Maple Leafs' Craig Berube Gets Honest After Sharks Loss

The Maple Leafs dropped another frustrating game, and their head coach didn't mince words when assessing where his team stands and what went wrong in the critical moments.

Dec 8, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube talks to his players during the third period against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the San Jose Sharks, and Craig Berube made it clear afterward that his team is nowhere near the standard they need to reach to compete.

It was another frustrating performance from a group that continues to show flashes of competence mixed with stretches of inexcusable mistakes, and Berube isn't interested in making excuses anymore.

Speaking to reporters after the loss, Berube delivered a blunt assessment of where his team stands right now, and it wasn't pretty.

Still Not Where They Need to Be

Berube didn't sugarcoat his feelings about the Maple Leafs' current level of play. Despite moments where they've shown they can compete, the overall product isn't close to good enough.

"I still think we're not where we need to be. We need to be better," Berube said. That's a damning statement from a coach who's been trying to install a new identity in Toronto all season.

Craig Berube after the Leafs loss to the Sharks

"I still think we're not where we need to be. We need to be better... Goalie out, we had an opportunity to get the puck out a couple times and we don't do it."@sdpnsports https://t.co/TR7jV1IhFi

— Jesse Blake (@JesseBlake) December 12, 2025

The Maple Leafs have the talent to be a playoff team, but talent doesn't matter if execution and commitment aren't consistent. Berube knows that, and he's not going to pretend otherwise just to protect his players' feelings.

Failing in Critical Moments

What seemed to frustrate Berube most was how the Maple Leafs failed to execute basic hockey plays in critical moments. Late in the game with the goalie pulled, Toronto had multiple chances to clear the puck out of their zone and couldn't get it done.

"Goalie out, we had an opportunity to get the puck out a couple times and we didn't do it." That's the kind of mistake that costs teams games. When you pull your goalie for the extra attacker, every possession matters

. You can't afford to leave the puck sitting in your own zone when you have multiple opportunities to clear it. The Maple Leafs did exactly that, and it likely cost them a chance to tie the game or at least extend the possession.

A Concerning Pattern

The loss to the Sharks is particularly troubling because San Jose isn't exactly a powerhouse. This is a team the Maple Leafs should handle, especially if they have any aspirations of being a legitimate playoff contender.

Instead, they found a way to lose, and the mistakes that cost them weren't complicated systems breakdowns or bad luck. They were fundamental failures in execution.

Berube's postgame comments suggest he's running out of patience with the same issues showing up game after game. The Maple Leafs need to be better, and until they are, the losses will keep piling up and the frustration will keep building.