Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
A late lineup decision is coming from Craig Berube as he has decided to leave it until he figures out what exactly he wants to do during a very tense time in Toronto.
The lineup construction is a huge question mark as there are some serious holes coupled with the fact the stars aren’t producing as they should (or are paid to), and things need freshening up.
But with Toronto looking ahead to Dallas on Sunday night, there isn’t any definitive news yet, only because Craig Berube is going to make an official announcement on his lineup later on.
Craig Berube lineup announcement coming mere hours before game-time
Scheduled to have a lineup announcement at 4:45 PM, only a couple hours before game-time, Berube is more than likely going to tell us who is out of the lineup tonight, and probably who we get on the ever-woeful power play.
It would be something to hear that Auston Matthews has been demoted to the second line, or if Scott Laughton or Steven Lorentz made their way to the first line, but unless Craig Berube has truly gone off his rocker; he’s going to make minimal changes.
The closest thing we’ve seen to a change is William Nylander on the third line but that felt more to do with him healing from an illness than trying to actually spark anything; plus he just went back to the standard anyhow.
Craig Berube’s got one last shot to make a real change
If there’s one knock on Craig Berube for his coaching methods it’s his stubbornness at times and it’s coming to bite him badly in Toronto. With fans clamouring for a real change, but consistently seeing the majority of the lineup remain the same; there’s a disconnect there.
Combine that with the disconnect Berube seemingly has with his players and you have a very hostile and volatile combination. The fans are frustrated, the players are fed up, and Craig Berube is mentally checked out.
That’s a triple threat of negativity that very few teams find their way out of quickly, and the only hope is that Berube is bold enough to make some real changes before the organization decides to make them for him.
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