Systems Analysis: How new coach Craig Berube may shape the Toronto Maple Leafs

In his introductory press conference, new Toronto Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube and general manager Brad Treliving spoke of team-building, relationships, and leadership, but one quote stood out from the rest. 

“We want to be a heavy team,” said Berube. “The game has changed. You have to be strong on the puck, running into puck battles, and playing north as fast as we can. Structure is huge. You have to have structure in all three zones.”

Heavy…Structured – those are the two words that should describe the Leafs going forward. 

Great coaches adapt to their teams. Berube certainly will. The roster he’s inheriting differs from the ones he’s stewarded over in past stops. He’s getting more firepower at the top, but fewer versatile, hard-nosed players. 

Come training camp though, it's a good bet that the Leafs Xs-and-Os will closely resemble those of his St. Louis Blues teams in past years. It would only be natural for Berube to dig into his old bag of tricks. After all, his tactics proved successful at the highest level. They won him a Stanley Cup and still feel relevant in the current game 

Here, we’ll explore some of his strategies, how they compare to Sheldon Keefe’s, and how they could shape the Leafs next season.