Craig Berube | Post Game vs. Utah Mammoth | November 05, 2025

Craig Berube | Post Game vs. Utah Mammoth | November 05, 2025

So, what do you think of your team’s effort tonight? Good, solid effort all around. I thought we played smart game, you know. Uh, it’s a good team over there. They got a lot of good offense and fast players. I thought we did a good job keeping them at bay for the most part. Um, penalty kill was good and I thought everybody contributed tonight in their own way. How special was it that you know John was kind of very subdued when he got his 500th goal because he’s a team guy and what the score was, but tonight to have his family there and that and then to come back and score the goal that put you ahead for good just the whole night. Yeah, it’s a great moment for him, you know, uh welld deserved obviously and we’re all very happy for him. It’s great to see him get that one tonight. And uh um you know, like I said before, it’s um for me it’s uh you know, I’ve really enjoyed being around him and coaching him the last year and a bit. What did you see from today in his return? Thought he was competitive all over the ice. Ended up getting a one-on-one. But for me, it’s like just watching him how he competed on pucks for me all night. Thought he was really good. Was that a lot of what you saw last year him the reason you guys got him and that sort of thing? Well, I mean last year I mean I I’m not going to go off that. I mean the guy’s a he he’s got talent and playmaking ability. That’s why we went and got him. What’s the value of of healthy scratch? I mean, can it go sideways or is it usually a positive? Um, I’d always say it’s more positive than anything for the most part. I think, you know, you there’s players that are scratched because of decisions that are made by the coach, bodies, different lineups, things like that. Sometimes, like, you know, in Machelli’s case, I thought he could give us more and he did tonight from a scratch, you know. So, just depends on the situation. When you see the goal Machelli scored and I think by my count anyhow, I think Dakota made three good players plays before the goal. Yeah. And you see what he can do. Does it tell you how much more is there from him when you see a shift like that one? Joshua. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I think he’s been coming for a while now for me. like I think he’s back to playing the way I’ve I’ve seen him play before. You know, he’s a heavy guy down low in the offensive zone and you know, he hangs on to pucks and he can make plays and he’s good around the net. Like that’s where he’s going to score his goals. But that’s not only his game. I mean, he’s physical every night in my opinion and he’s killing penalties and I use that line against teams, you know, depending on lineups and I mean, um, matchups and stuff like that. So, uh, for me, I think him and and Wazy been trending in the right direction here for a bit. What are you seeing from Austin now that the the goals are starting to come? Yeah, more energy in life, you know, to him like he feels like he’s um got a lot more jump in his in his game. Last week, you mentioned a little bit that the team was in style-wise was playing a bit too much east west and not the way you wanted to. was today night more of an example of going straight for sure. I thought we did a good job of uh good decisions with the puck for the most part. Um, you know, a lot of zone time, got on their defense, wore them down, you know, made them play in their zone. I mean, it it can get I understand it can get a little boring at times, but it’s effective. Like, just wear them down, stay patient. That’s, you know, we did a good job of it all year last year and, you know, we got to get back to that. And we did tonight, I thought, you know, did a real good job if you look at the shots. We only gave up 23, which is great. And we had a lot more attempts, but we missed the net a lot tonight, I thought. So, we could have had more shots on net. Shots your volley going for the empty net there. I don’t mind it. Up two goals. Got to raise the puck a little higher. The guy that caught it, he was pretty tall. Sorry. Just going to ask uh your opinion on Ean Collins play up to now and his situation going forward. Yeah, I I’ve been happy with E. I mean, he he wasn’t uh he wasn’t going to play tonight. But for me, a young player, um I think he’s shown he’s he can play in the NHL and be a good player in the NHL. Um just the process with them a little bit, you know, but you have to talk to Tree about those situations with uh that stuff. Energy him and I thought him and Loren provided a lot of real good energy for us and Max that line I thought skated hard, was effective, hounded, you know, I really I really um like them tonight and I like their energy on the bench too. a lot of chatter and talk and so it was great having both those guys back tonight. What’s it going to be like um this weekend? Uh I you know this will be your second time Hall of Fame weekend and see some how special that is and bringing some of the the the Hall of Fame induct. Yeah, I always think it’s a great time a great weekend. Congrats to all those guys. Welld deserved all of them. Um, yeah. So, it’s uh it’s always a special special uh time and um very special for the guys that get put in the Hall of Fame. You know, they deserved it and they’ve played great hockey and done great things and that’s why they’re going in.

Head Coach Craig Berube speaks with the media following the Leafs’ 5-3 victory over the Utah Mammoth.

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