Following Toronto's first practice back after the break, Berube spoke about the team's injuries and what it's been like to watch the 4 Nations Face-Off.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are enjoying the 4 Nations Face-Off, though it's worth noting they're also a bit concerned with the injuries that have come from the tournament.
Toronto captain Auston Matthews sat out of the United States' game on Monday against Sweden because of upper-body soreness but is expected to play in the championship game against Canada on Thursday.
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube believes that GM Brad Treliving has been in contact with Team USA about Matthews' injury. Toronto's coach also provided updates on Calle Jarnkrok and Jani Hakanpaa, each of whom participated in practice on Tuesday.
Berube also mentions what he hopes to see out of Alex Steeves after yet another call-up to the NHL club.
Q: How did you enjoy your downtime as much as you have had?
"It was good. I went home to Philly and spent time with the family. That's it. Cold, snow. Same as here. Not quite as much snow or as cold, but it was good. Great to be at home with the family for the week and just some downtime and watching hockey."
Q: What did you think of the start of that Canada-US game?
"Pretty exciting, boy. I was pretty surprised. *Laughs* I'll tell you what, never saw that coming. But it just shows the investment and the pride they have. It was great. Great game. Great game."
Q: What's the message now with everyone here and trying to get them back up to speed?
"I think it's important to touch on kind of all your systems a little bit. We touched on a couple today. We'll touch on a couple tomorrow. And then we'll keep progressing with some video and things like that. But it's also pace and some battling and one-on-one stuff. So we kind of touched a little bit of that stuff today, and we'll hit it again tomorrow. So, getting them back up to speed, and games are important because it's kind of like, that's hockey, right? So we'll do a little bit more of that tomorrow and do some controlled scrimmaging tomorrow, too, just to get them up to speed."
Q: When do you expect William Nylander to return?
"Good question. I think Willy got back today. I'm sure he'll be in here tomorrow. Whether he needs another day or not, we'll see. But he might want to go on the ice. If he does, great. But, they've been playing and working."
Q: How does Calle Jarnkrok look?
"He looked fine. Like, he's really coming along. Great to have him out there today. He needs time. He needs time. Practice with us and work and see where he's at and make sure he's feeling good. But, it was great to have him out there today."
Q: Do you feel like he's past the worst of it? Like in terms of how he could help you at some point down the road?
"Yeah, that's the hope. He's a good player. He's a very intelligent player and positionally sound and kind of touches a lot of areas of the game."
Q: Two-thirds of the way into the season, what have you come to understand about Bobby McMann?
"Well, he's got great speed and a shot. I'll tell you that. I mean, this guy can skate, good size, strong. I think he hasn't hit his ceiling yet. I think there's more, and our job as coaches and him is to get more. And I believe there's more there. I do. He's just a good player."
Q: What else can he do?
"Well, he can score goals and also just that power forward type of play. His speed getting on top of people and on the forecheck and in the offensive zone. He's done a good job in the power play. He's been at the net front or in the bumper, and he's been really good at both areas. He's really progressed and he's doing a good job."
Q: Have you talked with Matthews? Through conversations between USA?
"No, no, no. I left those guys alone. They don't need to hear from me. They have coaches over there and their own deal. So, I kind of stayed clear of that and left those guys alone."
Q: How does the situation work when he makes the decision to skip the game yesterday? Is there a good back-and-forth between USA and the Leafs? Or just kind of let them work with it?
"It's more so letting them handle it. But I'm sure Brad (Treliving), our general manager, is in contact with what's going on and what the situation was."
Q: It's been a bit of a challenge for someone like Jani Hakanpaa to try to get back and be an option for you guys. Obviously, he took part in the full practice here. Do you feel like that might be an option?
"Well, yeah, we're hoping. I mean, it's about him consistently practicing and feeling better as it goes along, right? So he's practiced with us and then it kind of goes the other way a little bit on him. So hopefully, this week is a good week for him. And then he gets through this week and he's feeling good. And then we keep progressing. This guy's got a lot of experience. He's a good player. We all know that. It's just about him feeling ready to play, consistently ready to play."
Q: How excited are you to watch Canada/US on Thursday?
"Yeah, no, it's going to be great. I mean, I haven't missed a game. It's great hockey. It's obviously the intensity, and there's no room out there. That's what I see. Like, just people are full out, physical, checking. It's playoff hockey. It's like you've got to give everything you've got and all the games have been really good, in my opinion. I didn't watch the USA one last night against Sweden. That's the only one I missed."
Q: Does the amount of injuries kind of put pause on seeing more events like this?
"Yeah, that's a concern, obviously, for sure. It's one of the things that it's kind of out of our hands. But it is concerning, for sure. There's been some injuries, and like I said, it's concerning. But that's not for me to make those decisions."
Q: Alex Steeves obviously filling the net for the Marlies and top three and scoring What else are you getting back from the Marlies and reports coming back and how he's playing?
"I was at the game yesterday in Scotiabank. They (Marlies) played a real good game. They're doing a lot of good things down there. And a lot of guys were pretty impressive for me. I watched them play and Steeves has been lights out down there. He had a great game yesterday again, too. He's a real good player."
Q: What does a guy like that have to do to stick?
"Yeah, that's a good question, I think, opportunity is everything, for sure. And situation is everything, right, for a lot of players. And he probably needs a good opportunity and a good situation. So, that might happen here. We don't know that right now. We are where we are, and we'll see how it goes. But he's definitely a guy. He's played some games this year with us and been a pretty effective player for us, up here with limited ice time."
Q: How do you approach the next few days here? You have, like, a glut of days before back-to-backs?
"Yeah, we'll do a break. I'm not a huge fan of three days in a row. Training camp's different. But we'll practice again tomorrow and probably have an off day with just off-ice stuff, and then practice Friday and play the game. We've got back-to-backs out of the gate, so we need energy."
Q: Do you already start looking at the footage for the next opponent, or do you wait until closer to that?
"Carolina, we'll be looking at stuff on them starting here right away."
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