Craig Berube on his relationship with William Nylander: ‘I’m trying to hear him out’

“ A lot of conversations which I enjoy. Great guy to talk to and listen to him,” Berube said after Monday’s morning skate. “ I think more than anything, I always want Willie to open up to me and tell me what he’s feeling and what he thinks about the game and what we can do better and things like that. He’s got a lot of great ideas. Now I agree with them all, but I want to hear them because there’s something there that I might learn.  These guys are smart guys and smart players.”

That is the mark of a great leader and a great coach: being willing to hear from his players and understand their perspective even if their views don’t necessarily align with your own.

Over the years, Berube has developed a reputation for being a direct coach who keeps his message simple while also being able to resonate with his players. He understands the challenges that come with being in the NHL. He played in 1,054 career games as a player, so he knows what the players may be thinking and how they deal with the grind. It’s no wonder that many of the players he used to coach and the Leafs speak highly of his impact.

Berube also has to deal with the challenges of getting Nylander to elevate his game to the elite heights he is capable of achieving on a nightly basis. And he sticks with it because he knows the Swedish forward has it in him to do just that.

“Willie’s, it’s a challenge like any player,” he said. “I mean, you’d like to get that game he had in Montreal every night but that’s not reality.  But he has the capability of doing it. This guy’s edge work and his puck play and competing on pucks offensively is high-end.  He’s a very good player.  It’s always a challenge to try to get these guys to be more consistent every night. That’s a coach’s job. And it’s not just Willie, it’s every player.”

Whatever magic Berube has been able to achieve behind the scenes seems to be working wonders as Nylander is once again having a strong season offensively. Heading into Monday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, he has 47 points (27 goals and 21 assists) in 47 games played, which is second on the team in scoring behind Mitch Marner. Nylander’s 27 goals also have him in a four-way tie for second in the NHL, meaning he has a legitimate shot at his first Rocket Richard Trophy.

Berube will keep doing his thing with Nylander because it has been a successful formula for getting more out of him.

“I try to really have conversations with him daily. I really do,” Berube said. “ I’m not trying to figure him out. I’m trying to hear him out more than anything.”