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'Be a Bulldog': Maple Leafs Coach Challenges New Starter

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Oct 2, 2025 7:44 PM ET

Craig Berube is not leaving any room for doubt as the Toronto Maple Leafs settle on their top line for opening night, but his choice is coming with a challenge to the newcomer.

With Mitch Marner gone to Vegas, Max Domi has been tasked with filling one of the most important forward roles alongside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies.

The head coach spelled out his expectations ahead of Toronto’s final preseason stretch.

“I need him to get inside more,” Berube said. “I need him to shoot more. It can’t be all about looking for Matthews or Knies with plays. We need him to be a bulldog out there.”

️ Maple Leafs HC Craig Berube says he wants to see Max Domi (who’s projected to start the season on the first line with Matthews and Knies) step up and play with a bulldog mentality:

“With Max, we’ve got to let him play his game — what he does and what he’s good at. But at… pic.twitter.com/ysKONtMrzR
— Leafslatest (@Leafslatest) October 1, 2025

Berube added that he wants more than just offensive creativity from Domi, asking him to level up on the defensive side of the game to complement his new linemates.

“He’s got to shoot pucks, he’s got to use his shot. And I need him to be responsible defensively, just like I need every player to be responsible defensively,” Berube said. “We’ve got to let him play his game, but at the same time, he has to change a little bit.”

Matthews endorsed the 30-year-old winger, stressing the familiarity they have from past stretches together playing in Marner's absence at times.

“I’ve played with Max a lot, I’m really comfortable with him,” Matthews said. “He’s a really easy player to play with. He’s got a great brain and is super smart out there. He’s a great, great passer.”

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) celebrates with Matthew Knies (23) and Mitch Marner (16) after scoring a goal.Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

The pair already have chemistry on the scoresheet. According to StatMuse, Matthews has collected 99 goals and 79 assists in 141 games played with Domi, with a combined plus-46 rating.

Domi has shown flashes of his potential as a top-line option. His career-best 72 points came in 2018–19 with Montreal, but in his first year with Toronto, Domi posted 47 points in 80 games. Last season, his production dipped to 33 points in 74 games as he finished on the bottom-six forward corps.

Domi is getting his only preseason dress rehearsal with Matthews and Knies against Detroit after he missed the first part of the preseason and training camp with an injury.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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