The Toronto Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers skated at Scotiabank Arena on Monday.
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Craig Berube is urging his players to tune out the noise in Toronto as trade speculation swirls around the struggling team ahead of Friday’s trade deadline.
“They’re Leafs today,” the coach said. “They’re professionals, and they’ve got to deal with that. Nobody can deal with it for them. They’ve just got to deal with it, and they’ve got to go play. They’ve got to do the job.”
Toronto has lost all three games since the Olympic break while getting outscored 14-5. The Leafs have fallen to last place in the Atlantic Division and sit eight points out of a playoff spot.
John Tavares acknowledged it’s normal for players to be thinking about the uncertainty right now, but the 35-year-old centre also stressed there’s “a responsibility” for guys to perform at a high level.
“There’s a job to do and there’s a great opportunity to not only play in the National Hockey League, but play here in Toronto and put the Maple Leaf on your chest,” Tavares said.
“The bonds that you build and the type of team you want to be, there’s an accountability there and a trust you want to build and you want to rely on. So, as much as the noise can be going on, all those things, you do the best you can to focus on what you can control.”
‘It’s no secret’: Tavares admits looming deadline may be weighing on Leafs Craig Berube and John Tavares talk about how the looming trade deadline is weighing on the Maple Leafs’ locker room as they look for their first win since the Olympic break.
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The Leafs have five players on TSN’s latest trade bait list including Scott Laughton, who is No. 21.
“It’s hard sometimes,” the veteran centre, who is in the final year of his contract, admitted. “But, at the end of the day, you’re in the NHL and [part of] one of the best franchises. It’s a very humbling opportunity and it’s a special place.”
Monday’s game against the Flyers will be Toronto’s final home date before the deadline, which means it may be the final time Laughton wears the colours of his hometown team inside Scotiabank Arena.
“Obviously, I’ve loved it here,” the Oakville, Ont. native said. “I loved my time and that’s all I really can control. I don’t get into the conversations too much. So, I’m a Leaf and that’s where I want to be and we’ll see where it goes.”
‘I’ve loved it here’: Laughton preps for potential final home game with Leafs Scott Laughton discusses the trade deadline approaching, dealing with the rumours, and preparing for potentially his final home game with the Leafs.
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Auston Matthews described Toronto’s performance on Saturday in a loss to the Ottawa Senators as “embarrassing.”
Asked about getting the team to play with more pride, Berube said on Saturday that he couldn’t give his players heart.
“I expected more coming out of the break from our group,” Berube said on Monday. “We’ve got to fight and claw our way out of the situation we’re in.”
What sort of response is Berube expecting against the Flyers?
“It’s going to be a better response for sure,” Berube promised. “I expect a lot better tonight from our team.”
Rick Tocchet, who is close friends with Berube, was asked what it takes for a coach to get out of a situation like this.
“You got to rely on your staff and as an organization, but you’re looking for a chunk of players to really lead the charge for you when things don’t go your way,” the Flyers bench boss said. “I’m sure he said it, we all say it, ‘Block out the noise,’ but also you rely on guys to steady the waters.”
Tocchet believes Berube’s calm nature is an asset at moments like this.
“he may not look calm sometimes, but behind the scenes he is,” Tocchet said. “Sometimes the waves are only six feet and everybody acts like they’re 20. Sometimes, as a coach, you gotta be careful that you don’t act like that too. Even myself, you know, sometimes it’s not 20-foot waves, it’s only six so sometimes you gotta be a little calmer and things like that. I’m just talking about myself. I’m not talking about Craig.”
‘We’re always under the gun’: Tocchet credits Berube’s calmness Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet discusses Craig Berube being under the gun as the Maple Leafs struggle out of the Olympic break, and credits Berube’s calmness.
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Berube is loading up his top line for Monday’s game with Matthews and William Nylander playing together.
“Well, they’re arguably our two best players, right,” Berube said. “Go out and control the game and do what you guys do best.”
The Leafs have only scored one 5-on-5 goal since returning from the Olympic break and it came right as a power play expired early in Saturday’s game.
“So, we need some offence for sure from those guys, but they have to be responsible defensively too,” Berube said.
Bobby McMann will slot in on the left side of Matthews and Nylander.
“Two exceptional players,” McMann said. “Move the puck well. See the ice well. Just get them the puck any time I can. They can make special plays when they have it. Try and open up space with my speed, and hopefully they can do their magic.”
Matthews was not available to the media on Monday morning.
Leafs Ice Chips: Matthews, Nylander join forces on top line; Robertson scratched The Toronto Maple Leafs have scored just five goals in their first three games since returning from the Olympic break, and have given up 14. In a desperate need to produce more offence Craig Berube is putting his two star forwards, Auston Matthews and William Nylander, on the top line against the visiting Flyers. TSN’s Mark Masters has more.
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McMann is No. 7 on TSN’s trade board, which makes him the top Leafs player on the list.
“I’m here right now,” the pending unrestricted free agent said. “I know there’s been a lot of talk. I’m trying not to pay attention to it as much as I can.”
McMann is an undrafted college free agent, who worked his way up the ranks from the ECHL. What has it mean to play for the Leafs?
“That’s hard to put into words,” the 29-year-old from Wainwright, Alta. said. “I’m not really necessarily trying to speculate on officially leaving either, like, I want to just battle here. It’s been fun my whole career working my way into the NHL here and getting the opportunity. I want to make the most of it and continue to put my best effort forward no matter the situation.”
Monday marks McMann’s 200th game in the NHL.
“Pretty sweet,” he said of the milestone. “Not something that many guys get to do. It’s something I’ll definitely look back on in the future … It’s pretty cool and something I can definitely appreciate.”
‘I’m here right now’: McMann reaches ‘sweet’ milestone as trade rumours swirl Bobby McMann will hit a milestone tonight playing in his 200th career game as the Maple Leafs host the Flyers, but the achievement takes a backseat as trade rumours swirl around the winger. He discusses how he’s handling the rumours, and what it means to play in his 200th game. Leafs’ head coach Craig Berube shares what McMann brings to the team and how he compliments Auston Matthews and William Nylander.
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Winger Nick Robertson will be a healthy scratch for the first time since Dec. 8.
“I felt Nicky’s game dropped off even before the break a little bit and through the break here, so he’s going to get a reset today,” Berube explained.
Robertson has gone five straight games without a point.
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The Leafs traded winger Nikita Grebenkin to the Flyers as part of the deal that brought Laughton to Toronto last March. Grebenkin only played in seven games with the Leafs, but said Monday’s first game back in Toronto will be a little extra emotional.
“I want to win today,” the 22-year-old Russian said with a smile. “I think I go [on] ice, speak a couple guys, Max Domi, what’s up buddy? But game started, it’s war. It’s business.”
Grebenkin became a fan favourite in Toronto thanks to his gritty style and quotable interviews. He said he received hundreds of messages from Leafs fans on social media.
“My Instagram broke and I don’t use now,” he said with a smile. “Too many guys. Guys, what’s up? Hello Toronto! But I won’t see them today.”
Grebenkin reveals he deleted Instagram because Leafs fans sent so many messages Nikita Grebenkin is back in Toronto for the first time since being traded by the Maple Leafs last season for Scott Laughton. He discusses playing back in Toronto for the first time, and having to delete his Instagram after being sent so many messages from Leafs fans.
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Newmarket, Ont. native Denver Barkey will play his first NHL game in Toronto on Monday. He expects between 50 and 100 supporters in the crowd.
“It will be a surreal, full-circle moment,” the 20-year-old said.
Barkey grew up a big Leafs fan and has fond memories of attending games with his dad. Among his favourite players to watch were Darcy Tucker and fellow London Knights alumnus Mitch Marner.
Barkey is looking forward to facing off with his former Knights teammate Easton Cowan, who scored the overtime winner during their first NHL game against each other in January. Did Cowan let Barkey hear it after that big goal?
“No, he’s pretty good with that stuff,” Barkey said with a smile. “Nothing too crazy. But, yeah, just a competitive guy. Looking forward to going to war with him tonight.”
It was in the victorious dressing room after that game that Leafs teammates had Cowan replicate a TikTok dance to the song “Hide Away” by Daya that he did with Barkey and Oliver Bonk during his Knights days.
“I haven’t seen a video of it yet,” Barkey said with a smile. “But his one in person wasn’t great. Not the best moves.”
Flyers’ Barkey looks forward to ‘going to war’ with Leafs’ Cowan in homecoming game Newmarket, Ontario native Denver Barkey shares his excitement about his homecoming game with the Flyers in Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs, and going up against former London Knights teammate Easton Cowan.
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Leafs lines at Monday’s skate:
McMann – Matthews – Nylander
Knies – Tavares – Domi
Maccelli – Roy – Joshua
Lorentz – Laughton – Cowan
Robertson, Jarnkrok
Rielly – Carlo
Benoit – McCabe
Ekman-Larsson – Myers
Stecher
Stolarz
Woll
Leafs power-play units at Monday’s skate:
QB: Rielly
Flanks: Matthews, Nylander
Middle: Tavares
Down low: Knies
QB: Ekman-Larsson
Flanks: Maccelli, Domi
Middle: Cowan
Net front: McMann
