Craig Berube speaks highly of Toronto Maple Leafs' $27M D-man & Morgan Rielly's probable linemate

By Abhishek Dilta

Modified Sep 13, 2024 06:52 GMT

Toronto Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube has spoken highly of defenseman Chris Tanev, who's likely to pair with Morgan Rielly on the blue line.

The Leafs acquired Tanev from the Dallas Stars in exchange for forward prospect Max Ellis and a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NHL draft. Taven subsequently signed a six-year, $27 million deal with the Leafs on July 1.

Berube emphasized Chris Tanev's grit and competitiveness, noting that he contributes significantly in various areas, including checking, defense and penalty killing. The 34-year-old veteran defenseman is recognized for his ability to handle the tough aspects of the game.

Craig Berube told (via Torontosun):

"This guy brings grit to every game. He brings competitiveness to every game. He does it from a checking standpoint, defending standpoint, penalty-killing standpoint. He does a lot of dirty work."

The Leafs coach also pointed out that Tanev brings a vibrant energy to the ice, making a strong impression on his teammates and an important addition to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"We'll have to see how the partner thing works out, but this guy has energy, he comes to the rink every day, and when he walks in the room, everybody notices him, everybody see shim.

"He has that energy about him. He's a leader and doesn't need a letter to indicate that. He's just a natural leader."

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Craig Berube wants Toronto Maple Leafs to adopt an aggressive style of play

Berube expressed his desire for the Maple Leafs to adopt an aggressive style of play this season. He aims for the team to be both physical and fast but clarified that "heavy" doesn't mean engaging in fights or reckless play.

“We want to play aggressive, physical hockey. I like to have a heavy team. And we want to play fast. And when I say heavy, I don’t mean running around and fighting people."

The coach stressed the importance of every player having a defined role and contributing, especially when the games become more intense later in the season.

“Everybody needs to have a role and be used. When it gets down to the nitty gritty and the playoffs — and I really don’t want to talk about playoffs now — you need everybody chipping in," he added.

The statement from Berube reflects that he believes in taking things step by step and not getting ahead of themselves. He will make his debut as the Toronto Maple Leafs coach against the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 9.