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Craig Berube Praises John Tavares' Decision With Clever Four-Word Answer

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Sep 21, 2025 10:00 AM ET

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube praised John Tavares for his decision to sign in Toronto for less money, calling it a reflection of the former captain’s values and leadership.

Tavares signed a four-year, $17.56 million contract at the end of June, right before entering free agency and potentially landing much bigger offers in the open market from other franchises.

Asked about the veteran’s new deal, Berube quipped: “Less is more, boys.”

Berube later expanded on what the move means to the Maple Leafs as they reshaped their roster over the summer.

“He is a Leaf, and he wants to be a Leaf. He wants the opportunity to do something special here with the Leafs,” Berube said, according to Maple Leafs Hot Stove. “I expected him to be back, to be honest with you. We are really glad he is back here.”

️ Craig Berube on the birthday boy (John Tavares):

“He’s a Leaf. He wants to be a Leaf, he wants the opportunity to do something special here with the Leafs… I expected him to be back, to be honest, and we’re really glad he’s back here.”

— @AnnaNoelleDua #LeafsForever
— Leafslatest (@Leafslatest) September 20, 2025

Berube noted that Tavares’ decision sends a message to the rest of the team, particularly William Nylander.

With Mitch Marner gone and Auston Matthews returning from an injury-plagued year, Berube emphasized that Toronto will lean heavily on its core.

The Leafs coach made clear on Saturday that he wants Nylander to take on a bigger leadership role, issuing him a challenge on that front for the upcoming season.

“For me, Willy can step up and take a little bit of a bigger leadership role here. Step it up in the dressing room, on the bench. Just the voice, more than anything, for me,” Berube said.

Tavares, meanwhile, underlined his belief in both Nylander’s growth and the Leafs’ future.

“He’s a game-breaker. He’s a special player and we’re lucky to have him,” Tavares said of Nylander. “I think you can consistently see that in Willy’s game. Not just on the ice, but the leadership aspects off the ice.

“We push each other really well. It’s a very close and healthy relationship. We’re not shy to get on each other. It’s a great part of him — to be able to have that dialogue and that understanding, and be able to thrive off that.”

For the past few years, Tavares and Nylander have shared the Leafs' second line, with the former manning the center and the latter playing on the right wing. Last season, the pair combined for 158 points across the regular season and added 22 points in the playoffs together.

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

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