As the Toronto Maple Leafs gear up for another NHL season, one of the most notable aspects of their preseason has been the shift in the dynamics of their special teams, largely attributed to Craig Berube and his no non-sense approach. Although it’s a small sample size and the unit hasn’t featured the entire NHL roster on a nightly basis, the group has operated at a 26 percent success rate on the power play and 80 percent success rate on the penalty kill through the six preseason games — compared to 24 percent on the PP and 76 percent on the penalty kill during the 2023-24 season.
One of the most noticeable improvements of the Leafs penalty kill thus far, has been the commitment to taking away time and space, forcing the opposing teams’ power play to be the one to make the mistake. In previous years, the Leafs power play has had little margin for error due to the pressure of the opposing penalty kill, which Toronto hasn’t seemed to be able to match at the other end of the ice.
This, however, is no longer the case under Berube. The PK group is now been able to make life uncomfortable for opposing power plays and at the same time generate opportunities of their own.
In my opinion, the power play has been the most frustrating of the two special teams units for a long time. When you look on the ice and see William Nylander, Auston Matthews, John Tavares and Mitch Marner all out there together, you would assume there’s enough star power to score at will. Instead, we have been forced as a fan base to transform into the Uncle, screaming “SHOOT!” at the top of their lungs in various living rooms across Southern Ontario. A stale, slow, predictable power play has been plaguing this team’s ability to capitalize on the rare extra-man opportunities in the postseason. Aside from the two percent increase in the power play’s success rate that is pulled from a way-too-small sample size, the biggest difference has been the speed at which the unit moves the puck and how quick Berube is to pull the plug on the group.
Take too long and don’t create chances? Get off the ice. Telegraph passes and turn the puck over? Get off the ice. The cycling of units has kept players honest and keeps the play fresh. You earn your ice time with Berube.
The best part about the shift we’ve seen is the creative muscle being flexed from the best offensive players in the world right now. It was extremely frustrating to see them go out there for 1:55 of play, just to stand in the same spot and look as though they were trying to do the same thing over and over again. Now, we see them free-skating through the zone, switching spots with each other, and moving the puck quicker and with more purpose.
The systems in place under Craig Berube and his staff seem to be having a big impact on the creativity and style of play, which we can only hope will continue to improve the success rates we are seeing so far, and if our perspective isn’t enough, then take John Tavares’ word for it.
“I don’t think he’s really instilling too many things that have been different from the past and trying to reinvent the wheel,” Tavares said of Marc Savard’s approach to the power play on Saturday. “We’ll obviously add some elements and things that he believes that can be different, but I think he really wants us to play off our instincts. Our group has played so long together, there’s such a good sense of how we all play.”
It’s a new season under Berube and lead assistant Savard, and though we’re operating off a small sample, a more instinctual approach to the power play could drive positive results for the Maple Leafs.
