Brad Treliving takes responsibility for Leafs’ struggles, says there’s been ‘too much vanilla’
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving is taking responsibility for his team’s slow start to the season.
“We’re not where we want to be or envisioned we would be. We’ve underperformed. I take responsibility,” the 56-year-old told the media Tuesday morning in Toronto.
The injury plagued Maple Leafs have dropped four straight games and are tied with the Buffalo Sabres for last in the Atlantic Division with a 8-9-2 record.
“I think there’s been too much vanilla” Treliving added.
Toronto welcomes the St. Louis Blues, who are tied for last in the Pacific Division with a 6-9-4 record, to Scotiabank Centre on Tuesday night.
Despite the struggles, Treliving said he still has full confidence in veteran head coach Craig Berube, who’s in his second season on the Maple Leafs bench.
“Craig didn’t become a bad coach overnight, when you go through difficult times the easy thing is to pick off the coach…the important thing is to not point fingers and dig in together…I have all the faith in the world in him,” Treliving said of Berube.
The 59-year-old Berube didn’t hold back at Monday’s practice, getting after his team for not playing with intensity and energy.
Berube barks at Leafs after low energy levels to start practice Craig Berube sensed some low energy levels to start practice on Monday but says that can often be the case after a day off. He was happy with how things picked up as practice went on.
The Maple Leafs have struggled with their fair share of injuries in recent weeks with captain Auston Matthews (lower-body), defenceman Chris Tanev (upper-body), defenceman Brandon Carlo (lower-body), goalie Anthony Stolarz (upper-body) and centre Scott Laughton (upper-body) all on the injured reserve.
Depth centre Nicolas Roy will miss Tuesday’s game against the Blues.
The Leafs got a bit of good news Tuesday when Matthews and Tanev were seen on the ice ahead of the morning skate.
However, Treliving told reporters during his availability that Matthews won’t play against the Blues or Thursday against the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets.
Tanev, who hasn’t played since Nov. 1, will be re-evaluated in a one-to-two weeks.
