Craig Berube says being a Maple Leaf means everything to Morgan Rielly ahead of uncertain offseason
That may mean Rielly finds himself elsewhere in the league in the coming months, though whether or not he is a Leaf come opening night in October remains to be seen at the time of filing.
“Everything. He’s been here a long time and he loves it here,” Berube said to reporters after the morning skate on Rielly’s future. “I don’t think he can think about being anywhere else, personally. After being drafted here and playing here this long and these many games, he’s been a staple here for a long time. It’d be hard for him to be thinking about not being a Leaf.”
“ Great career. The voice and how he announces the games and has his own style. You go through the guys over the years, those guys all stick out too,” Berube said of Bowen. “ They create their own identity and how they do things and how they call the games. One of the best, one of the greatest. I love him.”
Berube said he is excited to get the forward into the lineup as a reward for a solid season to this point with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.
”He’s got speed and he’s a tenacious player. He’s got some skill, but his speed and tenacity are what drives him more than anything,” he said. “ He had that injury a couple years ago. He’s worked his way back and he’s had a real good season down there and so excited to get him in the game. It’s deserved.”
While those efforts were ultimately in vain for the Leafs this season, Berube is nonetheless appreciative of Knies’ efforts to battle through the pain and be a contributor for the team.
“That’s the grind, right? You’re not always gonna feel great and you gotta find a way to get through it,” he said. “ He’s done that and I’ll give him credit for that because he’s had a pretty good year with the numbers. Goal scoring’s down from last year a little bit, but it’s been a grind for him all year.”