Ryan Reaves Shares Insight on Craig Berube's Intense First Training Camp with the Leafs

I think everyone knew that when the Maple Leafs shifted from Sheldon Keefe to Craig Berube this summer, there were going to be some significant changes in how things were done in Toronto. Fast forward to training camp, and the players are already noticing a huge difference -- Ryan Reaves, in particular.

Berube was always a hard-nosed player, and despite being a very popular coach among the players who have played under him, he also happens to be a stern figure behind the bench who demands a certain level of effort from each and every player.

In his first Leafs training camp, Berube has made some significant changes in how the Leafs will approach their overall game this season. Rather than the drop passes and backpedalling that players became accustomed to under Sheldon Keefe, Berube demands a more straight-line, north/south effort with every player skating hard, finishing their checks and playing smart two-way hockey. Ryan Reaves already notices the difference and has noticed it since day one of camp, which he calls his hardest day of camp in his career. You can hear his comments around the 22:15 mark of the video below:

Reaves, who admitted this summer to studying some of Craig Berube's old fight tapes, has been through quite a few training camps in his lengthy NHL career, so to hear him call Berube's camp the hardest of his career speaks volumes about the message that the new coaching staff is sending to the players, which is that there will be no easy nights against the Maple Leafs this season.

It is undetermined thus far whether Reaves will be in the opening night lineup or begin the season as an extra, but I'd imagine that at his advanced age, there will be plenty of nights off for him in 2024-25.