Leafs Podcaster Drops a Heated Rant Pointed at Craig Berube Over a Questionable Roster Decision
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Popular Maple Leafs podcaster JD Bunkis recently went on an impassioned rant about Craig Berube and his questionable deployment of Scott Laughton.
The Maple Leafs have been much better of late, rattling off 3-straight wins leading up to Saturday's clash in Nashville against the 30th place Predators. However, their performance against the Preds fell short, and once again, we're talking about whether or not the Leafs are a true contender.
One major issue that the Leafs have had since the deadline was how they've deployed newly-acquired centre Scott Laughton, whom they gave up some premium assets for.
Laughton has been playing on the 4th line for the Leafs, despite being acquired to play as the team's 3C. That fact alone was enough of an irritant to JD Bunkis to warrant a heated rant directed at head coach Craig Berube, pleading with the veteran bench boss to use Laughton as intended by management.
"The biggest need on the team was a 3rd line centre for a reason. Brad Treliving didn't give up a 1st and a top prospect because he wasn't desperate to address the position.
[Laughton] is a more serious centreman in a playoff atmosphere than Max Domi. Even if he isn't, even if you think 'okay, that's not true, JD', that's fine. But, can I see it? Because that guy played down the middle with Travis Konecny this year, for a lot of games. So if he can play with Travis Konecny, I want to see what he can look like with a couple of wingers to try to get at least a little bit of chemistry down.
You need to see what Laughton looks like as your 3rd line centre. That is why you went out and got him. You didn't get him to play 4th line winger. He isn't getting more comfortable in that situation.
That 4th line isn't working anyways -- take a bit of a run here. I don't know what they're doing when one of the most obvious, clear-cut things that we found out before the trade deadline was that they did not have a 3rd line centre.
Figure it out. Please, Craig, I'm begging you."
[Laughton] is a more serious centreman in a playoff atmosphere than Max Domi. Even if he isn't, even if you think 'okay, that's not true, JD', that's fine. But, can I see it? Because that guy played down the middle with Travis Konecny this year, for a lot of games. So if he can play with Travis Konecny, I want to see what he can look like with a couple of wingers to try to get at least a little bit of chemistry down.
You need to see what Laughton looks like as your 3rd line centre. That is why you went out and got him. You didn't get him to play 4th line winger. He isn't getting more comfortable in that situation.
That 4th line isn't working anyways -- take a bit of a run here. I don't know what they're doing when one of the most obvious, clear-cut things that we found out before the trade deadline was that they did not have a 3rd line centre.
Figure it out. Please, Craig, I'm begging you."
Obviously, it's still early following the trade deadline and there's still some time to get this ironed out. However, if the Leafs begin the playoffs without Scott Laughton as their established 3rd line centre, we may have to declare the trade deadline as a bit of a bust for the Leafs, considering what they gave up for Laughton.
| POLL | ||
MARS 24 | 2302 ANSWERS Leafs Podcaster Drops a Heated Rant Pointed at Craig Berube Over a Questionable Roster Decision Do you think Craig Berube is dropping the ball with his handling of Scott Laughton? | ||
| Yes | 1306 | 56.7 % |
| No | 996 | 43.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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