Craig Berube Taken to Task by Toronto Maple Leafs Podcaster Over Atrocious Roster Management
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Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube has taken heat for his treatment of Scott Laughton and now, even the media is starting to speak out about it.
When the Maple Leafs traded for Scott Laughton, the plan was to make him the third line center. He was then supposed to keep that role throughout the playoffs.
However, after a few weak games as a member of the franchise, Laughton was demoted to the fourth line in what was a controversial move.
After a loss against the , that decision is now being put under the microscope in a very severe way.
JD Bunkis goes off on Craig Berube
In fact, during an episode of Leafs Talk with JD Bunkis and Sam McKee following Saturday night's blown lead, Berube was taken to task.
Bunkis was especially critical of the Maple Leafs bench boss and much of his rant had to do with poor roster management decisions.
Case in point, what we are seeing right now with Laughton and how stuff like this simply cannot go on.
Per Sportsnet's Leafs Talk:
"The biggest need on the team was a 3rd line centre for a reason. Brad Treliving didn't give up a 1st and a top prospect because he wasn't desperate to address the position.
[Laughton] is a more serious centreman in a playoff atmosphere than Max Domi. Even if he isn't, even if you think 'okay, that's not true, JD', that's fine. But, can I see it?
Because that guy played down the middle with Travis Konecny this year, for a lot of games. So if he can play with Travis Konecny, I want to see what he can look like with a couple of wingers to try to get at least a little bit of chemistry down.
You need to see what Laughton looks like as your 3rd line centre. That is why you went out and got him. You didn't get him to play 4th line winger. He isn't getting more comfortable in that situation.
That 4th line isn't working anyways -- take a bit of a run here. I don't know what they're doing when one of the most obvious, clear-cut things that we found out before the trade deadline was that they did not have a 3rd line centre.
Figure it out. Please, Craig, I'm begging you."
[Laughton] is a more serious centreman in a playoff atmosphere than Max Domi. Even if he isn't, even if you think 'okay, that's not true, JD', that's fine. But, can I see it?
Because that guy played down the middle with Travis Konecny this year, for a lot of games. So if he can play with Travis Konecny, I want to see what he can look like with a couple of wingers to try to get at least a little bit of chemistry down.
You need to see what Laughton looks like as your 3rd line centre. That is why you went out and got him. You didn't get him to play 4th line winger. He isn't getting more comfortable in that situation.
That 4th line isn't working anyways -- take a bit of a run here. I don't know what they're doing when one of the most obvious, clear-cut things that we found out before the trade deadline was that they did not have a 3rd line centre.
Figure it out. Please, Craig, I'm begging you."
These are some strong words but at the end of the day, the Leafs are putting their trust in Berube right now, for better or for worse.
Overall, the team is expected to do something in the post season and performances like Saturday will not get you there.
Hopefully, Laughton gets sent back up to the third line and we actually get to see what he can do.
| POLL | ||
MARS 24 | 151 ANSWERS Craig Berube Taken to Task by Toronto Maple Leafs Podcaster Over Atrocious Roster Management Do you believe Craig Berube is doing a bad job with the Toronto Maple Leafs? | ||
| YES | 30 | 19.9 % |
| NO | 121 | 80.1 % |
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