Craig Berube is close to 23 years removed from his 17-season NHL career. But the Toronto Maple Leafs head coach showed up to the team’s Friday morning skate with a shiner that he just as well could have brandished while racking up the seventh-most penalty minutes in league history during his days as a left winger.
In Berube’s corresponding media availability ahead of a home game against the Vegas Golden Knights, he was asked about his black eye, which turned out to be just one of the wounds he sustained in a gym accident.
Advertisement
[Get more Maple Leafs news: Toronto team feed]
“Yeah, I’ll address it because you’re going to see it tonight,” Berube said in his news conference, via Sportsnet. “I had an accident in the gym yesterday.”
Berube proceeded to soften the blow of his tale with some humor.
“The other guy looks way worse,” the 60-year-old quipped, drawing laughter from reporters. “There was three of them.”
Then he snapped back to a more serious tone.
“No, it was just a…” Berube started before lifting his Leafs cap to show a stitched-up gash on his dome that trailed down onto his forehead.
Advertisement
“You know, it’s tough, man. … It was stupid. It was just a bad accident, and it’s on me. My fault. Yeah, I’m fine.”
Berube was later asked what his players’ reactions were to seeing his injuries.
“Oh they laughed. They loved it,” Berube said.
He added, before chuckling himself: “Especially when I told ’em what happened.”
Berube is keeping the details in-house, though.
“I’m not going to talk about it,” he said. “Nobody needs to know. It’s all good.”
Naturally, a follow-up question seeking clarification arrived. A reporter inquired if Berube was lifting weights when the incident occurred.
Advertisement
“Yeah, something like that,” Berube said with a smile.
He’ll still be behind the bench for the Leafs (24-17-9) on Friday night against the Golden Knights (24-13-12). The game will be Mitch Marner’s first back in Toronto since heading to Vegas as part of a sign-and-trade deal before free agency this past offseason. The forward, whom the Leafs selected No. 4 overall in the 2015 entry draft, spent nine seasons in Toronto. He starred for the franchise, however, the contentious ending to his near-decade stay could incite boos in Scotiabank Arena.
The Leafs are three points back of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot at the moment.
Advertisement
As for Berube, the second-year Leafs coach isn’t the only NHLer to experience an off-ice injury this season.
Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen was sidelined with burns that he sustained during a barbecuing accident. And New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes hurt his finger in what was reported as a “freak accident” during a team dinner. Hughes needed surgery as a result.