The Toronto Maple Leafs entered this season with high expectations following several significant changes, but according to head coach Craig Berube, things haven’t gone as smoothly as hoped.

Over the summer, the Maple Leafs revamped their roster, including reshaping their defense, appointing Auston Matthews as captain, and hiring Craig Berube as head coach. There was a lot of speculation about how Berube’s playing style would impact the team, and he even brought former assistant coach Marc Savard to assist with powerplay strategies.

However, despite all the talent on the Leafs’ special teams, they’ve struggled on the powerplay, going 0-for-9 so far this season. This lack of production is puzzling, especially given the talent on the ice. After Toronto’s 4-2 win against Pittsburgh on Saturday, Berube acknowledged the need for improvement:

“Our powerplay has been stagnant,” Berube stated post-game. “We all know it. We moved some guys around tonight to try and find a spark. I thought it looked better in the third period, and we had some opportunities, but there’s still work to do.”

The word “stagnant” seems to perfectly describe the Maple Leafs’ powerplay, which feels more like a continuation of former coach Sheldon Keefe’s system rather than a fresh approach under Berube. Despite stacking their top line with Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Rielly, and Knies, the results just haven’t come.

One potential adjustment could involve switching from four forwards back to a more traditional two-defensemen setup. Newly signed Oliver Ekman-Larsson, known for his powerplay prowess, could be an interesting option for the first unit. A different look might help alleviate the burden on the Leafs’ superstars and spread the responsibility around, especially in these early stages of the season when experimentation is key.

Though the Leafs have won two in a row, if Berube and his team can’t solve their powerplay struggles, it could be a challenging season ahead, no matter the results.