Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Craig Berube has gathered the veteran leaders of the Maple Leafs ahead of their crucial game against Buffalo and told them exactly what he needs from them.
With Tuesday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres potentially a make or break for the Maple Leafs’ season, all hands need to be on deck when it comes to leadership, production and effort.
Time for veterans to step up in Toronto
However, it was up to the core leaders of the Maple Leafs to get it done on Monday according to Berube as he pulled the veterans and letter-holders aside and explained what he needs from them going forward.
For him, it’s not difficult — just play harder:
Berube said he met with the team’s leadership group this morning as part of getting his message through about a better effort tomorrow vs. Buffalo and the last four road games before the break. The group includes the captain, alternates and other senior players.
Knowing who was involved we can narrow it down and see who is bearing the brunt of the responsibility though we can’t guarantee every name.
Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Morgan Rielly are three locks given their captaincies, and you’ve got others like Max Domi, Jake McCabe, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Scott Laughton who classify as veteran and ‘senior’ players, so they had a potential to be part of things.
A troubling aspect is Toronto’s downfall — and hasn’t gotten better
He was upset that his bench has been quiet recently, not working with each other to be vocal and offer advice or encouragement. Laughton critiqued the effort level too recently, so there’s a disconnect somewhere that’s causing a lot of issues.
You pretty much have one more game to prove things to fans before things start to get ugly, and as quickly as the team was in the playoff race, they find themselves near the basement of the Atlantic with no ladder in sight.
Buffalo is a notoriously stingy opponent and often have Toronto’s number even if they have been one of the worst teams over the past decade.
It doesn’t matter whether the Sabres are dead last or the Maple Leafs are first (or anything in between) it’s always a hard game.
Now add to that the heater Buffalo has been on since firing Kevyn Adams and you have a recipe for disaster if Berube’s squad comes out with another listless performance.
This is the time for the leaders to step up. For the most part they’ve done what they need to on the scoreboard, but it’s the small things that are compounding into bigger issues.
If the captain and his band of misfits can’t steer the ship, it feels like there might be a bit of a mutiny in Toronto with the potential of both the coach and his players to walk the plank.
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