The Toronto Maple Leafs’ roller coaster season has kept fans on the edge of their seats throughout. The Leafs finished in style last season, ruling the Atlantic Division, and the community hoped Toronto would carry its phenomenal form into the 2025-26 season. But the Leafs had a wobbly start to the season, riddled by numerous injuries.
The Leafs’ 2025-26 campaign hit rock bottom when doubts about Craig Berube’s tenure began to emerge. While the Leafs have made a comeback lately, their recent four-game losing streak is far from ideal. Trying to navigate such trying times, Berube addressed a significant shortcoming that has plagued the Leafs’ locker room and must be solved as a priority.
Toronto Maple Leafs HC Craig Berube Addresses Attitude Issues
The Maple Leafs’ season has featured occasional flashes of brilliance, such as taking down the formidable Colorado Avalanche 4-3 in overtime on Jan. 12. However, the last four matches have only brought disappointment. Notably, the Leafs succumbed to defeat twice at the hands of Mitch Marner’s Vegas Golden Knights: the first time by a hair’s breadth, but most recently, by an uncomfortable margin.
The Leafs are struggling to get out of the Atlantic Division cellar. Amid it all, Berube was seen giving his players on the bench a pep talk about the importance of the right attitude: something the Leafs have lacked of late.
In the latest showdown against the Avs, which the Leafs lost 4-1, Berube called for a timeout after Colorado forward Brock Nelson scored two goals in a span of less than two minutes in the first period. Nothing could be worse for the Leafs, and this is when Berube decided to step in with his wisdom.
Berube emphasized the importance of cheering for one’s teammates, regardless of the match’s direction.
“Berube says the Leafs have had a quiet bench lately and it hasn’t helped: ‘Right now, it’s quiet and that’s not going to help. You gotta cheer for your teammate. You gotta have energy no matter what situation,” Jesse Blake of SDPN Sports shared on his X handle.
For Berube, the team should maintain a positive, enthusiastic attitude even if the match starts shaky. The image of the Maple Leafs sulking on the bench adds more weight to his argument.
According to Dom Luszczyszyn’s latest NHL playoff predictions, the Maple Leafs have a 26% chance of making the playoffs, but their odds of making the Stanley Cup finals remain low. The Leafs have to figure out a way to end their losing streak as they prepare to face the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 27. The Sabres are expected to bring a lot of confidence, having won three of their past four games.
