The Toronto Maple Leafs welcome a familiar foe in the Boston Bruins to Scotiabank Arena on Saturday night, and head coach Craig Berube is excited for the challenge.

Berube spoke to the media after the Leafs’ optional skate, and opened up about one the NHL’s best rivalries.

“The Bruins have played a certain way for a long time. They’re a hard team, and you know it’s going to be a hard game with the Bruins. It always is. They’re physical, they got some size over there on the back end and up front. Like I said, it’s always a challenge with the Bruins.”

The Bruins roster has changed significantly over the course of the last few years, and one player to watch out for Saturday is ex-Maple Leaf first rounder Fraser Minten. Minten was dealt last season along with two draft picks for defenceman Brandon Carlo, and Berube was asked about what stood out in Minten’s game as a Leaf.

“Very mature for his age. Very high IQ, hockey IQ. You know, two-way centerman, really has good instincts with the game. Defensive responsibilities, but has offensive upside. He’s a good player.”

Minten has appeared in 16 games with the Bruins this season, scoring twice and adding three assists.

On the flip side, Berube is happy with where Carlo has taken his game, especially of late, and feels the Maple Leafs’ defenceman is starting to find his groove in blue and white.

“Just being more assertive and aggressive, more than anything,” Berube said of Carlo. “I think, like our whole d-core, just being harder around the net, harder in the corners, more physical, and he’s part of that.”

Speaking of the Maple Leafs’ blueline, Chris Tanev skated on his own ahead of the team’s optional skate.

“Just progressing. Moving in the right direction, first time on the ice,” Berube stated when asked about seeing Tanev’s first time hitting the ice after being stretchered off last week against the Philadelphia Flyers. No timetable has been set for Tanev’s return.

Heading into Saturday night’s contest, the Maple Leafs and Bruins may not be the heated rivalry it once was, but nonetheless, these two teams seem to elevate their games when they faceoff against each other. Something that Berube is looking forward to, as he knows nothing comes easy against Boston.

“Like I said, it’s always a challenge against the Bruins, with, I’d say, the game within the game for me. Yeah, they got talented players, Pastrnak’s over there still, McAvoy, players like that, but, I think it’s more of the identity of the game for me.”