Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube is having a great time being the bench boss of one of the NHL’s most popular teams.

A week out from the trade deadline, he has his new team in prime position to clinch their first proper division title since 2000. The new style he has been preaching has slowly started to click for everyone on the roster. It has resulted in a sense of belief among the players that they have a chance to win every single night with a style that ideally will bring them better results in the playoffs.

Berube appeared on Real Kyper and Bourne with Nick Kypreos and Gord Stellick on Wednesday, where he talked about how much he has enjoyed his time as the Leafs coach so far.

“For me, it’s been great. I’ve loved every minute of it,” he said. First,  working the organization with the people I work with,- Brad and Shanny and all the guys – everybody in the organization has been great. It’s  a first-class organization as you guys know, they take care of everybody and they really do a nice job there.  The whole staff that I get to work with: the coaching staff, the training staff, everybody that I work with on a daily basis is great. Really enjoyed them.”

The idea that the Leafs are viewed as a first-class organization from an operations standpoint seems to have been a common occurrence since Brendan Shanahan took over as team president in 2014. Fans may forget that it wasn’t that long ago that the team was a dysfunctional mess with a lack of direction and being stuck in mediocrity.

While the team has yet to experience playoff success in this modern era, it remains apparent that the Leafs organization in its current form is a desirable destination for people in the NHL to want to work. It says a lot when Berube speaks highly of the Leafs when he had previous coaching stops in other renowned clubs, the St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia Flyers.

One question heading into the season was regarding what the relationship would be between him and the players. He said during his radio appearance that it was just what the doctor ordered getting to coach that group.

“ This team was a breath of fresh air for me to come in and see how hard they work and how hard they compete every day and just their preparation,” he said. “ They are first class, in my opinion.  The practices have been excellent and they’ve done a really nice job. They’re great to work with the players and I really enjoyed it. Overall Toronto itself – the fans and the media and everything – it’s been awesome for me.”

The appointment of Berube has been a good fit for both parties up to this point. He is enjoying his time in Toronto and all that has come with it, the players are buying into what he is preaching, and the rest of the organization is aligned with the direction the team needs to go in to have success. More importantly, the team has played well and the fans are overall satisfied with where things are at heading into the stretch run.

Of course, things will be truly evaluated in the playoffs and how the roster is constructed beyond the trade deadline. For the time being, everyone is feeling good, none more so than Berube.