Craig Berube is already making the Toronto Maple Leafs better

It didn't take long for new Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube to get his players' attention. The highlight of the team's first day of training camp was many skating drills featuring puck battles and physical play.

Numerous Toronto Maple Leafs players commented on the difficulty of the on-ice session, and while it's easy to resort to cliches and assume Berube is a completely different style of coach than Sheldon Keefe, there is no question that Berubve is a demanding presence.

Berube has previously stated his desire for the Maple Leafs to be a difficult team to play against and aggressive on the forecheck. His no-nonsense approach and words like accountability and identity have been discussed plenty since his hiring. Of course, if you've ever watched a hockey team change coaches, you've heard all this before. The words "accountability" and "identity" barely have meaning at this point.

A new coach setting a demanding precedent during his first day on the job is not a novel concept, but it was an important first impression the Leafs new coach made. It's not the only thing Berube has done that should have the players and fans of the team excited.

Craig Berube is already making the Toronto Maple Leafs better

Day one of training camp saw the Leafs performing up-tempo drills competing against one another in small spaces. Day two was similar and featured Max Domi and Simon Benoit, two of the team's more physical players, having a heated altercation.

Berube likely enjoyed the tussle. He wants his team to learn about being uncomfortable, stating, and I'm paraphrasing something about being uncomfortable a lot of times in games and working hard.

Though that quote should be music to the ears of the team's fans, let's not forget that last year with all their stars missing, injured or playing hurt, the Leafs grinded a better team to within one goal of moving on by playing an excellent vesion of "playoff hockey."

Berube understands the need for communication

Berube's experience as a long-time former NHL player and coach also helps entail respect. Plus, he understands the need to communicate with today's modern players. He knows the "my way or the highway" approach will only alienate his team.

One of the biggest stories thus far in camp has been trying star winger William Nylander at center. Based on their discussions with the media, it is something that the player and coach have talked about at length.

Nylander was frustrated that former coach Sheldon Keefe did not give the experiment an extended run last preseason. Berube has expressed the need for time to assess the position move. The Maple Leafs coach also made known the extra responsibilities of playing in the middle.

It was a subtle message to one of his stars. Berube is willing to challenge one of the most gifted players on his roster with added responsibilities. It's a creative idea that could pay huge dividends for the team.

If Nylander proves capable of handling it, the Leafs will have their scoring spread across three lines. Opposing teams would have difficulty with line matchups. Trying Nylander at center shows Berube's willingness to draw even more from his best players.

The first taste of adversity awaits Berube

Berube has provided thoughtful, genuine answers when dealing with the media. It's an added pressure of the job as coach of the Maple Leafs.

The biggest test awaits Berube after the team's first multi-game losing streak. How will he respond to second-guessing his decisions when the Leafs are underperforming? How does he handle disciplining one of his star players?

There is still a lot to navigate before and during the Toronto Maple Leafs regular season, but the team and their fans should be excited by the first impressions of their new head coach.