It looks as if the Maple Leafs’ troubles are back and coach Craig Berube put it squarely on the shoulders of his team’s leaders to end this skid before the 2025-26 season ends up in the ditch.

“Our leaders have got to take control of it a lot more than we are right now,” Berube said after the Edmonton Oilers skated off with a 6-3 laugher over the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday night.

“To me, it’s all a mindset. Whether you’re down a goal or up in the San Jose game (on Thursday), we’ve got to have more urgency and be more direct on how we want to play. We didn’t do it in the third period two games in a row.”

Usually the team’s leaders speak to the media after a loss, and though both captain Auston Matthews and alternate John Tavares were requested, neither appeared.

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