Mitch Marner, Craig Berube in chatty mood as rumours of shakeup swirl

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The first recorded sighting of Mitch Marner and new Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube was for a cup of coffee. 

Whether they stay together longer than the old NHL expression for a quick visit to the big leagues is still to be ironed out by others of influence, Marner’s representatives and Berube’s boss Brad Treliving. But a post on X Monday of the two having a morning brew, snapped by a fan who sighted them at an Etobicoke restaurant, is a reminder there’s no imminent divorce, contrary to public opinion.  

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Marner was wearing a Jays ballcap, one of the subtleties often underlining his love for his hometown, where the Marner Assist Foundation has such a large footprint. Marner’s agent Darren Ferris did not immediately respond to a message asking about the meeting’s significance.  

A week ago, Berube said just about every Leaf had contacted him upon being named Sheldon Keefe’s replacement. At the time, Treliving stick-handled around the question of whether Marner, with one year remaining on his deal and now a month before the Leafs can start talking about any future pact, saying only “we’ll see” as his coaching search had been the priority. 

The crux of the matter is Marner’s $10.9-million US salary looks hard-pressed to be raised dramatically by the club when playoff impact is factored in and the Leafs have already increased the salaries of Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly. The Leafs are still paying aging captain John Tavares $11 million for one more season. Freeing up Marner’s money through a trade has obvious benefits for Treliving, who could spend it on a goaltender if he plans to upgrade on free-agent Ilya Samsonov or a puck-moving defenceman.    

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Marner controls his fate with a no-move clause, but faces the prospect of a difficult season if the Leafs drag their feet on a new deal or he doesn’t hit it off with Berube, who won’t likely indulge him or anyone else.  

But beyond Marner’s contract, Berube has vowed to make a connection with all of his new players before and during training camp, which would ease any change in roles he foresees during the season and especially at playoff time. It’s likely Berube will have a chat with many Leafs who live in the Toronto area in the coming days. 

“I’m excited to work with him,” Tavares, the team’s captain, told media earlier this month at the world hockey championship in Czechia, where he was playing for Team Canada, “just about the excitement of bringing him in and how he can help our group. That process has already begun.” 

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ONE HAPPY KAMPFER 

At least one Leaf ended the season with a cup celebration. 

Centre David Kampf was a huge part of the Czechia’s gold medal win over Switzerland on Sunday, a force throughout the event played in Prague and Ostrava. In his second world tournament, Kampf had the empty-netter to seal Sunday’s 2-0 final and finished tied for second with a plus-9 (with nine points).  

Kampf raced around the ice after his goal and joined the manic group hug at the bench. At Monday’s celebration in the main square in Prague, with the players all singing and holding mugs of local beer, it appeared the title trophy had been manhandled and broken, though in anticipation of such antics the real one is often quickly exchanged for a replica by the International Ice Hockey Federation. 

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After his own good performance, which he hopes sets the table for next season and perhaps inclusion in future national events, Tavares and friends, who absorbed a shootout loss to the Swiss in the semifinal, were beaten 4-2 in the bronze match by Sweden. Tavares had 11 points in nine games. Sunday’s result did give his Leaf teammate Pontus Holmberg a medal. 

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MAURICE MOCKS TROUBA FINE 

A $5,000 US fine is a drop in the bucket for Jacob Trouba, but it did get the New York Rangers defenceman a front-row seat to be heckled at the Paul Maurice comedy club. 

The glib coach of the Florida Panthers was reacting to the NHL troubling Trouba with the “maximum” financial penalty under the collective bargaining agreement after a Game 3 elbow that clipped Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues as he drove the net. As Rodriguez was down and being attended to by medical staff, the initial call of a major was reviewed and downgraded to a minor.  

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The NHL’s department of player safety, in accordance with officials who let more roughhousing go in playoffs, elected the token $5,000 . 

“Take the hat, pass it around,” a smiling Maurice told reporters in Florida on Monday when asked for a comment. “Poor lad, poor Jake. He won’t be able to eat.” 

Maurice added Rodrigues should be fine for Game 4. 

ICE CHIPS

Maurice on his team dealing with an overtime home loss psychologically: “Leadership is spread across the whole group. Our trainers come in every day in a good mood and why wouldn’t they? They’re a great bunch of guys and if we win or lose, it shouldn’t be on their faces. Then we’re ready to roll.” …  Dean Evason, let go earlier this year in Minnesota, has joined the list of candidates for the coaching vacancy in Seattle. …  Ahead of Scott Arniel officially taking the job in Winnipeg on Monday, the club let go assistant Brad Lauer. … It has been a while, but after clearing NHL waivers on Monday, Columbus forward Brendan Gaunce has the green light to rejoin the Cleveland Monsters for the American Hockey League’s Eastern Conference final starting this week against Hershey. … It was 49 years ago Monday when the Philadelphia Flyers became the last Stanley Cup winners with a roster entirely composed of Canadian-born players and staff. 

Lhornby@postmedia.com 

X: @sunhornby

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