long time ago. Really? Yeah. I can’t remember what that one was.

Players and Coach address the media following Monday’s practice.

0:00 – Oliver Ekman-Larsson
5:08 – Auston Matthews
10:04 – Troy Stecher
14:56 – Craig Berube

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