Craig Berube on David Kampf and Marlies Updates
Ahead of Monday’s game against Pittsburgh, Craig Berube shared insights on various team matters including the Cowan-Tavares-Nylander line, Chris Tanev’s condition, and David Kampf stepping away from the Marlies.
Lines at Leafs Skate
- Knies – Matthews – Robertson
- Cowan – Tavares – Nylander
- Joshua – Roy – Maccelli
- Blais – Domi – Jarnkrok
- Laughton, McMann, Lorentz
- Rielly – Carlo
- Benoit – McCabe
- Ekman-Larsson – Myers
- Mermis
David Kampf's Situation
"His going down to the minors — he doesn’t feel like he wants to be down there, so that is his decision on what he does. That is all for him and Brad (Treliving) to figure out. I don’t have a whole lot to say on that situation."
Berube noted that he did not observe frustration from Kampf during camp despite competition and roster decisions:
"I didn’t see frustration in camp. He came in, and there was competition at camp. We have too many players, and we have to make decisions."
Combination of Cowan and Tavares
Berube praised Easton Cowan’s puck-handling and chemistry with John Tavares:
"To me, Cowboy really did a lot with the puck. He skated well through the neutral zone with it and made plays in the offensive zone. It looked like him and JT really read off of each other well and created some good scoring opportunities."
Potential Impact of William Nylander
The addition of Nylander to the line was mentioned as an opportunity to enhance its effectiveness, though no explicit predictions were made.
Additional Team Notes
- Bobby McMann did not skate on a regular line during the morning practice.
- Sammy Blais showed a strong start in his first two games wearing a Leafs sweater.
- Chris Tanev’s status was briefly referenced without detailed update.
Author's summary: Craig Berube addressed team lineup updates, highlighting David Kampf’s decision to pause with the Marlies and the promising synergy between Cowan and Tavares on the ice.