Craig Berube Not Playing Around, Forces Big Change to Maple Leafs' Game-Day Routine

The Toronto Maple Leafs are not doing themselves any favours right now, digging themselves an early hole in the Atlantic Division, which appears to be yielding a higher level of competition this year.

The Leafs are 5-5-1 through their first 11 games, and while they have held similar records in October before only to come back and surge throughout November and December, but dropping points to teams like Buffalo, Seattle and Detroit, who all missed the playoffs last year, certainly isn't helping with team confidence.

While Berube has given his team their flowers for the things they've done well, we know him to be very direct, and he has also put them on blast publicly for the repetitive mistakes that keep costing them wins.

A proactive coach who doesn't like to lose, Berube has made a pretty significant change to the team's game day routine before tonight's game against the Flyers. Rather than holding an optional skate, the veteran bench boss has made today's session a mandatory full team skate.

The Leafs are beginning to get healthier, which should help the situation. William Nylander appears to be a game-time decision, but we do know that Chris Tanev has been cleared to return after passing concussion protocol.

Calle Jarnkrok also appears likely to draw back in, with Scott Laughton also appearing close. Steven Lorentz has been listed as day-to-day, but is on the ice on Saturday as well.

After missing the first month of the season while attending to a personal family matter, Joseph Woll has returned to the Leafs and continues to grind away at practice to brush up on his strength, conditioning and reaction time as he inches his way towards an eventual return this month.

While the Leafs' management group is reportedly happy with how the group is progressing, it seems like it's only a matter of time before the team begins to string some wins together. Perhaps Berube's no-nonsense attitude and game day adjustment will lead to success against the 6-3-1 Flyers tonight.