Auston Matthews has addressed his bench altercation with St. Louis Blues head coach Craig Berube following the Toronto Maple Leafs’ tough loss to the Blues. Down 5-1 during the game, Matthews and Berube exchanged heated words, leaving many to wonder if Berube’s emotional outburst was meant to spark urgency in the Leafs’ captain or simply a release of frustration. Known for his direct coaching style, Berube doesn’t shy away from challenging players, even stars like Matthews, in an attempt to drive performance and accountability.
Matthews acknowledged the moment, downplaying any personal offense by saying, “It’s just accountability to everybody… It’s nothing personal.”
While Berube’s tough-love approach might motivate some players, it has its risks—particularly with leaders like Matthews, who generally lead by example rather than overt displays of emotion. Matthews later remarked, “You get yelled at sometimes… You just kind of take it as it goes,” suggesting he wasn’t taking the incident too seriously and respects Berube’s presence on the bench.
Teammate Mitch Marner, often on the ice with Matthews, seemed to understand Berube’s message as well. “We need to be more direct with that puck… We’ve got to be a unit,” Marner noted, acknowledging that improvements are necessary.
While Berube’s in-your-face coaching style could push Matthews to elevate his game, it also risks creating tension if overdone. Striking a balance between intensity and respect will be crucial for the Leafs as they prepare for challenging games against the Bruins and Jets. How Matthews and the team respond to this tough coaching could influence their performance and locker room dynamic as they move through the season.
