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Craig Berube Sends Strong Message to Auston Matthews with Mitch Marner Out of the Picture
Photo credit: Imagn Images
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube had some interesting thoughts about Auston Matthews amid Mitch Marner's absence from the franchise.
Craig Berube is one of the best head coaches in the NHL, as he understands how to manage his personnel and keep guys happy.
This season, he will have his work cut out for him, especially since Mitch Marner has left the franchise, leaving Auston Matthews to fend for himself with Matthew Knies.
Overall, this is a situation that Berube will have to ameliorate throughout the season, and there are tons of questions surrounding what Matthews will have to do to adapt.
Craig Berube gets real about Auston Matthews
In a new report from Maple Leafs Hot Stove, Berube was asked whether or not Auston Matthews will really have to change his game.
This lead to an interesting answer from the head coach, who admitted that the captain will have to do more for himself in the offensive zone.
It might have to... I don't know if his game has to change that much, but one scenario you can think about is that he might have to do more for himself with the puck in the offensive zone at times - hang onto it a little longer. He won't have that give-and-go chemistry he had with Mitch. We don't have a Mitch Marner looking for him all the time to make the play to him.
He might have to adjust a little bit that way, but other than that, his game and what he does without the puck defensively doesn't have to change for me. In the offensive zone, he is going to have to find some chemistry with another player.
He might have to adjust a little bit that way, but other than that, his game and what he does without the puck defensively doesn't have to change for me. In the offensive zone, he is going to have to find some chemistry with another player.
Ultimately, the Toronto Maple Leafs are a team with lots of good players. However, without Mitch Marner, things will have to change.
Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies will remain on the top line, but there is no telling who will end up on the right wing as support.
Overall, this is going to be a fascinating situation to watch play out, and we can only imagine what Matthews must be feeling without his good friend by his side.
There is no doubt that Leafs fans are eager for this season to finally get started.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 12 | 171 ANSWERS Craig Berube Sends Strong Message to Auston Matthews with Mitch Marner Out of the Picture Will Auston Matthews be the same player without Mitch Marner? | ||
| YES | 112 | 65.5 % |
| NO | 59 | 34.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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