Craig Berube Going Directly Against the Wishes of Maple Leafs Management
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Maple Leafs head head coach Craig Berube is going against the wishes of Leafs management right now, and the issue lies in the deployment of Max Domi.
When the Leafs acquired Scott Laughton at the deadline for Nikita Grebenkin and a first round pick, many expected him to solidify the Leafs' at centre on the third line.
He began his tenure with the Leafs there, but after a couple of games, he has found himself mostly slotted on the wing in the bottom six, most recently playing next to the guy he was supposed to slot in for at 3C, Max Domi.
Laughton, who has admitted to difficulties adjusting to his new team and systems, may have found a home, however, with his new linemates.
Following the Leafs' 7-2 drubbing of his former team, the Philadelphia Flyers, Leafs head coach Craig Berube seemingly admitted during his post-game media availability that he likes Laughton's new line and is going against Brad Treliving and management's wishes and not playing him at 3C after Treliving paid the lofty asking price for a centre.
"I liked that line tonight. They played with a lot of energy. I know they got a goal there from Max - great play - but the line had energy. They all skate and get on top of things like I want.
That is what we want from them. Laughton was physical. I thought they were good tonight, that line. The way I envisioned that line is tenacity. They can all skate, get on top of people, and make it difficult for the other team by disrupting the other team as much as they can.
They did a pretty good job tonight. Max was 65% in the faceoff circle. He was solid there."
That is what we want from them. Laughton was physical. I thought they were good tonight, that line. The way I envisioned that line is tenacity. They can all skate, get on top of people, and make it difficult for the other team by disrupting the other team as much as they can.
They did a pretty good job tonight. Max was 65% in the faceoff circle. He was solid there."
With less than a dozen games left until the post-season, how long Berube keeps Laughton on the wing will be something to keep an eye on. At the very least, he has an option to rotate him to the middle if needed.
Still, if he's making it a point to highlight Domi's faceoff percentage, it doesn't sound like Domi is going back to the wing anytime soon.
Still, with several games passing without Laughton even so much as taking a single draw, management may very well be seething, given what they gave up to bring Laughton in as the team's expected 3C.
| POLL | ||
MARS 26 | 4250 ANSWERS Craig Berube Going Directly Against the Wishes of Maple Leafs Management Have the Leafs found a new third line in Laughton, Domi, Robertson? | ||
| Too early to tell | 1990 | 46.8 % |
| Yes | 921 | 21.7 % |
| Early returns look good | 847 | 19.9 % |
| No | 492 | 11.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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