Maple Leafs Full Media Availability | Post Game vs. Chicago Blackhawks | November 15, 2025

Maple Leafs Full Media Availability | Post Game vs. Chicago Blackhawks | November 15, 2025

frustrating one things from your vantage point. Why not? Yeah, I mean I think there’s there’s just little things right now we’re having a hard time obviously closing games out and um you know when you’re going through a stretch like that uh it’s almost self-fulfilling like it it’s it’s just it’s just little mistakes that are are costing us and I think overall the the game tonight the way we played we had some good things going on and you know we put ourselves in a position to be in a a close game and to have the lead and so that’s good but you know obviously we have to kind of get over the hump here and start closing games out. of these outcomes down to execution. Um, you know, I mean, I that’s my opinion. I think it always comes down to execution. I mean, the I know I know for a fact the compete level, the desire is there. And um, you know, at times it might be too much. So, you start squeezing the stick, you start overthinking things because you just want to, you know, do the thing and win the game. But, um, I think at the end of the day, it comes down to execution. And if we can execute better, um, you know, you limit the chances against and, you know, one thing leads to another. What’s that about Joseph’s tonight? Just what was it like to see him back? Yeah, I thought Joe was outstanding. Um, obviously amazing to have him back and he looks like himself and um so we’re all all extremely happy to have him back and I thought he played really well for us. You say little things that you need. What are some of those little things? There’s a million of them. You know, the whole game is is basically little things. Just, you know, talk, stick, position, structure. Uh, you know, the list is long. The whole game is made up of little things. And if you’re able to be dialed and execute on those things, you give yourself a chance. What does this group need, you know, to uh, you know, not let yourself mentally get off track? How do you keep it? It It’s a grind. Uh, I mean that’s just one of the challenges that you face over the course of a long season is is the is the mental part of it. Um and uh you know right now I think we’re being tested and um it’s important that you know the leaders step up and we keep this thing um on track and you know um I mean we have a lot of guys in that room that are are high character people and um you know challenges like this if you’re able to deal with them appropriately and to handle them and um you know they can uh you know end up being positives down the road and uh but you know you got to do the right things now. You got to, you know, address the right things and, you know, move forward together. Despite how it ended, are you seeing improvement game to game? Yeah, I think so. Um, it’s been it’s been a a tough one lately to really judge. I think we had a couple games not too long ago where we didn’t play great and we won and then we had a couple games where we played good and lost and um so we’re just trying to to take the positives. think, you know, we all have a pretty good idea of of, you know, how the structure needs to be executed. Um, you know, we’ve met at length and we’ve talked and, you know, I think that there’s good things happening, but um, we just have to stick with it. Whether it’s the injuries or the the results that you don’t like, is this as tough to test in the regular season that you’ve had in the last No, no, no. I mean, of this era, of this uh whenever you’re in something that’s challenging, it it it’s all consuming and it can feel that way. Um but there’s a lot of belief with our team and that’s powerful. Um so it’s a tough one to answer. Team picked up Troy Desert that you think he can bring. Yeah, obviously a good D man. Um we’ll uh you know, obviously look to get him going. I don’t know what the plan is, but um nice to have him. How did this one get away from my team? Just the way it’s going right now. It’s hard to close these games out for us. Just got to keep grinding away and getting leads and um you know, finding our way through it. You’re in a bit of a rut like this. What’s What’s the path out work? You know, there’s you know, no sugar coating it. We’re obviously uh in that rut like you talked about. We’re, you know, blowing leads and the only way out of it is just keep grinding along. Um there’s no easy there’s no easy way in this league. You know, every every night’s a hard matchup. It’s hard to get two points and keep collecting points. So, obviously, it’s uh not going our way right now. So, we just need to keep, you know, grinding harder and, you know, winning those little battles, those little moments that go a long way. So, um we got to keep sticking with it. You know, what is that? Our 20th game of the year. So, um yeah, you know, it’s it’s tough. It’s tough. Marvin was just saying he almost want it too much at a time like this. What is the how would you describe the national championship? Yeah, you know, you’re we’re we’re competitors and we all we care about is winning and the frustration mounts. It builds. Um you know, confidence dwindles away. So, you got to manufacture it at times. And um you know, I think, you know, you take positives here and there. I thought like positive for me tonight was seeing 60 back in there. I thought he did a phenomenal job. I just told him that. Um, super good seeing him back in there and grinding and battling and he was composed all night. He played great with the puck. Um, so that gives me a lot of joy, you know, just seeing him doing his thing out there. It was it was awesome. Are you guys seeing improvement game to game? Uh, in certain aspects that we’re trying to work on. Um, but at the end of the day, it’s it’s all about getting two points and we’re not getting that tonight. And tonight was no different. Um, similar to the other night, frankly, a shot from the point gets redirected and back to the net. Um, So yeah, it’s tough sledding. Jake, understanding that it’s fresh right now, but maybe just speak to the belief system that you do. Yeah, you know, it’s um it’s got to be a next man up mentality kind of thing right now. Obviously, we’re down a couple bodies, but over the years, at least in my few years that we’ve uh that I’ve been here, we’ve shown that we can overcome that and we’ve played some good hockey. So, um you know, the next guy steps up, you know, guys are getting a little bit more ice time that maybe don’t get as much ice time typically when we have a full lineup. So that’s a great opportunity for those guys and um you know stepping up in different situations whether it be power play penalty kill um gaining confidence that way throughout the lineup depthwise and um yeah I mean I’m going to keep harping on it but it’s like a broken record but you guys got to keep working it feel like for you Joseph to get back there. Yeah I great getting back in. It’s a pretty cool uh spot to play on a Saturday night. So, um pretty awesome with the anthem and stuff, but yeah, it was good match down to the wire and you know, ultimately just didn’t get it done. How satisfied were you with your own game tonight? Um I mean, I felt felt like I was, you know, building off the the two of the Marlies there and um felt pretty solid and I like I was moving well, seeing the puck well and um yeah. How are the emotions just kind of going into a season? Yeah, it’s a mix of probably every different emotion. Um, a little nervous, a little excited. Um, but you know, just being out there on that street was pretty cool. What was the What’s the anthem like for you in this building? That’s pretty sweet how they like everybody’s cheering the entire time, which is pretty cool. It’s similar to Scotia Bank where, you know, all the fans are singing the Canadian one. So, anytime the fans sing the anthem, I think it’s pretty sweet. Considering what you went through, did anyone give you a special message or get any interesting texts or anything before the game? which um you know that’s uh not I guess I don’t know if I want to share that’s cool. Yeah, Jake said just I’m so impressed with your play. I just wanted to illustrate that and tell you about that. What does that mean? You know, these guys are how important you have been to them and have back. Yeah, it’s awesome. Awesome to hear him say that. He’s a guy, you know, I have a ton of respect for and um great player as well. So, um, I’m happy the guys are happy that I’m back. I’m excited to be back as well. Team’s going through a tough stretch here right now, wins, losses wise. What gives you the most confidence that we can get out of this? Yeah, I mean, we’ve in a season there’s ups and downs. It happens at different times to most teams throughout the year. So, um, just got to stay steady and, you know, we’ve we’ve played well, uh, in the past with this group and, um, we’re pretty much this group, right? So, I trust our consistency. I trust, you know, the coaches, our systems and everything. And you know, sometimes you just don’t get the wins. They don’t go your way. But um I don’t think that should deter us at all. Just stay the course and it’ll start to happen. Get away from I just think uh we didn’t close it out. I mean, it’s unfortunate. I mean, we’re working hard. I don’t think the lost games as of late is defining us as a team. I mean, we’re right there. It’s just kind of frustrating, but hopefully uh it ends soon. How do you manage to mentally stay with it? Um I don’t think we even have a choice not to. I mean, we got to stay with it. I mean, uh, we’re going through a tough time right now and, um, but we’re right there. You know, it we’re working hard. Um, I just think we needed a little bit of luck and, uh, we’re going through adversity right now, but it’s what brings teams together, right? You know, we’re in the thick of it and we got to work ourselves together to get out of it. Considering you guys are pretty veteran group, are you a little surprised that closing out games has been an issue this season? Um, anything can happen in hockey. You know, it’s such a game of mistakes and I mean, I don’t know. I I know what we’re capable of. It’s just kind of the way things are going. What’s it like to see Joseph back in there? Oh, it was great. I think he did a great job. Just his poise and I mean so confident in the net. Um so far we couldn’t get the win from but happy to have him back. Game to game. Is it of your opinion much like you guys are seeing improvement in your place? Yeah, I would say so. I mean we’re the effort’s there like I said. I mean we really want to win but it’s just how it’s going right now and um I see improvement for sure. Uh the morale is is good and uh we’re just trying to be positive and build each other up. What was your sense of the group when the tying goal went in there in the third? Did you notice guys tighten up or what was the feeling like? Um maybe a little. I don’t know. It’s like uh you kind of have to regroup and get back at it. I mean obviously it’s no secret we haven’t won a game a little bit. So um maybe a little bit tense, but that’s just I mean that comes with knowing what we just you know really want to win a game. So um yeah, maybe a little bit. What’s essentially the leadership group right now? What are kind of the messaging from them? I mean just stay positive. I mean there’s nothing else we can do. I mean, um, we’re not going to sit here and be sorry for ourselves. We got to come in and compete in the next game and work hard and, um, that’s what we’re doing. I mean, it’s like our competitiveness is there. Our will to win is there. It’s just we need a little bit of things going our way and I’m sure it will come. We’re kind of games tonight. You know, two mistakes in the third period. Um, that’s about it. Consider considering just that you got a better group here. Are you a little bit surprised that closing out games has been a challenge for you? Yeah, cuz last year was we’re excellent at it and um right now it’s like, you know, we’re just a little bit um unconfident, you know, I’d say right now, you know, but got to get through that because we got the leads and um we have an opportunity to close this game out and win it and you know, we get a power play in the third and we don’t do anything with it either. What can you do as a coach to instill confidence in your group when it’s low? Yeah. No, that’s a good question. I I mean, I got to motivate him the best way I can and maybe it’s a kick in the ass, but maybe it’s positive reinforcement, too. You know, like I said, we did a lot of good things. I think we had 11 or 12 A’s tonight, and we only get two goals out of it. You know, I think we’d score more than that for the most part, but you’re going to have games like that. But, you know, we’re I think we’re, you know, I tonight we trended in the right direction, but we still got to do a better job. You know, like little things that cause games and tonight there was two little things in the third period that cost us the hockey game. Jamaica Joseph’s going to do there. He was good. He did he did his job. He looked good to me in that tonight. I don’t think he could have done anything on any of those goals. What did you see for the power play? just, you know, we we had possession on I think it was the second PP. First PP, they did a good job at their stand and, you know, the second one we started putting it behind them and going to work and we got the puck back and we had good possession. I didn’t see enough, you know, attempts to the net, you know, from my standpoint. And the third power play, we just was no execution on it. Not not a ton of ice time for Myers and Mus. What what are you seeing with the mix of your deep pairs and the and the balance of of buy time? Yeah, for sure. I think, you know, our top guys played a lot tonight on the back end. Um, you know, right now we’re we’re missing two guys that play minutes. You know, that’s the way it goes. So, I don’t I don’t think there’s any solution. Like, these guys got to do the job when they’re out there. And uh we need more from, you know, those guys too that don’t play a lot of minutes, you know, like it’s a balance, right? Um we used our top guys a lot tonight. What’ you think? I thought he was good tonight. You know, I know he made a mistake putting the puck over the glass, but overall he had some good opportunities. I thought that he worked and skated well, made some good plays, had some opportunities to score. Um you know, so I was I was happy with his game overall and still he’s still learning. as a kid, right? There’s mistakes, but um it’s not from a lack of effort or competitiveness. You know, I thought he skated well and did some good things tonight. You mentioned confidence after the tangle went into the third. Did you notice anything change on the bench or guys tighten up at all? Well, I don’t I didn’t notice any of that, but you’d have to ask that. Obviously, all the injured guys are on the trip here. Why why was it important to have the whole group together? Um, just wanted everybody here and I think it’s good they come on the road with us.

Head Coach and players speak with the media following the Leafs’ 3-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.

00:00 – Morgan Rielly
03:42 – Jake McCabe
06:19 – Joseph Woll
08:23 – Nick Robertson
10:26 – Craig Berube

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