“He’s been pretty solid”: Auston Matthews earning Craig Berube’s trust in early Maple Leafs run

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube has wasted no time praising captain Auston Matthews for his early-season form. After a year hampered by injuries and below-par scoring numbers, Matthews looks back to full strength — leading by example and earning his coach’s full trust as Toronto pushes through a demanding start to the season.Berube’s early assessment of Matthews was straightforward but telling: “He’s been pretty solid.” The coach’s confidence reflects the captain’s sharp all-around play through the first five games. Matthews has already recorded four goals and one assist, firing 22 shots while maintaining a +5 rating. His consistency on both ends of the ice has been key to Toronto’s balanced attack.Matthews was given a maintenance day on Friday and skipped team practice, but Berube quickly clarified there was no cause for concern. “It’s just maintenance, managing him,” the coach said. “He’s played a lot of minutes, a lot of games here, so that’s all it is.” Matthews, who skated briefly on his own before practice, continues to handle heavy minutes — averaging 21:46 of ice time per game, the most among Maple Leafs skaters and seventh among all NHL forwards.His workload speaks volumes about how much Berube relies on him. The 28-year-old logged over 22 minutes in Thursday’s 2-1 overtime win against the New York Rangers, where he buried the game-winning goal on a 2-on-1 break with William Nylander. While two of his goals this season have come on empty nets and just one at even strength, Matthews’ presence, puck control, and defensive awareness have stood out just as much as his scoring.Last year, Matthews was slowed by an upper-body injury that forced him to miss 15 games and limited him to 33 goals — a sharp drop from his 69-goal output the season before. Fully healthy now, he looks rejuvenated and in sync with Berube’s system.As the Leafs prepare to host the Seattle Kraken in their fifth game in eight nights, Matthews’ steady leadership will remain vital. His form suggests he’s not just rediscovering his scoring touch; he’s proving himself as the dependable, complete player Craig Berube envisioned when he took over behind the bench.Also Read: Who are Auston Matthews’ parents? Inside the life of Maple Leafs Captain and his family