Craig Berube: Maple Leafs winger Bobby McMann 'hasn't hit his ceiling yet'

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As he gets his Maple Leafs back into game mode, coach Craig Berube figures he can get more out of winger Bobby McMann.

It’s not that Berube is dissatisfied with what McMann, who has a career-high 17 goals in 47 games, has accomplished this season.

At 28, McMann has established himself as a solid power forward and has continued to blossom in Berube’s system.

“He hasn’t hit his ceiling yet,” Berube said after the Leafs returned to practice on Tuesday at the Ford Performance Centre. “I believe there is more there. He could score (more) goals and also that power-forward type of play, his speed, getting on top of people, and on the forecheck and in the offensive zone … he has done a good job on the power play. He has been at the net front or in the bumper.

“He has really progressed, and he’s doing a good job.”

When the Leafs play host to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, McMann will seek to pick up where he left off prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off break. He scored three goals in the Leafs’ last four games before the break and had four in the last six games.

WIN THE DIVISION

Capturing the Atlantic Division flag would be a fine way for the Leafs to finish the regular season.

With 27 games remaining, the Leafs will get back to work on Saturday in second place in the Atlantic, three points behind the Florida Panthers and with two games in hand.

“You play to win every game, and finish as high as you can,” centre John Tavares said. “No doubt, (winning the division) would put us in a great spot. Not that (finishing first) is your thought process every single day, but we want to play really good hockey.

“We want to earn wins and results that we need to put ourselves in the playoffs, and to finish as high as you can. That would be a great accomplishment, and would set us up well.”

The Leafs’ most-recent regular-season division title was in 2020-21, when they ended atop the all-Canadian North Division. That marked the first time since 1999-2000, when the Leafs won the Northeast Division, that Toronto was best in its group.

Tavares was glad to be back on the job.

“A good break for everyone, but excited to get back at it, coming down the stretch here,” Tavares said. “As you get closer to the best time of year, you know the importance of the hockey that’s ahead and the excitement that comes with that. It’s an important few days here to get back up to speed and we’re right into the thick of it on the weekend.”

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LOOSE LEAFS

Unlike the majority of Leafs, Berube didn’t head south — at least, not where it was hot and sunny — for the break. He spent it with his family at his off-season home outside Philadelphia. “Not quite as much snow or as cold (as Toronto), but it was great to be at home with the family for a week and (spend) some downtime watching hockey,” Berube said … The Leafs will practise on Wednesday and Friday before they play the Hurricanes, but plans for Thursday are to be cemented. “I’m not a huge fan of (practising) three days in a row,” Berube said. “Training camp is different. Probably have an off-day with off-ice stuff (on Thursday). We have a back-to-back out of the gate, so we need energy.” After clashing with the Hurricanes, the Leafs on Sunday will start a four-game trip in Chicago against the Blackhawks, followed by games in Boston, New York (Rangers) and Pittsburgh … With captain Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner at the 4 Nations, and with William Nylander in transit, Berube employed these lines at practice on Tuesday: Tavares between McMann and Nick Robertson; Pontus Holmberg centred Max Pacioretty and Max Domi; and Calle Jarnkrok, who still has some time to go to work his way into the lineup after having groin/sports hernia surgery, between Matthew Knies and Alex Steeves. Only the fourth line of David Kampf between Steven Lorentz and Ryan Reaves had a ring of familiarity. On defence, the usual pairs of Morgan Rielly-Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev and Simon Benoit-Conor Timmins were intact. Philippe Myers and Jani Hakanpaa were the fourth pair … Tavares on Jarnkrok returning to practice: “Awesome. It has been a difficult year with what he was going through, not responding the way he wanted it to and having to go through a ton of rehab. You’re away from the team a lot, and he wasn’t skating for quite a bit. He has worked really hard. Once you join the group, you’re right there. Great to have him out there. He has been an important player for us in many areas over the years.”
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