Craig Berube, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Ahead of Wednesday\u2019s game against the Capitals, head coach Craig Berube discussed the players\u2019 attitude amid trying times, Easton Cowan\u2019s impressive stretch run, Jake McCabe\u2019s shot blocking, and possibly Alex Ovechkin\u2019s final visit to Toronto. <\/p>\n
Amid a tough few weeks for your team, has any player stood out for their attitude or something they brought amid the adversity?<\/p>\n
Berube: A lot of the guys\u2019 attitudes have been good. We talk about going out, playing hard, competing, and playing for that jersey. That is the most important thing. I think a lot of our guys have really stepped up in that role.<\/p>\n
JT is one of them. He is a true professional. And McCabe. These guys have shown up every night. I\u2019ve been very impressed with Bo Groulx \u2014 his play has been good \u2014 and Easton Cowan has really played well down the stretch here. He is really showing me something in different areas of the game, which is nice to see.<\/p>\n
What are those areas? What is Cowan showing you?<\/p>\n
Berube: His willingness to get involved, be physical, get in there for people, protect people, and be a good teammate. A lot of times, young kids just don\u2019t take all that info in, but he does. It\u2019s really good to see. It shows a lot, with a young kid like that not just focusing on himself and his game but the team and doing the job there.<\/p>\n
Jake McCabe is second in the league in blocked shots. What do you appreciate about the way he goes about his business in that regard?<\/p>\n
Berube: It is paying a price and putting it on the line. He does it with that kind of stuff. That is a big part of his game. Even though we aren\u2019t in the playoffs and aren\u2019t going to be in the playoffs, it doesn\u2019t change. He is still playing that game and doing those things for the team.<\/p>\n
Now that you are back home after a whirlwind eight or nine days, what has it been like trying to eliminate the white noise?<\/p>\n
Berube: I just go about my business. I really do. I get that there is a lot of noise, but we know that here. That is part of the gig, right? I just go about my business. It\u2019s all I can do. It\u2019s all I can control. And really, it\u2019s all I want to do.<\/p>\n
Does the fact that you\u2019re facing a few teams who are still in the playoff mix affect your lineup at all in the final few games?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Berube: It doesn\u2019t affect my lineup. We are going to try to use everybody down the stretch. Some young guys might be coming up, probably, and playing. We\u2019re just focused on our game.<\/p>\n
What is your most memorable moment coaching against Alex Ovechkin over the years?<\/p>\n
Berube: I don\u2019t really have just one moment, but just from coaching against him, he was a topic of conversation going into every game. On the power play, how are we going to play it? What are we going to do? Usually, it never worked.<\/p>\n
He is a great goal-scorer. He loves to score goals and is very good at it. It is amazing to me that he can score in so many different ways. Somebody was telling me \u2014 who worked or coached there \u2014 that when people are passing him pucks in practice, he is like, \u201cStop giving me the puck so flat in the wheelhouse.\u201d He wanted it moving and rolling.<\/p>\n
He is that type of guy; he knows that in a game, he won\u2019t get it on the tape all the time, or it is not going to be flat. He needed to work, and he was good at that. I don\u2019t know if there is anyone else who can shoot a puck like that and find so many ways to put it in the net.<\/p>\n
How would you put what Ovechkin has done for the league and sport over 21 years into context?<\/p>\n
Berube: It is hard. He definitely changed that franchise to a certain level. I was there right before him as a player. He definitely changed that. He really grew that place into quite a hockey town, right? Obviously, for the NHL, he is a big part of it all. Hopefully, he plays in the NHL again next year because he is great for the NHL.<\/p>\n
Do you think the NHL needs more colourful characters like Ovechkin?<\/p>\n
Berube: I don\u2019t think it is a bad thing, for sure. It is good for the league. You see it in a lot of other sports. The NHL is always kind of buttoned-down or has gone away from it a little bit, instead of being yourself and being who you are. He definitely did that.<\/p>\n
Do you think Ovechkin still has game left, if he wants to play next year?<\/p>\n
Berube: Well, he has 30 goals again this year. Looking at that, he still has game.<\/p>\n
The Capitals are rolling out a line with the Protas brothers and Tom Wilson.<\/p>\n
Berube: I was saying that I\u2019ll have to suit up tonight to match the size. And I\u2019ll be a little smaller than those three boys. That is a heavy, big line. It\u2019ll be interesting to see.<\/p>\n
Morning Skate Updates \u2013 Apr. 7 <\/p>\n
Oliver Ekman-Larsson not staying out late at skate \u2026 appears ready to return to the Leafs lineup tonight <\/p>\n
Troy Stecher looks to be the odd man out against Capitals @TSN_Sports<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Mark Masters (@markhmasters) April 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Anthony Stolarz in starter\u2019s net at Leafs optional skate \u2026 set to face Alex Ovechkin & Caps tonight <\/p>\n Joseph Woll in line to play the Islanders tomorrow night in New York @TSN_Sports<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Mark Masters (@markhmasters) April 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n