Photo credit: Screenshot – Maple Leafs Daily

Craig Berube was certainly not amused after being asked a ridiculous question about the Maple Leafs following just two pre-season games.

The Leafs lost their second pre-season game in a row to the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night by a score of 2-1. The game saw Brady Tkachuk deliver a cheap shot to Alex Nylander as well as Pontus Holmberg uncharacteristically dropping the gloves with Ottaws’s Cole Reinhardt. The fight was in response to Holmberg taking out public enemy number one, Ridly Grieg, leaving the Senators’ zone forcing Greig to depart the game for what the Senators called precautionary reasons.

Two pre-season losses certainly is not the idea start for the Leafs, but it’s far from time to panic, as the pre-season has only just begun. That’s why when Berube was asked by a reporter in Ottawa if after two pre-season losses, it was time to press the panic button, he could barely even allow her to finish the question before interjecting and shutting it down.
“No,” said Berube with a smirk and a laugh. “It’s pre-season. It’s pre-season, so… It’s about getting prepared for the regular season. It’s early, it’s the second game. We’re looking at young guys. We’re looking at players. So, you know, that’s what it’s about.”

 

Of all the things to ask after a pre-season game. The reporter could have asked about the play of Anthony Stolarz in his first game as a Leaf, or the save Dennis Hildeby made on Brady Tkachuk – anything but asking about pressing the panic button barely a week into training camp. If the media is pushing the panic button after a pair of pre-season games, the Leafs and Craig Berube are in for a very, very long season.