The Toronto Maple Leafs held a closed-door meeting on Sunday, Oct. 12, after a rough 6-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings the night before. The meeting came just two games into the 2025-26 season, but head coach Craig Berube didn’t waste time addressing issues he believes need fixing now.
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The Leafs had jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period in Detroit. But then things unraveled. They gave up three straight goals in the second, were outshot 15-9, and never regained momentum.
“We had a good, hard meeting today,” Berube told reporters. “I don’t care what time of year it is. We have to make sure we’re all bought into playing the right way.”
Berube didn’t hold back in his postgame comments, saying the team “beat ourselves.” He credited Detroit’s effort but pointed out the Leafs failed to clear the puck and got caught watching plays develop instead of disrupting them.
Saturday’s loss wasn’t just about goals. It was about how they were given up. Sloppy puck movement, long defensive zone shifts, and missed coverage played a big role in the collapse. The Leafs looked sharp early and then lost their footing.
“I thought we started the period off fine, but then we just didn’t close anything off and spent too much time in our zone. They eventually capitalized and that’s the difference in the game,” he added.
While the team isn’t in panic mode, the coaching staff clearly wants urgency. The tone of Sunday’s meeting reflected that.
Toronto will get an immediate shot at redemption when they face the Red Wings again on Monday, this time at home and in front of a Thanksgiving Day crowd at Scotiabank Arena.
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There’s no way around it, the Leafs haven’t looked sharp in their first two games. Even in their opening win over Montreal, cracks were visible. Poor zone exits, slow reactions, and inconsistent special teams have been recurring issues.
Their power play has yet to find a rhythm. They’re 0-for-4 and have already allowed a short-handed goal through two games. Penalties have also been a problem, including one by Auston Matthews that killed a promising man-advantage.
Still, one positive has been goaltender Anthony Stolarz. He’s been busy, maybe too busy, but he’s shown resilience, especially under pressure. Berube praised his performance, saying he’s not to blame for the defensive breakdowns in front of him. Now, changes are on the way.
With Steven Lorentz sidelined due to an upper-body injury, rookie Easton Cowan is expected to make his NHL debut on Monday. Berube also shuffled his forward lines in practice, slotting Cowan into a top-line role and reuniting Max Domi with Nicholas Robertson and Bobby McMann. Nothing is guaranteed this early, and performances matter.
The Leafs will open a five-game homestand with Monday’s rematch, and the atmosphere should be intense. The Red Wings, who bounced back from their own season-opening loss, looked faster and more physical in their win over Toronto.
This next game isn’t just about evening the score. It’s about proving that the Leafs can take criticism, make adjustments, and show some grit. For Berube’s system to stick, the buy-in has to happen now, not in midseason.
