Berube reflects on Toronto’s two big losses
Speaking of Leafs coaches…
In his most candid discussion yet of what went wrong as the Maple Leafs plummeted to 28th place last season, Berube explained to Rob Simpson that Mitch Marner was the club’s emotional centrepiece.
“Mitch brought the energy and the emotion to the game on a nightly basis — and to practice. Vocal guy. Chatted a lot on the bench. Chatted a lot in practice. Brought the energy. He’d come back to the bench and let guys know: Pick it up. Let’s go. He was great. I really enjoyed coaching him,” the ex-coach said during an appearance on Simmer’s Morning Skate.
“We lost our emotional leader, for sure. It was a big loss. Not only the player but that side of it, too — in the locker room, on the bench, in practices. He held guys accountable.”
A casualty of Toronto’s failings in 2025-26, Berube also mentioned goaltender Joseph Woll’s absence in training camp, Chris Tanev’s injuries, and the team’s flat performance out of the Olympic break as contributors to the Leafs’ dropoff.
But Marner’s departure was the biggie.
“Never really found that winger to play with Matthews, just the chemistry of your No. 1 line,” said Berube, who believes his roster was better than the results.
“It bothers me…. Just couldn’t catch a hold of anything.”