Photo credit: TSN Sports
Although the team put together a stunning comeback against Chicago, some fans aren’t convinced the Maple Leafs are truly playing for Craig Berube anymore.
The stars finally did something, and it was a great finish to Joe Bowen’s celebratory night.
But with Craig Berube absolutely furious at them on Tuesday night, it seems like things are at their boiling point.
First he called them out after Saturday’s loss, and within minutes of Tuesday’s game was screaming at them on the bench after the team had mustered only one shot on goal.
But as we keep seeing a sluggish and lackadaisical effort from the Maple Leafs recently, some fans believe that’s it not just bad luck or a string of bad games.
Fans believe Toronto has quit on Craig Berube
No, according to some fans: Toronto’s players have given up on Craig Berube and want him fired.
Fan reaction on social media is full of posts that all share the same sentiment, which is that the Maple Leafs team that is on the ice is not playing the way Berube wants because they feel he hasn’t been effective and are tired of the constant shouting matches in the locker room.
Call it soft on the players behalf but if the team isn’t confident in their coach and he has lost the locker room, there’s really nothing they can do but protest in their own way.
In doing so, it’s making Berube’s system look worse than it probably is. He is not a bad coach by any stretch, and Brad Treliving has the utmost faith in him. But there comes a time where things have to change and 9 out of 10 times; it’s the coach.
Where does Toronto go if they fire Craig Berube
It’s hard to know where the Maple Leafs would go at that point if they fire Berube. They have been linked to former Stars head coach Peter DeBoer, and there’s potential for names like John Tortorella, Peter Laviolette, or even bring Bruce Boudreau out of retirement.
Heck, there’s even a chance that Gerard Gallant could leave his KHL post as Shanghai’s head coach and make his way back to change things. He’s known to be able to come in and settle down a lineup and isn’t afraid to discipline those he feels are underperforming.
Whoever it is needs to do some work. They need to figure out what the heck is going on with Auston Matthews and find some way to either get him back to form, or maximize what he can do. The offense runs through him and he’s been largely ineffective.
Beyond that, it’s finding the best ways to maximize what you have. If Toronto isn’t going to do much trading either because they are anxious to get fleeced, or just simply have a lack of assets to give away; whoever is here needs to step up.
With the way things are going, the talk about Toronto making a coaching fix will be much more than speculation, and no amount of comeback wins is going to change that.
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Despite comeback win, fans aren’t convinced Maple Leafs want Craig Berube as coach
Do you think Craig Berube is going to be fired?