Berube

[bluetunehead]

The Leafs are just poorly constructed and have been for awhile. Lackluster defense, no reliable goalie. Top heavy to an absurd degree.

It was all fine and good when they signed Tavares but when they didn’t use the house money to package Nylander or Marner for a stud defenseman to shore up their obvious holes, it became clear they’d never get over the top.

I’ve heard Dubas tried to do this type of move at some point but was overruled by Shanahan, who insisted they keep the big 4. Not sure how true that is, but when they eventually lost Marner for basically nothing it really exposed how foolish that was.

Berube has never struck me as a strong Xs and Os coach. He’s basically a work your butt off and hope for the best type. It just seems like a mismatch with their roster. They can out-talent a lot of teams, but they probably can’t grind it out the way Berube teams succeed.

[Pierre McGuire]

I expect Guerin to be all in on Tavares here soon. Makes no sense for him to end a HOF career with no chance at a cup.