Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jonas Hoglund is impressed with how this year’s team is structured under head coach Craig Berube. The Leafs are set to face the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the playoffs, and many expect the fifth instalment of the Battle of Ontario to be highly competitive and intense. Few know what it is like to play in a playoff series between these bitter rivals better than Hoglund, who was on the Leafs through 2000-2002.

During an appearance on Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill on Thursday, Hoglund was asked how the Leafs teams he played on against the Senators compare to this year’s version, and he sees plenty of similarities.

“ I think they play with a little bit more grit than they did in previous years. Berube has them working hard,” Hoglund said. “I think, too, that Berube, he holds them accountable. But he seems to be a player’s coach too. Everybody seems to like to play for him.”

Maple Leafs teams coached by the legendary Pat Quinn were comparable to the type of team that is heading into the 2025 Playoffs. While there are plenty of talented players leading the way, the supporting cast was willing to do it all. Whether it be play physical, make a key defensive stop, or generate a golden chance in the offensive end, there was enough surrounding the stars to guide the Quinn-era Leafs to multiple runs out of the first round.

It certainly helped that they got quality goaltending back then with Curtis Joseph, and later Ed Belfour. This time around the Leafs have a quality tandem in place with Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll, whom they can rotate to either or if one starts to slip. Combine that with a coach whose message seems to be resonating with the players, and the 2024-25 Leafs has the makings of a well-oiled machine ready to go on a run.

“I didn’t know Keefe well enough to say anything about what he’d done the previous years with the Leafs.  But I think that this year, I think they seem to work harder,” Hoglund said. “ They think this seems to work more together than previous years, from what I can see anyway. But [Berube] has a good track record. He’s won before he won with St. Louis, as a coach. So he’s been there, and hopefully this could be the year for him.”

When asked later about his prediction for the series, Hoglund picked the Leafs to win in six games.

There’s no question that this will be a competitive matchup between the provincial rivals that have always seen tensions run high, even when both teams were heading in different directions. Look no further than the circus that emerged after Ridly Greig fired a slapshot into the empty net and was then cross-checked in the neck by Morgan Rielly, who was ultimately given a five-game suspension.

Then again, episodes like that were frequent during the playoff series during the early 2000s so it is clear there is always bound to be some fireworks when the Leafs and Senators square off to begin the fifth chapter.

You can watch the full interview with Hoglund down below: