Maple Leafs Full Media Availability | Pre Game vs. Calgary Flames | October 28, 2025

Maple Leafs Full Media Availability | Pre Game vs. Calgary Flames | October 28, 2025

You didn’t stay up for that? No, definitely not. That’s a little bit uh too many innings for me. By the seventh, I’m usually uh sleeping rather than stretching. So, um No, I didn’t watch much of it, but hopefully they can get the win today. What’s the longest game you’ve ever played? Longest game I’ve ever played? Um I think probably double overtime. Um I’m not sure if that was in the bubble here in Toronto, but I feel like I remember doing a double overtime game. And what was what do you remember about the mental, physical, like what was like the biggest challenge of going through that? Yeah. Um I think just staying present and then yeah, it’s kind of strange cuz goal can end it at any moment. So um there’s a little bit more of uh you know I guess you could say angst um throughout that time, but overall you just stay focused on the mission and try and go one shift at a time and I think that’s what they were trying to do last night as well. What stands out about Oliver Larson is in the department? Um, O’s awesome. You know, his, uh, playmaking ability is pretty special. Um, I feel like he’s very easy to communicate with on the ice and, um, his stick. There’s a lot of things that I can learn from him as well. But, um, I really liked uh, playing with him for a couple trips last game and, uh, think that we can do some good things together. What’s inside about the Flames? I know it hasn’t been the greatest start for them, but coming off a win, what do you what do you have to be aware of against Calgary? Um, they’re going to play with a lot of pace. It’s going to be fast. They’re going to try and um you know come with a fourth layer that that extra D man coming up into the rush joining at times with uh you know Anderson Weaguer Ball all those guys trying to get up into the play. So um we need to mitigate that rush game and and try and do our best in that regard. It’s been nine games. Where would you assess your game is that if you evaluated it looking from the beginning to now? Yeah, I think uh just a kind of a progression, you know, I think uh as you come into each year, um there’s going to be moments where you feel good, there’s going to be moments where you don’t feel great, but um just trying to stay even keel and um contribute in the ways that I can for this team uh defensively and um overall I feel pretty good. John is uh one goal away from 500. I’m wondering, it’s obviously an individual milestone, but how much the group kind of feeds off it when one of the the players is is closing in on something special like that? Yeah, it’s uh obviously incredible. He’s made u some amazing history within this league, being the fourth guy to do the 500 point thing um within a couple of different organizations, but um yeah, I can’t imagine having that many goals by any means, but uh he’s a fantastic player and um it was special to see him score that overtime win the other night and hopefully he can come up with another big one here soon. What’s it mean to have Joseph Ball back in the game? It’s awesome. Uh we love having Joe around. It was great to see his smile in the room. Um glad that just the human being is doing well and um all we care about is that and uh he’s a great person and ever since I’ve been here a great friend to me. So um he fits right back into the fold. No problem. One more into me. Uh the you know the guys have talked about the extra suitcase he brings on the road to be prepared and stuff that you you’re kind of new to to being around him. Like what’s something that’s popped for you in terms of how he prepares? Um everything. I think uh you know there’s not a moment that I’ve seen him take off u from his preparation uh which is pretty special. Um you know that’s a guy that you definitely want to learn from and and kind of follow his example. Um I’ve been fortunate enough to be around some guys like that within my career and uh it helps you to develop good habits for yourself as well. Um you know being able to follow the things that he’s doing. So uh I love the way that John carries himself and I think uh he’s a leader in that regard for sure. Were similar guys to him in your experience? Um, I would say, you know, Zado was very detail oriented. Um, you know, Marshy even at times. Um, yeah, there’s just been a lot of older guys, I guess you could say, who have been in the league for a long time who have to take the extra steps and, uh, you know, with their warm up or what they’re preparing for themselves to eat. So, um, guys like that for sure. What do you like about playing on a line with Tvaris? Yeah, I mean it’s it’s obviously great, uh, to play with a guy like that. Um, I think, uh, the last few games we’re starting to build some chemistry with him and, uh, yeah, uh, it’s been good and, you know, we’re still working on it and trying to get better. I know you love to pass the puck. What would it be like to to pass him the puck for a 500th career goal? I mean, that would be uh that would be unreal. So, uh, hopefully it happens tonight. We’ll see if I if we get a chance like that. Uh, I’ll be I’ll be looking for him. What did you like about that mix with uh him and and N on that line? Yeah, it’s a good mix. I mean, N is a big guy. For checks hard, plays hard game, you know, gets pucks, goes to the net, and it’s all around good player. And then JT just, you know what you’re getting from him. So, it’s super easy to play with him, adjust like what he does out there and play your own game, too. We uh we’ve learned he brings an extra suitcase to Varus on the road for trips to prepare for everything. He’s got a pillow in there, all sorts of gadgets. You’re you’re new to the team. What do you notice about the different things he does to prepare? Yeah, I mean I’m not going to get too much in detail what he does there, but uh you know it’s uh it’s great to see like how how much he takes pride on like on preparation and uh that’s probably one of the reason that makes him so great. You know, he really takes time and uh and uh effort to uh be best possible version of himself out there every night. How would you assess your comfort level now that it’s been nine games and that you’re kind of here and you’ve been, you know, kind of situated in Toronto for a little bit? Yeah, I mean, starting to feel better now. Obviously, it’s been a few games now. So, uh, uh, know the guys a little better now, too. Uh, which helps off the ice and on the ice. So, uh, yeah. Uh, I think I’m starting to find my find my way here. How do how do you think that’s going to work on the road? Is that a better situation for you to get to know guys better once the team plays some road games too? Yeah, I mean always obviously at home everybody got their families and their own stuff. So on the road usually go grab dinner a little more and whatever. Uh just get to together a little bit. So um I’m excited to get get on the road and uh spend some time with the guys. What stands out about the Flames? Obviously you saw them a bit more in the west. Like what what does the team have to be aware of tonight? Yeah, I mean they’re a good team. Uh the records are not always to hold through. So uh they’re going to come here, they want to win like every team every night. So we got to be ready and uh play our own game and I think it’ll be a good night. Playing in the West, what was your experience like? They’re coming to start a road trip out east. What’s that like? Is there a chance maybe early in this game for for you guys to to jump on them a bit? Yeah, I mean a little longer of a travel for them. So, uh, yeah, if we’re ready to go from the start, like we’ve been good on the first before, so it should be good. For John Tvaris to hit 500 tonight, like when a guy’s got an individual milestone like that, how much does that feed the team? Uh, a lot. Like you said, you know, we’re kind of looking extra for him out there. And I remember even when Austin was going for 70, like when it was coming down to it, we were looking for him. So, I’m sure his linemates would think about it and uh, yeah, what an accomplishment for him. You guys talk about the extra suitcase he packs. He was telling us yesterday he brings his pillow on the road. What’s something you’ve noticed that stood out about the way he prepares? Well, that’s a good observation. You know, he definitely pecks heavy. Um, but he does every little thing like from sleep to food, the way he prepares mentally, physically for a game. He’s always spot on. So, I try to take away a lot from him and he’s obviously helped me a lot. Yeah. I was going to ask you, what is maybe something that you’ve taken away that you kind of apply because I think a lot of players in this room have sort of noticed, observed, and used it. I think from Johnny’s point for me, I struggled with injuries early on and he kind of introduced me to kind of like treatment and how to take care of my body away from the rink and um that’s what I took notice for sure and I take pride in for sure. The way he kind of goes about his business too, I would imagine is just that professional way. It’s been well documented, but I would imagine you guys as players and individuals kind of see that and go, “Yep, that’s the way you conduct yourself, right? Good, bad, or otherwise. Highs and lows.” Yeah. Yeah. 100%. He’s he’s obviously the model of like who you want to be and taking care of your body and and we may joke around here there how how you know dial is into that but uh I mean that’s that’s why he’s done so well for so long you know he prepares and um I think he’s just a good role model um not only for the team but for myself to look upon. Not a lot of guys on the ice today. Just curious like what made you want to go out today? I just did my own thing. Wanted to go out there and feel the puck a little bit. Um, didn’t want to take too many strides, save the legs, but I think it’s good for me to get on the ice, feel my skates, feel my stick, and I always feel better when I do that. Do you feel different when you’re coming off a game where you scored? Uh, maybe a little more confidence, maybe a little more kind of just relief that you got the first one in for the season. I guess you could take away from that. What do you remember about playing with Dustin Wolf back in? It it was a real ch world juniors or Well, both, I guess. I remember I played with him when I was really young in LA. So, uh, yeah, he’s a great goalie. He’s a great kid. I’ve known him since I was really young. I think six years old back in LA we played. He’s one of my first teammates. So, um he’s a really good goalie then and he’s goalie now. Good goalie now. So, uh yeah, he’s a great guy. He’s obviously done really well so far since being in the league. Did you ever match with him at all? Not not really, but if I’ll see him, I’ll say hi and talk to him. So, how did you think he he could make it to the show? I I don’t know. I always knew he’s a good goalie. I mean, obviously, you know, he’s a seventh round pick. He had good junior stats and obviously in AHL did really good. So I guess at that point, you know, he did good there. He could play in the NHL and obviously, you know, he had a really good year last year and um he’s a great goalie to watch. Yeah. Obviously a smaller guy for a goalie. Um what do you when you first saw him? Like what did you think? I don’t know how big I don’t know. I I was pretty small at the time, too. I don’t know. We were all really under the under the net there. Yeah. Um I don’t know. He’s when he was when I saw him really really young. I don’t know. He’s remember he was a good teammate. Good guy. Nick, does it sort of seem as though this group is I know it’s not the start anybody wants. You want to find it sooner as a group, but are you starting to feel as though the details or maybe the way you’re going about your game as a group, it’s starting to find its rhythm. I mean, I wouldn’t say it’s perfect yet, but last game was a good start and the game before that playing well. Um, hopefully we can clean that up soon and and be more confident and get more rhythm like you said. When you say clean up, is that just about mistakes or is that just about systems? Where do you see the Yeah, everything. clean up mistakes uh systemwise. Um again, it’s early on. I’m sure we’ll fine-tune that soon. Goal scorers have that knack for arriving at the right time. And I’m just wondering on your goal the other night, like what did you see as Yeah, I knew coming in as an F3 that’s something I actually worked on, thought about coming in the zone, kind of just waiting to come in at the right time instead of just showing up there. Um so yeah, I kind of just was patient there and luckily the puck found me. [Laughter] Uh 11th inning. That was it. Yeah, that was enough. You’ve had to rally your team after tough losses obviously and in big moments. What What have you found to be the key in your career? Obviously Schneider in that spot today. Well, I mean that’s that’s Yeah, I mean that’s that’s a tough one. Like they play again tonight and it’s like, you know, get to bed late. to long haul, use a lot of pitchers. So, you know, I mean, tonight, you know, for me, I think they just keep doing some the same things they’re doing. Like, I don’t think they get away from what they’ve been doing. They’re been successful and the game’s right there, right? You know, one play here or there and it’s a different ball game, they win the game. What do you like about uh putting Carlo with Oel and the different defense pairs that you got going? Well, I go back to last year. Um, O’Reilly and Myers were good together. Um, they played a stretch of games together. Um, and just for me, um, you know, there’s there’s, uh, familiarity with Ben Juan McCabe, too. So, that’s kind of how that worked out. Is William good to go? What’s his That’s a game time decision again. Yeah. Same with Yarnney. Yeah. Yarnney probably he probably won’t be going tonight like he’s out in the ice now seeing how it feels. So with William, is it just a feel thing like he takes a skate and then he just tells you like I’m good or is it kind of like a consultation with with staff just to kind of see how he handles like the warm-up like that? Yeah, I think it depends on a couple things. I really don’t want to get too detailed into it, but there’s a couple areas where, you know, he needs to feel right and like it’s hard for him to know until it’s game like game time out and warm up in how he feels and how he’s doing certain things. That’s the decision that’s going to be made. What stands out to you about Calgary? Well, they like nothing’s changed over the last couple years in my opinion with this team like they they’re obviously a hardworking team. um you know, they compete extremely well and they create they do create a lot of oddman rushes this team. They’re um they do it they do things quickly and again, you know, for me, our team, we got to focus on our game. We got to focus on our rush defense tonight. But in my opinion, let’s get to the let’s get to their blue line tonight. Like for me, let’s um let’s get let’s work that blue line. Let’s get pucks deep. Let’s get on the forward check. Let’s make it that type of game. Let’s make it a difficult game. Um, you know, and then their goalie’s been extremely good over the last couple years. You know, we’re going to have to compete to put the puck in the net. They have a lot of Toronto guys obviously when they only come in here once a year. Is that Well, they they’re fired up for sure. Um, like any team with Toronto guys, it, you know, we always got a team that’s ready to play here in Toronto for sure. Your defense personnel is the same. So, why do you think the rush defense has been a bit of a challenge for um I think it was more of Reed’s um up ice in the offensive zone with pinching and and things like that, but also um you know, our F3 and just not not um structured enough like you know kind of diving in getting caught and teams are getting by us and so you kind of get caught in between a little bit you know so that’s where I see it happening. What do guys like Robertson and McMahon have to do to hold down a spot alongside Matthews? Um, well, use their speed, right? That’s why that line’s together. It’s a fast line. They got a lot of speed and they’re very direct. Um, and I think, you know, that’s what they need to do, like use their speed. Um, you know, they want to play a territorial game in the offensive zone with Matthews. And um Austin’s obviously a very good 200t player that uh can do a lot of different things, but I just like the speed on the on the line, getting the puck up the ice and and getting in the offensive zone. So they got a lot of speed, use their speed and and be direct. Like, you know, I don’t change how you are as a player because you’re playing with Austin Matthews. Like shoot the puck when you got a chance to shoot the puck. And I just I like the line. That’s a working line in my opinion with skill, you know. Craig, Naz, Cadre’s about to hit a thousand games pretty soon here. What have you observed of him over the years in the league? Yeah, very good player. Um, you know, adds a lot of elements to a team. Um, he’s the type of guy that you kind of never know what you’re going to get. Like sometimes, you know, I remember we’re playing him in the playoffs in uh Colorado with St. Lewis and you know he had a huge hit on Faulk. I know he got suspended for it but he’s capable of that kind of thing that stuff but he also is a very good player. He could score goals, make plays. Um he’s a gamer. He’s a hockey player is the way I put it. Like he just he plays. He just goes out and plays. He gives very competitive guy. Um you know had a great he’s had a great career. What do you remember about the day you were traded here to Calgary? Do you ever boast to people you were involved in a trade for Doug Gilmore? Yeah. Well, I was upset at the time because I really like Toronto and uh things were going well for me here. I know the team was different then and wasn’t we weren’t very good but and they had to do something. So, you get Doug Gilmore, doesn’t matter who you’re trading back, does it? It was tough. I mean, I like I said, I I I loved it here and love playing here. Yeah. How would you assess Maxon season? So far up and down, you know. I think up and down. Missed a lot of camp. Miss camp, some of camp. That always hurts a guy a little bit. Um, just kind of not fully healthy in my opinion. Where are you most excited about with what your team’s done so far? What area of the game are you comfortable with right now? Um, you know, like I I think we have scored goals. We’ve scored enough goals to win more games than we’ve won. And, um, I like how we’re starting to get some secondary scoring here with some guys. And the new guys coming in, I think, are feeling more comfortable and starting to, you know, figure like just understand what we need from them and their roles. Um, I’m excited about that, but we’re still not firing on all cylinders yet. um either defensively or just our identity of how we want to play. I the last two games more of our identity. We were way more direct. We’re more physical on how we want to play. Um you know, so we just got to keep working at it. I think you know there’s we got to keep improving for sure.

Brandon Carlo, Matias Maccelli, Nick Robertson and Head Coach Craig Berube address the media ahead of tonight’s game against the Calgary Flames.

00:00 Brandon Carlo
03:57 Matias Maccelli
07:03 Nick Robertson
10:56 Craig Berube

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