Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discusses his team’s series-clinching 3-2 victory over the Laval Rocket in Game 5. On his team coming from behind twice in the game: I could sense, with the way the game felt and the way it was going, there were some moments when we were taking it over. Even […]
The post John Gruden on the Marlies advancing to the third round after a third-period comeback in Laval: “I knew we were going to get the next one and the one after that” appeared first on Maple...
With the NHL Draft Lottery coming and going with some boons to the Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks, attention among Devils fans turned to what the team should do with their first-round pick. Thankfully, the Devils did not drop in position as a result of the Lottery since both the Leafs and Sharks […]
The Toronto Maple Leafs have won the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery, securing the right to draft first overall in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. In one moment, all the vibes around a franchise in turmoil changed on Tuesday night as the Maple Leafs struck gold with just an 8.5% probability. For a franchise that was […]
The post How the first-overall pick changes the Toronto Maple Leafs’ big picture appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
The Leafs could make some news and do Gavin McKenna a favour by taking the spotlight off of him.
Expect to see some goaltenders changing teams this summer. The NHL's trade market is expected to be as active as ever, as the salary cap has gone up almost $9 million, and several teams have some big decisions to make when it comes to their crease. There's also several free-agent netminders, who won't be welcomed back to their current clubs, so expect to see some teams let their goaltender walk for nothing. Here's three goaltenders who are changing teams this summer: Stuart Skinner The Pittsbu...
The Toronto Maple Leafs have the first overall pick at next month's draft, and defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson is going to do whatever he can to make an impression on teammate Ivar Stenberg at the World Championships coming up in Switzerland. Stenberg is battling it out with Gavin McKenna for the top prospect spot heading into the draft, and many insiders around the league have split down the middle on who they'd draft. Many feel Stenberg is more mature on and off the ice and more of a complet...
The Edmonton Oilers’ goaltending question is still running rampant, and the limited free agent class does not help their situation. Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin identified over a dozen goaltenders who could become available this off-season. He broke the netminders down into four tiers based on their appeal for teams like the Oilers who are seeking…
After the Maple Leafs’ 2025-26 season concluded, Auston Matthews made the following statement about the highly disappointing campaign: This was a tough year and a frustrating year. We didn’t meet the goals or expectations we set out at the start. Ultimately, that is on me. That is on us as players. We’re the ones who […]
The post With Chayka hired and the first-overall pick secured, all the attention turns to Matthews and Berube’s futures appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
John Chayka hasn't been on the top for a week yet and already there's been plenty of speculation on what's going on behind the curtains of the Toronto Maple Leafs' front office. From a cringe-worthy press conference thanks to Keith Pelley and Steve Simmons, to winning the NHL Draft Lottery and adding Gavin McKenna to your group, the Leafs narrative has changed 50 different times this week, and that doesn't even include Auston Matthews potentially demanding a trade. As far as their defence goes...
The Toronto Maple Leafs need to figure out if Auston Matthews does want to return. There's been a lot of conflicting reports coming out of Toronto lately, and thanks to TSN's Chris Johnston, Leafs Nation is spinning wondering if Johnston's report is actually accurate, when he stated that Matthews was pondering his future in Toronto. Besides Johnston's report, there's been no other indication that Matthews doesn't want to be the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs. John Chayka was brought on the...
The Toronto Maple Leafs shocked the hockey world Tuesday night by winning the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery despite entering with the fifth-best odds, and the conversation that followed immediately turned to one question: would they trade the first overall pick?
Elliotte Friedman offered an answer by way of a history lesson on the latest episode of 32 Thoughts .
The most instructive example, he said, came from the 2013 draft, when the Calgary Flames made what amounted to a franchise-altering offe...
Thursday afternoon means a fresh episode of Real Life was recorded and edited, and it’s ready to help you wrap up the week. On today’s podcast, the guys discussed what comes next for the Edmonton Oilers, Evan Bouchard’s Norris Trophy snub, the Leafs winning the NHL Draft Lottery, and much more. The guys kicked off…
Two of the first big items on new Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka's checklist are figuring out what to do with head coach Craig Berube, and getting a feel from captain Auston Matthews on what he has in mind for his future. Insider Pierre LeBrun told the gang on TSN Overdrive on Thursday that meetings are now in motion with both of those key figures. First up, a tete-a-tete with Berube. Pierre LeBrun on OverDrive on John Chayka and Craig Berube meeting this week pic.twitter.com/xRz6hYV...
Matthews Knies was selected 57th overall in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs . He made his debut on Apr. 10th, 2023, against the Florida Panthers . The Maple Leafs still had a competitive roster built by general manager Kyle Dubas, then, and defeated the Panthers 2-1. Knies wouldn't contribute to the scoresheet, but played 18 shifts and 13:09 time on ice. Three years later, and he's developed into a two-way, top-six forward who scored 66 poin...
With the NHL Draft Lottery bringing some shocking results this week, it sure sounds like we are in store for some major trades next month in Buffalo. The Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks shot up the draft board, with the Leafs winning the first overall pick, and the Sharks, once again, sitting in the second hole. Both teams are looking to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs next season, and there's certainly already been a ton of potential trades discussed throughout the hockey world. On Thur...
The Toronto Maple Leafs have had themselves quite the week. From a cringe-worthy press conference, to Auston Matthews wanting out, to then winning the NHL Draft Lottery, Leafs Nation has been through the ringer this week. While TSN's Chris Johnston has been the only one to report the fact Matthews is 'unsure' if he'll return to the Maple Leafs next season, it turns out some other reporters have been able to track down a completely different narrative. According to David Pagnotta, who was co-ho...
The yet-unnamed PWHL Detroit franchise will be the league's ninth team and will begin play next season, continuing league expansion.
With playoffs in progress for some leagues and ending for other leagues, this is clearly one of the busiest times of the year in the hockey world. The NHL Draft Lottery just saw Toronto claim the top pick, there was a new expansion team announced in the PWHL, there will be a new name and logo for the AHL team in Hamilton announced soon, and there are stories from around the globe that should be examined. I'm not doing any of that tonight, though, because my life has been busy enough with the i...
In the latest MLHS Podcast, Nick Ashbourne, Anthony Petrielli, and (for the first half) Alec Brownscombe discuss the Maple Leafs’ lottery windfall, what it changes for the Leafs moving forward, the player debate at #1 overall, the hiring of John Chayka and Mats Sundin, and much more. Episode Topics Initial reactions to the draft lottery […]
The post Chayka-Sundin era starts with a draft lottery miracle – MLHS Podcast Ep. 119 appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
“They flipped the script on us. They’re a really good team. The close-out one is the hardest. They got to their game early and got that early goal. They got some life. We never recovered from that. We just seemed flat. I’ll look into a couple of things, but we didn’t have our energy… We […]
The post Winner-takes-all Game 5 required after Toronto Marlies fall flat in shutout loss to Laval appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
Maple Leafs GM John Chayka joined TSN Overdrive to discuss the draft lottery win, the process of deciding on a first-overall selection, the report of uncertainty on Auston Matthews’ behalf about returning in the Fall, and whether he believes the team can contend next season. Take us through your viewing experience of the draft lottery. […]
The post John Chayka on the resources available to him as Leafs GM: “The directive from Edward Rogers to me is to do whatever it takes to win a Stanley Cu...
On Tuesday morning, Auston Matthews’ future in Toronto was reported as uncertain, and later that night, those may have been quelled. The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery had the Toronto Maple Leafs jump from fifth best odds, to the sweepstakes winners as they were awarded the first overall selection in this year’s draft. THE TORONTO MAPLE…
Sounds like the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs were discussing some big trade proposals ahead of March's trade deadline. Multiple reports have surfaced that the Oilers and Maple Leafs were engaged in advanced trade talks leading up to the trade deadline, centered around Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse, and Scott Laughton and Morgan Rielly of the Maple Leafs. It didn't get to the point of Rielly and Nurse being asked to waive their no-movement clauses, but sources have indicated the Oi...
With free agency on the horizon, teams are building their postseason plans. News of Auston Matthews' noncommittal statement to the Toronto Maple Leafs organization has caused an uproar in the media. Statements like his yesterday should give pause to general manager John Chayka, as he will have to contend with a potentially disgruntled superstar in Matthews and figure out where to go next. With not even so much as their yearly first-round exit, the Maple Leafs will have...
Based on their woeful finish at the bottom of the standings this season, the Vancouver Canucks were the heavy favorites to land the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft Lottery. But it wasn't to be, as the Canucks dropped to No.3 while the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Lottery Tuesday night and the right to select No. 1. That selection is expected to be the long-favored top pick, Gavin McKenna. But on The Fan Hockey Show on Sportsnet today, analyst Mike Futa proposed a wild offer that new Leafs GM John C...