The Toronto Maple Leafs practiced Monday, and head coach Craig Berube brought the players together early in the session and implored the group to pick up the pace.
“It was a little low early today,” the Leafs coach said of the energy level. “Sometimes after a day off, though, that could be the case. But I thought it picked up.”
Monday’s workout was the team’s first on-ice session since dropping a fifth straight game (0-4-1) on Saturday night in Chicago. This is Toronto’s longest winless run since April 2021, and the urgency level appears to be rising.
During a break-out drill later in practice, Berube again barked at the players.
“You guys don’t get to the wall quick enough,” the coach said. “You’re way too f–king high. You’re just at the blue line the whole time. And then in the game, we don’t want to get to the f–king wall and break the puck out. You gotta go up the wall a lot of times in the game. So that’s where you gotta f–king battle. You got to hit the net-front D, you gotta hit your centre underneath, but if you don’t bust your ass to get there, if you don’t get low enough, then we’re f–ked. That’s just effort and it’s just wanting to get there. That’s all it is. It’s wanting to get there. So just f–king do it, and do it hard and do it right.”
The Leafs have spent far too much time in their own end so far this season. It’s a big reason why they rank 31st in goals-against per game.
“We did a better job last game of not giving up as much, not spending as much time in our zone, so that’s a big part of it,” Berube said when asked about the compete level at practice. “So you’ve got to work on it and we do work on it. But we’re going to continue to work on it and get better at it.”
Monday’s practice featured a series of 5-on-5 drills with a focus on breaking out, coming back into the defensive zone and getting in on the forecheck.
In a rare move, the team will hold a full skate on Tuesday morning. Usually, the Leafs make the game-day skate optional when there is a full practice the previous day.
General manager Brad Treliving will meet the media before Tuesday’s skate to discuss the team’s performance through the first quarter of the season.
Berube barks at Leafs after low energy levels to start practice Craig Berube sensed some low energy levels to start practice on Monday but says that can often be the case after a day off. He was happy with how things picked up as practice went on.
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The Leafs have allowed 22 goals during the five-game skid, but there are some signs of progress.
“The past few games, I think there’s been a lot of effort,” said winger Matthew Knies. “I think there’s been a lot of good. I think our game is definitely trending in the right direction. The few games before that, I think that there was a little bit of a lack of effort. In practice you guys saw that everyone’s moving well, everyone’s going hard so, yeah, I don’t think that’s what it is anymore.”
Fellow winger William Nylander never considered effort an issue.
“To be honest, I think there’s always been good effort and good compete,” Nylander said when asked specifically about Knies’ comment. “So, I don’t think that that has really ever been the issue.”
After each of the last three games, Berube has highlighted a lack of confidence as a factor. The Leafs have held a lead in four of the last five games.
On Saturday night, Toronto’s 2-1 advantage in the third period turned into a 3-2 regulation defeat.
“We just got to find a way to just step on them and not let them breathe when it comes to the third period,” said Knies. “I think we let them come back in the game and obviously that’s happened to us a few times here. So, we’re just trying to figure out how to finish out a game right now and I think we have the ability to do that. I think we just have to execute on a few things and I think we’ll be good.”
What’s the mood like around the team?
“We’re losing, but I think we’re feeling positive,” said Nylander. “I mean, trending hopefully in the right direction. So, yeah, I mean, if this keeps going for another month then [it’s] a different mood (laugh).”
Nylander, Knies have different takes on role of effort in Leafs’ skid The Maple Leafs have lost five straight games but they aren’t faulting their effort levels for the recent skid. Matthew Knies explains why execution is more to blame and William Nylander says it’s still too early to push the panic button.
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Nylander has failed to register a shot on goal in the last two games.
“I think I’ve had chances to actually shoot the puck … [I] just haven’t really,” the 29-year-old said. “I mean, I had a breakaway last game [and] put it in the corner. I mean, there are a couple of chances where I’m looking to pass it maybe instead of shooting it. So that’s probably what I would say: [it] is just [about] getting the shooting mindset instead.”
This is the first time Nylander has gone consecutive games without a shot since December 2019.
With the team’s former assist leader Mitch Marner now in Vegas, Nylander leads the Leafs with 18 helpers in 16 games.
“He’s maybe looking to pass a little bit too much at times,” Berube said. “He’s been passing quite a bit all year, and obviously he’s got a lot of assists, but we do need him to shoot for sure.”
Nylander is averaging just 2.1 shots per game, which is down from 3.1 last season. He has landed just six shots on net during the power play.
“The power play has been run on his side, and so he’s looking to make more plays, but he also needs to shoot too,” said Berube.
Toronto ranks 25th in power-play percentage (16.0 per cent) after failing to convert on three chances in Chicago.
Nylander leads the Leafs in scoring with 26 points in 16 games. He’s hit the scoresheet in his last 13 games.
Berube says Nylander needs to shoot more, especially on power play William Nylander has gone back-to-back games without a single shot and his head coach Craig Berube is urging him to shoot more. Nylander admits he’s had some chances, but hasn’t pulled the trigger and it’s a mindset he needs to change.
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The injuries continue to pile up for the Leafs with Nicolas Roy the latest to go down. The centre will miss Tuesday’s game after sustaining an upper-body injury. Berube isn’t sure when he will be able to return.
Roy landed a season-high five shots on goal while playing a season-high 19 minutes and 45 seconds on Saturday night.
The Leafs are now without three centres, with Auston Matthews and Scott Laughton also sidelined.
Matthews has not skated since suffering an injury last Tuesday in Boston, Berube saud.
For the first time since suffering an upper-body injury on Nov. 8, Laughton practised in a regular sweater on Monday, but still isn’t cleared to return.
Jacob Quillan has been called up from the American Hockey League and will suit up in his second career NHL game on Tuesday.
“He doesn’t have a lot of experience,” Berube said. “He can skate. He’s competitive and brings some energy. Like, listen, I get it. We’re down a lot of guys, but he’s got to step up and next man-up mentality and go play.”
Quillan, who has 14 points in 14 games with the Toronto Marlies this season, skated between Matias Maccelli and Bobby McMann on the third line at practice.
Natural wingers Max Domi and Steven Lorentz also skated as centres at practice.
Leafs Ice Chips: Roy latest centre to go down; Matthews still not skating Craig Berube revealed that Nicolas Roy is the latest centre to go down with an upper-body injury. While defenceman Brandon Carlo was placed on the injured and Auston Matthews hasn’t resumed skating. Mark Masters has more on the Maple Leafs laundry list of injuries.
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The Leafs are also missing two right-handed, top-four defencemen right now.
Chris Tanev skated on his own before practice, but is not expected back soon. He was stretchered off the ice with an upper-body injury on Nov. 1.
Brandon Carlo missed Saturday’s game with a lower-body injury. He did not take part in practice on Monday and was placed on injured reserve, which means he will miss at least the next two games.
“I really don’t have a timeline right now,” Berube said.
Toronto claimed right-handed defenceman Troy Stecher off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday and the 31-year-old is set to make his Leafs debut on Tuesday.
“I was excited for a fresh start,” Stecher said. “Obviously seeing the team, and how competitive they are and where they are in the standings, I knew it would be a motivated group that I’d be joining, so it kind of goes hand in hand with the way I play. I play with a lot of motivation and a bit of a chip on my shoulder and I think the team is kind of that way as well.”
Standing just 5-foot-10, Stecher has long been doubted. The Leafs will be his seventh NHL team.
“Always just kind of try to prove people wrong and more than anything just prove myself right,” the native of Richmond, B.C. said.
Stecher got into just six games so far this season in Edmonton.
“It just became a numbers game,” he said. “They were trying to get younger internally on the back end and they had two really good younger D-men in [Ty] Emberson and [Alec] Regula come up and I just kind of got pushed to the side and that’s the way the business works. I was on the other side of it when I came to the league, you know, kind of pushed some older guys out. So, wish them well, but I don’t think it necessarily had anything to do with [me] being a poor player. It just kind of came down to numbers.”
Stecher skated on the third pair beside Dakota Mermis at Monday’s practice.
The Leafs have preferred bigger and longer defencemen in the Treliving era. Stecher is the shortest blueliner on the roster by three inches.
“I feel small,” he said with a laugh after practice.
But Stecher has a good sense of how he can fit in starting on Tuesday night.
“Trust your strengths,” he said. “For me that would be my feet. The coaches want me to use my feet and help break-out pucks.”
Right-handed defenceman Philippe Myers is set to be a healthy scratch on Tuesday. He was benched after being on the ice for a pair of Chicago goals on Saturday.
“He probably got overextended this year a little bit with the injuries,” Berube said. “He definitely hasn’t played the way he played last year. I think he just needs to get his game back in order a little bit. He’s capable of doing it. We saw it. But I think it’s just been a little bit of a long stretch here for him.”
Myers is minus-seven in 10 games this season.
‘I feel small’: Stecher brings chip-on-shoulder mentality to Leafs’ big d-core Newly acquired defenceman Troy Stecher took part in his first Maple Leafs practice on Monday. He explains why he’s always had a chip on his shoulder throughout his career and what he believes he can bring to Toronto.
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Stecher joined the Leafs in Chicago for a team-bonding dinner after Saturday night’s game.
“The guys were really welcoming,” Stecher said. “It was unfortunate they couldn’t get the win that night. It would have been probably a little more upbeat but, yeah, it’s nice any time you can have time with your teammates away from the rink, especially on the road. It’s a lot easier. It’s not very often you stay over in a city, so for them to do that was a good opportunity for me to come in and meet the guys on different terms and instead of walking into a dressing room, kind of walking on eggshells.”
All of Toronto’s injured players made the trip to Chicago for the dinner.
“I think we needed it,” Nylander said. “I mean, we’ve been home a lot, so it’s good to get some time with the guys and enjoy that night.”
The Leafs have played a league-high 13 home games. Saturday was only their sixth road game this season and the first outside the Eastern time zone. The longest road trip for the team this season has been two games.
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The Leafs will have a pair of home games this week on Tuesday and Thursday. How do they unplug when in Toronto?
“I play guitar,” said Knies. “I know some of the guys play whatever, piano, and I think there’s actually a few guitars on our team. Other guys go home to their kids and wives and family. I think you just try to not think about hockey and focus on your life … It’s important to take your mind off it a little bit and then just enjoy your life.”
Knies said his go-to guitar song at the moment is ‘Must’ve Never Met You’ by Luke Combs.
“I play to myself and that’s about it,” Knies said with a smile.
“Never heard him,” Nylander said with a grin. “So, I don’t know, I can’t imagine he’s that good then.”
Does the 23-year-old sing as well?
“Yeah, but it’s not great,” Knies said. “You wouldn’t want to hear it.”
Slumping Leafs ‘needed’ team dinner in Chicago; Knies unplugs with guitar Despite the loss, the Maple Leafs admit it was nice to stay the night in Chicago and get in a good team dinner with everyone. Matthew Knies explains how the guitar helps him unplug, while William Nylander questions Knies’ musical skills.
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Goaltender Joseph Woll provided the Leafs a positive rallying point despite Saturday’s loss in Chicago.
“The frustration mounts, it builds,” said defenceman Jake McCabe. “Confidence dwindles away, so you’ve got to manufacture it at times. I think you take positives here and there. I thought the positive for me was seeing 60 [Woll] back in there. I thought he did a phenomenal job. I just told him that. Super good seeing him back in there and grinding and battling. He was composed all night. He played great with the puck. So that gives me a lot of joy, you know, just seeing him doing his thing. It was awesome.”
Woll missed the start of the season for personal reasons. Saturday marked his first game with the Leafs since the playoffs in May.
“It’s a mix of probably every different emotion,” the 27-year-old said. “A little nervous, a little excited. But, you know, just being out there on that sheet was pretty cool.”
Woll stopped 29 of 32 shots.
“Felt pretty solid,” he said. “I felt like I was moving well, seeing the puck well.”
The St. Louis native is set to start again on Tuesday against his hometown team. Woll is 0-2-0 in his career against the Blues with both losses coming early last season.
‘Every different emotion’: Woll’s return provides spark for slumping Leafs Joseph Woll looked like his old self on Saturday in his first game with the Leafs since returning from personal leave. “It’s a mix of probably every different emotion,” the goalie said. “A little nervous, a little excited. But just being out there on that sheet was pretty cool.”
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Lines at Monday’s practice:
Robertson – Tavares – Nylander
Knies – Domi – Cowan
Maccelli – Quillan – McMann
Joshua – Lorentz – Jarnkrok
Laughton, Blais
Rielly – Ekman-Larrson
Benoit – McCabe
Mermis – Stecher
Myers
Woll
Hildeby
#stlblues practice lines:
Holloway-Thomas-Snuggerud
Schenn-Dvorsky-Kyrou
Joseph-Suter-Buchnevich
Toropchenko-Sundqvist-Walker
Extras: Bjugstad, Texier
Broberg-Parayko
Fowler-Faulk
Tucker-Kessel
Extra: Skinner
Binnington
Hofer
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) November 17, 2025