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Ryan Reaves shares insights on Craig Berube's first practice with the Toronto Maple Leafs

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Julien Trekker
September 22, 2024  (9:49)
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Toronto Maple Leafs' Ryan Reaves in a press conference.
Photo credit: Screenshot

Ryan Reaves shared insights on Craig Berube's first practice with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Maple Leafs were looking to make meaningful changes in the summer, and they started by replacing head coach Sheldon Keefe with Craig Berube only a few days after they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs against the Boston Bruins.

Berube, a former NHL enforcer, knows what it takes to win. Indeed, he won a Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019, defying all expectations about that team.

The training camp officially started this week in Toronto, and Berube didn't waste time bringing the intensity needed to build champions.

Multiple players shared their thoughts on Berube's first practice as the Maple Leafs coach, and it was nearly unanimous: it was a tough session.

Ryan Reaves was among these players. Check out what he said about Berube's first practice here:

"Come out of the gates hot and see what this team is all about. He expects a lot of intensity and detail. After you saw that practice, it's going to be a very direct, gritty team this year. It sends a message right away.

In summer skates, you're not leaning on anybody, you don't really get those battle drills. But today was up and down the sheet battles, in the corners, 1-on-1's, 2-on-2's on full ice."


He added that the first camp day with Berube was probably the toughest day of his career:

Goaltender Joseph Woll also provided his thoughts on the practice:

"Intense. That's what's going to be emphasized throughout the year, being hard on the puck and being one of the hardest teams to play against. This was a good start."

"It's contagious. And the way it's contagious for goalies is not so much being aggressive - I'm not going to turn into Ron Hextall - but it's more the mindset of competing a hundred percent of the time. There are no reps off and that's something (Berube) is really going to emphasize."


Personally, I think the Leafs needed that tough love and intensity to thrive. I can't wait to see them perform throughout the season as they pursue their ultimate goal of winning a Stanley Cup.

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Ryan Reaves shares insights on Craig Berube's first practice with the Toronto Maple Leafs

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