William Nylander finally listened to Berube and it gave the Leafs a point they can't afford
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
William Nylander scored with six minutes left to tie the game against Carolina and the Maple Leafs earned a point. That point may have just cost them a franchise cornerstone all thanks to Craig Berube's advice.
The Maple Leafs are supposed to be losing right now. They need draft help badly, and the ore they keep showing this fire, the more they are risking a huge loss and handing their heated rivals a future star.
With an OT loss tonight, the Maple Leafs still earned a point - something they don't wanna do. It was William Nylander who played hero to tie the game with just over six minutes to go; and he seemed to be following Craig Berube's advice.
Nylander found the heavy gear Craig Berube wanted, but way too late to matter
Berube was blunt and asked Nylander about his role on the team, and in taking that to heart; Nylander put the puck in the net:
Spoke to him today. I'm like, 'I don't know if you're playmaker now or are you going to shoot?' He needs to shoot & he understands that & that's on the PP too. He agreed. More direct & shoot pucks ... We need him to shoot the puck.
Well, shoot the puck he did. Nylander led the Maple Leafs in shots with four, and looked like he was trying to do everything he could to make sure Berube knew his words were loud and clear.
Cool, but where was this all the time and especially earlier in the year? We don't need that fire and third gear from Nylander because it does no one any favours. He can play for pride; as can the rest of the team, but pride doesn't give you a future superstar.
The Bruins Trap deepens after Toronto refuses to lose the right way against Carolina
Toronto didn't lose the right way; that's just the truth. Taking a point against Carolina does nobody any favours and it's just one game closer to the Maple Leafs not securing the best odds.
Sure, the odds could still be in their favour as the ball could drop in their favour but you're trying to play percentages. If the season ended today, the Maple Leafs would be sitting 7th; though there are still games it's still not top-five.
I don't know if it was Craig Berube threatening some hellfire if there wasn't a win, or if the team had gathered to bet on the game using pixie sticks but they decided to show up at the worst time again.
They are 2-1-2 in their last five games. That's a total of six points out of 10 which would give them a 60% point earning rate - hardly the number you want if you're losing. They are getting points in over half their games.
Toronto's prideful mantra is admirable, but not now. They are simply just handing over a future star to Boston a year after they did so with Fraser Minten.
It's not the time to be heroes boys. It's about securing the future.
William Nylander just gave Craig Berube exactly what he asked for - and handed Boston exactly what they needed. The irony would be funny if it wasn't so costly.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Pete DeBoer puts the Maple Leafs and the NHL on notice as the elite coach enters the market
Pete DeBoer puts the Maple Leafs and the NHL on notice as the elite coach enters the market
| POLL | ||
MARS 21|1010 ANSWERS William Nylander finally listened to Berube and it gave the Leafs a point they can't afford Did William Nylander mess up Toronto's draft chances? | ||
| Yes | 540 | 53.5 % |
| No | 470 | 46.5 % |
| List of polls | ||