Even though Maple Leafs training camp is just a few days old, there’s no question that there’s a different feel around the 2024-25 team compared to previous iterations.
It’s excitement, anticipation, and expectation all bottled up into one giant concoction.
And undeniably, that was the idea when Brad Treliving and company elected to move off Sheldon Keefe and usher in Craig Berube this past spring.
That said, while there’s no guarantee that the taste test will pass protocol, considering all the shortcomings in recent memory, the shift in ideology should be met with considerable optimism.
Following yet another disappointing first round exit, the organization was looking for a seismic change in philosophy, and rest assured, they will be getting just that.
From the countless battle drills to the words of conviction in the media early on, the new bench boss is wasting no time setting a tone.
In general, the one thing I really like about Berube is how direct he is. He’s not afraid to tell like it is, and quite frankly, there are a few players on this roster who could use a pick-me-up from time to time. He doesn’t mince words either.
Indisputably, I think players will be held to a higher standard. Under the previous administration, there was minimal accountability, something that will certainly be changing under Berube. Frankly, I think his stern, no nonsense approach will turn out to be a breath of fresh air for a franchise desperately looking to turn the corner in the postseason.
Most importantly, for the first time in seemingly forever, the Leafs seem to be open to playing a brand that’s conducive to winning when it matters most. They want to play fast, heavy, and linear. In essence, that should mean more structure and less pizazz. Afterall, as we’ve seen time and time again in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, you need to go to the dirty areas to be successful. The drop passes and toe drags look pretty, but at the end of the day, the lack of time and space yields mixed results – at best – for that style of play.
Any way you slice it, Craig Berube was the perfect man for the job. It’s early, and I mean very early, but he’s making the decision look smarter and smarter by the day.
