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Craig Berube didn’t sound like a man about to get in Mitch Marner’s face to re-enact the drill sergeant scene from An Officer and a Gentlemen.
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The new coach of the Maple Leafs, who has now met with almost all the players, said his interaction with Marner to date has been fine. It was thought Marner will be among his biggest challenges as the old school Berube seeks to get the Leafs to embrace different roles and play with a harder edge to be playoff-ready.
That’s if Marner doesn’t waive his no-trade clause, and there’s no sign of that happening either as July 1 approaches when the Leafs can openly discuss an extension beyond this year. During a morning coffee a few weeks ago at a diner, the two were snapped in conversation, one of the facts of life coaching the Leafs that Berube says he’ll have to get used to.
“He’s a character guy, a great person and obviously a great player,” Berube said of Marner to media in Vegas on Saturday after the draft. “I’m looking forward to coaching him.”
Berube says he’s reached out to all Leafs, live, via Zoom or on the phone.
“It’s basically just being yourself. Talking to them about what type of coach I am, what they can expect from me, what I expect from them. Getting to know them and their personalities, talking to them about what went on in the past.
“It’s not all hockey, it’s getting to know their lives, their families and things like that. Try to get a feel for everything.”
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