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Maple Leafs Head Coach Craig Berube Doesn't Have Nice Things to Say About the Core Four


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Alexander Cole
October 5, 2025  (11:57)
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Toronto Maple Leafs forward Craig Berube
Photo credit: Imagn Images

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube was recently asked about the Core Four, which led to a very interesting answer that much of the fanbase can agree with.

Craig Berube only had to coach the Core Four of the Toronto Maple Leafs for one season. Of course, this consisted of Auston Matthews, John Tavares, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner.
Now, the Core Four is no more as Mitch Marner left the Maple Leafs so that he could play for the Las Vegas Golden Knights.
Overall, the Leafs remain one of the best teams in the NHL, and some are under the impression that they will be a grittier team without Marner.

Craig Berube talks the Core Four

Recently, Berube spoke to TSN about the fallout of the Core Four, and it led to some interesting insights.
Mostly, Berube is not a huge fan of the Core Four designation. Instead, it is a bit of a distraction.
In his mind, hockey teams are about the group, not just four players who can go hot or cold at virtually any time.
It's a team game, I've always been team-first, and I believe every guy has to put the team ahead of himself to be successful in this league. When you have that buy-in from everybody, the team becomes more important than the individual, and you have a greater chance of success. Take less, give more; I always use that term.

I hear «Core 4» all the time. But it's not just those 4 guys winning or losing hockey games, it's the whole team. That's all it was. The guys who were lumped into that «Core 4» probably had enough of it. You need your best players to be your best players, I get that. But over the years, with the «Core 4,» it felt like it was all on them all the time. I'm sure they felt that way too. And it's not all on them, It's a team game.

Overall, the Leafs have a real opportunity in front of them now that Marner is gone, and we're sure they will seize it.
As for Craig Berube, he seems like the kind of coach who can help his team adapt, no matter the situation.
Only time will tell whether or not the Maple Leafs end up having a season to remember.
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OCTOBRE 5   |   398 ANSWERS
Maple Leafs Head Coach Craig Berube Doesn't Have Nice Things to Say About the Core Four

Do you believe Craig Berube is doing a good job as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs?

YES34185.7 %
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