Mitch Marner gives his honest critique of Craig Berube's new system
The Toronto Maple Leafs are finding success under new head coach Craig Berube through 26 games, despite needing time to adjust to his system.
As seen on The Hockey News, the Leafs are currently tied for first in the Atlantic Division with the defending Stanley Cup champion, the Florida Panthers.
Since the beginning of the season, their defensive play and solid goaltending from Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz have been key factors in their success.
In an interview with TSN's James Duthie, Mitch Marner acknowledged the challenges of adapting to Craig Berube's system:
Mitch Marner emphasized the importance of staying patient and not deviating from the structure, even when things don't go well early in games, which can sometimes lead to deviation from the gameplan.
A recent example came in their 3-2 comeback win against the Nashville Predators where Craig Berube motivated the team during after the second period.
He was urging them to win puck battles and play aggressively and the Leafs responded with three goals in the third period to secure the victory.
Defensively, Toronto has allowed just 66 goals in 26 games which is the third-fewest in the NHL.
Mitch Marner credited the goalies for good saves at the right time in games and highlighted the team's commitment to block shots and defensive communication.
The Leafs' special teams have also found that the power play has improved after a slow start and the penalty kill unity remains strong as usual.
Toronto's record of 16-8-2 places them seventh overall in the league with only three losses in their last 10 games.
While Berube's system has made Toronto a stronger regular-season team, the big question mark is staying.
Can they find success in playoffs and eventually, win a Stanley Cup?
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 9 | 162 ANSWERS Mitch Marner gives his honest critique of Craig Berube's new system Do you think the Toronto Maple Leafs will win the Stanley Cup this year? | ||
| Yes | 76 | 46.9 % |
| No | 86 | 53.1 % |
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