Craig Berube explains his decision to bring in Marc Savard

Berube's first major decision — bringing on Marc Savard to oversee the power play — has sparked considerable debate, given Savard's recent stint with the Calgary Flames where the team's power play languished at 25th in the league.

Despite the criticism, Berube remains confident in his choice. In a recent discussion with Kevin McGran from The Star, Berube detailed his reasons for entrusting Savard with this critical role.

"I brought him in in St. Louis for a bit and he ran the power play there, and I liked what he did. There's familiarity. I wanted to bring him back. And I think he's going to work well with our power play," he explained.

Savard's challenge in Toronto will be significantly different from his experience in Calgary. The Maple Leafs boast a more potent offensive lineup, featuring stalwarts like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander, with Morgan Rielly frequently leading the setup from the blue line. Last season, John Klingberg and Timothy Liljegren also contributed to the power play efforts, albeit with mixed results.

Toronto's power play has faced scrutiny, especially following a disappointing post-season and a lackluster performance in the latter half of the regular season. The hope within the organization is that Savard's fresh perspective and strategic tweaks will invigorate the Leafs' top unit, offering new dynamics that could keep opponents guessing and off-balance.

Berube's approach to management and strategic input might differ from his predecessor, Sheldon Keefe. While it remains to be seen whether he will intervene directly in power play strategies as Keefe did, Berube has indicated he won't hesitate to make changes if the team's performance does not meet expectations.

Reflecting on his new role, Berube expressed excitement about his future with the Maple Leafs. "I got a good feel back then for it. And I loved playing here for a short time,» he said. «I'm really looking forward to coaching here. I mean, it's the Toronto Maple Leafs, an Original Six team, the fan base. It's going to be a lot of fun."

As Berube steps into his role with optimism, Maple Leafs fans are left hoping that this new coaching dynamic can finally propel the team to long-awaited playoff success.

Source: Toronto Star
Leaf players ecstatic to have Berube as their coach