Ex-NHL HC heaps praises upon Craig Berube for Leafs ‘competitive’ performance amid multiple injuries

The Toronto Maple Leafs made a major change in leadership over the summer, terminating former head coach Sheldon Keefe and replacing him with Craig Berube, who led the St. Louis Blues to the 2019 Stanley Cup.

The move is paying off thanks to Toronto's second-place ranking in the Atlantic Division, only one point behind the rival and defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

On Friday, former NHL head coach Bruce Boudreau singled out Berube for praise for how he's handled being the Maple Leafs' bench boss in the heart of hockey's big media market while appearing as a guest on the First Up podcast.

Boudreau loves how the Leafs are playing under Berube's leadership, especially with so many key players on the shelf with injury. He thinks it could finally pay off come playoff time.

"And I love the way Toronto is playing. I say it every time I'm on TV. I love the way Craig is coaching," Boudreau said.

"I love the way they've changed their image and to the point where now you can have seven regulars out of the lineup, but they play the same way, and they defend, and you can have the offensive players out of the lineup, but if you can defend and your goal pending is playing good, like the least goal pending is, then I think you can always be competitive, and they're being more than competitive, and they're going to be getting their guys back," he said.

"I love the way they're playing and I think it's important for them to get into first place this year," he concluded.

Berube and the Leafs are next in action against the division-rival Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night.

Craig Berube previously led the St. Louis Blues to the Stanley Cup

Having already coached the Philadelphia Flyers as an assistant and later head coach, Berube helped lead the St. Louis Blues to their first-ever Stanley Cup win in 2019.

Interestingly enough, the Blues found themselves in last place in the NHL that season in late December, showcasing one of the more impressive turnarounds that resulted in a title in NHL history. So far with the Leafs, he's led them to a 13-7-2 record.