After Monday’s practice, Leafs head coach Craig Berube addressed several pressing topics-William Nylander’s public apology, Jacob Quillan’s limited debut, and the team’s mindset amid a rocky stretch of games. With the Olympic break on the horizon and Toronto looking to steady the ship, Berube’s comments gave insight into where this team stands and what’s being emphasized behind closed doors.
Nylander’s Apology and Frustration
William Nylander made headlines for all the wrong reasons on Sunday, when cameras caught him flipping the bird in the press box during a broadcast cutaway. On Monday, he owned up to the mistake and apologized. Berube didn’t downplay the incident, but he also didn’t let it become bigger than it needed to be.
“He made a mistake. He owned up to it,” Berube said.
“Things happen. Players make mistakes.
Coaches make mistakes. It happens.”
Nylander’s frustration is understandable. He’s missed significant time this season due to injury-an unusual situation for a player who’s been remarkably durable throughout his career. Berube acknowledged the emotional toll that being sidelined can take, especially for a competitor like Nylander.
“He wants to play. He wants to be here helping the team,” Berube said.
“It’s been different this year for him. He came back, reinjured it quickly.
It’s frustrating-for him and for us. He’s doing everything he can to get back.”
Filling the Nylander-Sized Void
There’s no sugarcoating it: replacing Nylander’s presence in the lineup isn’t a plug-and-play situation.
“You don’t fill that void,” Berube said bluntly. “Your team has to fill the void.
No one player is going to come in and be William Nylander. That’s not realistic.”
It’s a reminder of just how integral Nylander is to the Leafs’ offensive engine. His absence forces the entire group to adjust-not just the lines, but the way Toronto generates offense and manages puck possession.
Olympics on the Horizon, But Team Comes First
With the Olympics approaching, there’s naturally some chatter about whether Nylander might try to get back in time to represent his country. But Berube made it clear: the priority is the Maple Leafs.
“We’re looking at getting him back in as quickly as we can to help our team,” he said. “I get the Olympics are important, but our focus is here.”
A Practice with Purpose
Monday’s practice wasn’t the typical outdoor fan event the Leafs had planned-it was moved indoors due to weather. Still, Berube used the time to dial in on fundamentals.
“Today was about routes and positioning with our puck play,” he said. “We haven’t had much practice time lately, so it was good to get out there and work on a few things.”
Given the team’s recent struggles at home, especially in first periods, the focus was on tightening up early-game execution.
Jacob Quillan’s Debut
Rookie forward Jacob Quillan saw limited action against Colorado, but Berube liked what he saw in the small sample.
“He came in last night against a very tough opponent. I thought he handled himself fine,” Berube said.
“He used his speed well. It was a fast game, and he was physical on some plays.”
The message to Quillan? Stay ready.
Keep working. The opportunity will come again.
Managing the Mental Grind
With a condensed schedule and little time to reset, Berube emphasized the importance of rest and mental recovery.
“We’ve tried to rest our guys as much as possible,” he said. “But this homestand hasn’t been very good. We have to move on and focus on tomorrow’s game.”
The Leafs host the Sabres next, and Berube wants the team to narrow its focus-start strong, play with patience, and avoid early mistakes.
“Let’s have a good first period. Let’s make good plays. Let’s not give up early goals,” he said.
On Slow Starts and Leadership
Despite recent first-period deficits, Berube pushed back on the idea that the Leafs are consistently starting slow against top-tier teams.
“I didn’t think we started slowly against Vegas or last night,” he said. “The first six or seven minutes were fine.
We made a couple of mistakes, and they ended up in the back of our net. That kind of drained our energy.”
Berube also leaned on the leadership group to help the team weather this stretch.
“It’s a mental grind on everybody, including them,” he said. “But we have to overcome it.
Limit mistakes. Play a simpler game.
Be more patient.”
And yes, he trusts the veterans to help carry that message into the room.
“They say the right things. They know what’s going on. We’re all in this together.”
Stolarz Getting Up to Speed
Goaltender Anthony Stolarz continues to work his way into form. Monday’s practice gave him a valuable chance to face a high shot volume and shake off some rust.
“He needs more of it,” Berube said. “Today was good for him.”
Practice Lines - January 26
Here’s how the Leafs lined up at practice:
Forwards:
- McMann - Matthews - Domi
- Maccelli - Tavares - Knies
- Cowan - Roy - Robertson
- Lorentz - Laughton - Jarnkrok
- Quillan (extra)
Defense:
- McCabe - Ekman-Larsson
- Rielly - Carlo
- Benoit - Stecher
- Thrun - Myers
Goaltenders:
- Stolarz
- Woll
With Buffalo coming to town Tuesday night, the Leafs will be looking to reset the tone at home. The message is clear: simplify, stay patient, and start strong.