Berube on Leafs Mentors Trip, Nylander Injury & Lineup Updates | Maple Leafs Hotstove

Craig Berube Addresses Maple Leafs’ Mentors Trip, Player Communication, and Injury Updates

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube recently discussed the team’s mentors trip, his communication strategy with players during a challenging season, and provided updates on player health following Monday’s practice. The discussion likewise touched on an incident during warmups involving William Nylander and goaltender Anthony Stolarz.

Mentors Trip: A Positive Influence

Berube emphasized the value of the annual mentors trip, noting its positive impact on team morale. “It is always nice to have the mentors trip…The players really enjoy it. It’s a lot of fun. it’s great to have them around,” he stated. He believes the trip provides a motivational boost, as players aim to perform well in front of their family and mentors. Berube also highlighted that mentors gain insight into the demanding lifestyle and extensive preparation involved in professional hockey.

Communication Strategy During a Difficult Stretch

Despite the team’s struggles, Berube affirmed that his communication approach with players will remain consistent. “Communication doesn’t change with me. I will keep communicating the same way, and I will demand the same as I did all year,” he explained. He acknowledged the increased role of younger players due to recent lineup changes, emphasizing the importance of competitiveness and dedication to the team.

Player Health Updates

Regarding player health, Berube confirmed that defenseman Jake McCabe left practice due to a minor issue but is expected to be available for Tuesday’s game against the Boston Bruins. He also stated that goaltender Anthony Stolarz is healthy and available to play, adding that he will assess the starting goaltender on a game-by-game basis.

Nylander-Stolarz Incident

Berube addressed an incident during warmups where William Nylander accidentally struck Stolarz with a shot. He described it as a “freak kind of thing,” noting that Nylander frequently shoots at the glove but lost control of the puck, resulting in the unfortunate hit. He referenced past experiences as a player where he also accidentally hit goaltenders, recalling reactions from Ron Hextall and Olaf Kolzig.

Practice Line Combinations – March 23

Lines at Leafs practice

Cowan – Tavares – Nylander
Knies – Domi – Robertson
Maccelli – Groulx – Joshua
Lorentz – Quillan – Jarnkrok
Pezzetta

Rielly – Carlo
McCabe – Stecher
Benoit – Myers

Woll
Stolarz

*Ekman-Larsson left early

at Bruins tomorrow pic.twitter.com/VRLCtjCgQQ

— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) March 23, 2026