Craig Berube on the Leafs' lack of "pride" during their losing streak: "[The players] have to bring the heart and competitiveness that's needed... That's on them"

"When I look at the game or show tape and go over things, there is a certain way we need to play the game. But I can't give guys [points to head] or [points to heart]. They have to come with that. That is on them. They have to bring the heart and competitiveness that is needed. They have to bring that. They have to want to bring that."

"It is concerning, for sure. Really, it boils down to being simple and direct, which we are not right now. We want the easy ice, and there is no easy ice anywhere in any game. We end up not getting the puck out of our zone or not getting it deep. Being simple and direct as a team - we are not doing it right now."

"A little late, but in saying that, we talked about having some pride, going out for the third period, and playing our asses off. But it is too late by then, almost. We came out and scored the first goal, and it kind of went the other way pretty quickly."

Following a 5-2 loss to Ottawa, Craig Berube addressed persistent team issues affecting the Maple Leafs' 27-24-9 record. Berube emphasized that players must independently bring heart and competitiveness to their game, as coaching cannot instill these qualities. The team continues to suffer from slow starts and lack of simple, direct play, resulting in turnovers and defensive breakdowns. While Berube dismissed concerns about the team quitting, he acknowledged frustration that fundamental issues persist at game 60. He noted that external factors like the trade deadline and playoff positioning may affect player focus, but ultimately players must take responsibility for executing basic principles and bringing the necessary pride to their performance.

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