Opinion | Feeling nostalgic? Here’s why this Maple Leafs team gives off a ‘90s vibe.
It might be early in the season, but there’s no doubt this Maple Leafs team has a fresh energy.
True to Toronto’s style, optimism has surged after just seven games, despite the team’s attempt to squander that positivity with a 6-2 loss to Columbus on Tuesday.
Before that disappointing game—one we can consider an exception—I noticed some parallels between this year’s Leafs and a 1990s squad that reached the conference finals two years in a row.
Back in the day, it all began with a new head coach. When Pat Burns took over before the 1992-93 season, he quickly transformed a losing culture both on and off the ice. He guided the Leafs to the conference finals in his first two seasons.
We’re seeing similar signs with Berube’s team and their style of play.
Although Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander aren’t yet recognized for the same grit that Wendel Clark or Doug Gilmour brought, it appears they’ve been encouraged to step up in that regard this season—a refreshing shift. The additions of Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, alongside Jake McCabe, Morgan Rielly, and Simon Benoit, remind me of the defensive lineup from the past, featuring Dave Ellett, Todd Gill, Jamie Macoun, Bob Rouse, and Sylvain Lefebvre. While neither team boasts a Norris-caliber defenseman, it’s clear that this year’s defense is deeper than any we’ve seen during the Brendan Shanahan era.
The goaltending situation also echoes the past with the unexpected start of Anthony Stolarz. Though he doesn’t have the established No. 1 reputation that Félix Potvin quickly earned early in his career, Stolarz has performed at a level comparable to Potvin during the Leafs’ remarkable 10-0-0 start in 1993-94.
While the depth forwards—Matthew Knies, Bobby McMann, Pontus Holmberg, and Steven Lorentz—lack the experience of Mike Krushelnyski, Peter Zezel, Mark Osborne, and Bill Berg, they’ve already begun to demonstrate the heavy style of play that’s crucial for playoff success.
These parallels wouldn’t have emerged if Shanahan and GM Brad Treliving hadn’t found a modern coach akin to Burns. Berube brings that same straightforward attitude and tactical approach.
“You can score a ton of goals every night, but if you keep losing 6-5, you’re not going to be ahead.” Does that sound like something Berube might say? It was actually Burns back in December 1992.
Berube appears to have transformed the Leafs’ culture almost overnight, much like Burns did nearly 30 years ago. For both coaches, I believe their early success stems from their character and leadership.
Before arriving in Toronto, both Burns and Berube established themselves as coaches who don’t engage in mind games with players or the media. They aren’t driven by ego or eager to assert their presence in a major hockey market.
Every coach has their own journey to the NHL, and it’s crucial for players to acknowledge that. While Burns didn’t play at the same high level as Berube, his background in law enforcement became well-known after his success in Montreal, which resonated with his players. The running joke was that if criminals couldn’t deceive him, how could a player?
Players don’t necessarily need a coach they like or always agree with. What star players want today is someone they respect enough to fully commit to his vision.
Berube isn’t asking anyone on the Leafs to do something he hasn’t done as an NHL player himself. When it comes to asking players to be tougher, it’s easier to take that advice from someone who has accumulated 3,149 career penalty minutes, unlike Sheldon Keefe, who has just 78.
Burns and Berube, like all coaches, had their shortcomings. Burns occasionally showed frustration when he disagreed with the media.
However, the core message these two coaches delivered to their teams, three decades apart, remains unchanged: to achieve success, they need to play more disciplined, prioritize defense, and avoid the mindset of thinking they can outscore their errors.
It’s a long season filled with highs and lows. The drama in Leafland resurfaced with a disappointing loss in Columbus, where Berube’s Leafs let their guard down. A solid performance against St. Louis on Thursday could help frame that loss as just a minor setback.
