John Tavares reveals his first interaction with new coach Craig Berube

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Graham Montgomery
May 23, 2024 (10:11)

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Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares has already gotten acquainted with new head coach Craig Berube, and it sounds like he might be a great fit for the team.

Tavares was particularly excited about how his first conversation with Berube went. The coach emphasized communication above all else in his talks with the Leafs captain. After all, communication is free, and it can often be a huge difference maker for a team both on and off the ice.

"We talked a lot about just how he wants to communicate and the importance of that. There's a lot of good things that we've done and where the team is at, he thinks he can help push us further and help us get better. As a player, that's what you love to hear."

Interestingly, Berube also provided some insight as to why he chose the Leafs. Surely the money and lifestyle won't hurt, but he was particularly excited to work with the Leafs core-four players.

Craig Berube says his decision to become the Leafs new head coach was because he was attracted to the Leafs Core 4. 🍁

This is particularly interesting because there has been a great deal of speculation that the Leafs will look to trade Mitch Marner this offseason. However, the most recent reports have actually started to go the other direction, with the team seemingly hinting at a possibility not just of keeping Marner, but offering him a contract extension.

The Leafs don't seem interested in trading Mitch Marner at the moment. 👀

One must wonder if Berube has been a factor in the Leafs' decision making process regarding Marner. What did the team tell him before he signed? Is he expecting Marner to be traded? If so, why would he say he's so excited to work with the core four? It is all very suspicious, leading to more questions than answers right now.