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Ex-NHL general manager and Hall of Famer has some interesting thoughts on the Maple Leafs

Originally posted on Maple Leafs Daily
By Ryan Smitheram | Last updated Nov 26, 2024 10:16 AM ET

Former Nashville Predators GM David Poile had some interesting things to say about the Toronto Maple Leafs and their status as a contender.

As Leafs GM Brad Treliving searches for some depth down the middle amid all of the injuries to the forward group, the Leafs are currently first in the Atlantic Division and 7-1 without Auston Matthews.

Matthews is expected to return this week, but the club will still be without five veteran forwards. However, the Leafs have bought into new head coach Craig Berube's system and a more competitive style of play, one that former Predators GM David Poile believes will guide them to an extended playoff run.

The recently inducted Hockey Hall of Famer joined 'Leafs Morning Take' on Monday and was asked about the current version of the Leafs. The 74-year-old credited Berube and long-time members of the Leafs' roster for how the season has started and revealed that he thinks the Leafs have a very good opportunity ahead of them in the playoffs.

'I think, first of all, you started with Craig Berube and I know Craig pretty well. He played for me on my teams in Washington. Talk about competitive people or play the game the right way or the hard way... Everything has timing. The roster is a little bit more mature and more experienced and been through some really good times and some difficult and disappointing, and Craig Berube's coming in at a really good time with a little bit of a different approach so I think the stars are lining up for the Leafs.'

Although Poile himself never won the elusive Stanley Cup, he managed to guide the Nashville Predators to the Cup Final in 2017, where they fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Beginning his career in NHL management during the 1977-78 season, Poile has seen just about everything during his five-decade run, and there may not be a person more qualified to provide insight into the potential that this current iteration of the Maple Leafs has.

Unfortunately, potential is all it is until the team gets over the hump, which is essentially what Berube was brought in to do.

The 2019 Stanley Cup winning coach will look to guide the blue and white on their longest playoff run since the 2002 Conference Finals. Let's hope he and the team are up to the task.

This article first appeared on Maple Leafs Daily and was syndicated with permission.

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