Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discusses his team’s 5-1 win over the WBS Penguins in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final. The Marlies now lead the series 3-2. On Landon Sim’s goal to tie the game at 1-1: He has been a breath of fresh air for us. He brings a lot of […]
The post John Gruden on Easton Cowan bouncing back with a goal and an assist in a Game 5 Marlies victory: “That is what big-time players do” appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
At the 2026 NHL Draft Combine, John Chayka spoke to Ryan Leslie about his takeaways from the combine, his meetings with Ivar Stenberg and Gavin McKenna, his discussions with Auston Matthews, the coaching search, and his first month on the job. What can you share about the discussions and meetings with your staff and also […]
The post John Chayka on his patient process for hiring the Leafs’ next head coach: “It has been a while since the organization has done a full search” appeared first on ...
At the 2026 NHL Draft Combine, Maple Leafs Director of Amateur Scouting Mark Leach discussed the evaluation process, the opportunity to draft 1OA, working under John Chayka, and his thoughts on Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and Chase Reid. How many players have you interviewed over the last week or so? Leach: Well, we take advantage […]
The post Maple Leafs draft czar Mark Leach on whether he dug into Gavin McKenna’s bar fight incident in his combine interview: “I didn’t really dig into that...
“We missed a couple of coverages in front of our own net. They didn’t do anything other than just put pucks to the net, which you do at this time of year, and they got rewarded. “Our guys do a lot of good. We just have to eliminate the catastrophic. If we do that, we’ll […]
The post Backs against the wall, Toronto Marlies face pivotal Game 5 after blowing two-goal lead in Game 4 appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
At the 2026 NHL Draft Combine, GM John Chayka discussed his visits with Gavin McKenna and Ivan Stenberg, his coaching search, Max Domi’s health situation, his meetings with Auston Matthews, the hiring of Freddie Hamilton as Chief of Staff, and much more. What is this experience like for you in anticipation of the first-overall pick? […]
The post John Chayka on his meeting with Auston Matthews: “I saw a happy captain, someone who has a lot of pride in being the captain of the Leafs, someone w...
Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discusses his team’s 4-3 loss to the WBS Penguins in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final. The series is now tied 2-2. On the team conceding three goals in the second period: Their goalie made some really big saves early to keep it at 2-0. They got a […]
The post John Gruden on Easton Cowan’s giveaway costing the Marlies late in Game 4: “It’s not going to define who he is as a Toronto Maple Leaf… He’s a pro and a gamer, and he’ll bounce back” appeared...
“I thought we did a lot of good things. We scored the late goal in the second. I thought we came out really well in the third. We got playing in a four-on-four with these guys, and we missed a check down there. They had a line rush 3-on-2, and they made us pay. They […]
The post William Villeneuve sets franchise playoff points record, Toronto Marlies in need of a response after a frustrating, controversial Game 3 loss appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discusses his team’s 5-3 loss to the WBS Penguins in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final. The Marlies now lead the series 2-1, with Game 4 set for Wednesday in Toronto. On the deciding factors in the result: I thought we did a lot of good things. We […]
The post John Gruden on the officiating in the Marlies’ Game 3 loss to WBS: “They’re trying to protect the goalies, and they should… They said they would start taking one, but it just seems like it’s ...
John Chayka continued to reshape the Maple Leafs’ front office on Monday, hiring Judd Brackett as an AGM (Player Evaluation) and Freddie Hamilton as Chief of Staff. It’s hard to figure out what’s going on with this theme of Leafs managers owning restaurants outside of hockey, but maybe it’s part of why Chayka and Judd […]
The post John Chayka continues reshaping Maple Leafs’ front office, hires Judd Brackett as new AGM appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
“It was one of our better games, I thought. Over 60 minutes, we did a lot of good things. We were better tonight than we were in Game 1. We have to bottle up a lot of what we did there and use it. We have to realize that, at the end of the day, […]
The post Michael Pezzetta comes up clutch again, Toronto Marlies head home with a 2-0 series lead in Eastern Conference Final appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discusses his team’s 2-1 overtime victory over the WBS Penguins in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final. On Michael Pezzetta scoring a game-winner in back-to-back games: If you look at the playoffs for any team that continues to have success, the top lines neutralize themselves, and it is […]
The post John Gruden on the Marlies’ fourth line scoring back-to-back game winners to take a 2-0 series lead: “We have four lines that can all play the game” app...
“I thought we played really well in moments, but we still know how dangerous they are in their transition game. We got a little cute on a few shifts there, but again, it is a bend-don’t-break mentality, and when it matters the most, our group finds a way to show up. This is a best-of-seven, […]
The post Pezzetta scores game-winner, Akhtyamov wins goaltending battle as Toronto Marlies score late goal to stun WBS in Game 1 appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discusses his team’s 4-2 victory over the WBS Penguins in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final. On starting the fourth line (Pezzetta-Johnston-Johnson) to begin the game, and the line coming through with the game-winner in the third period: They’re the heartbeat of our team at times. When we […]
The post John Gruden on the Marlies’ fourth line scoring the winner in Game 1 of the ECF: “They’re the heartbeat of our team at times” appeared first on Maple...
Against all expectations, the Toronto Marlies have bested the rest in the North Division. They did it the hard way, becoming the third team in AHL history to win three winner-take-all games in a single Calder Cup postseason. Now playing with house money, the Marlies’ reward is a matchup with the vaunted Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Regular […]
The post Toronto Marlies vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins: Eastern Conference Finals Series Preview & Schedule appeared first on Maple Leafs Hots...
As we gear up for the NHL Draft, free agency, and the Maple Leafs’ hiring of a new head coach, the Toronto Marlies keep finding ways to win playoff series. It hasn’t always been pretty, but the Marlies are off to the conference finals after winning their third winner-takes-all game this postseason. It’s only positive […]
The post Five Thoughts on the Toronto Marlies’ playoff run: Akhtyamov shines, Danford’s pro debut, Villeneuve’s production, Cowan’s showing & more appeared first on Maple ...
Ahead of the start of the Conference Final series in Wilkes-Barre, Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discussed the challenge of facing the Penguins, the importance of his veteran leaders during the playoff run, and the developmental benefits of postseason experience for the team’s younger prospects. What are the key areas of focus ahead of […]
The post John Gruden on the benefits of the Marlies’ deep playoff run: “These are great moments for Cowan, Chadwick, Danford, Akhtyamov… I can’t ...
“I thought we came out with the right mindset. The resilience of our group — to bend, but not break — is such a credit to our guys, with the way they handle themselves when our backs are against the wall.” – John Gruden “We’re never out of the fight.” – Vinni Lettieri. “We always […]
The post Easton Cowan scores dramatic late winner, Toronto Marlies roar back in final five minutes to clinch series victory in Cleveland appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discusses his team’s series-clinching 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Monsters in Game 5 of the North Division final. On the feelings coming off another winner-takes-all playoff victory: How can you not be excited about what just happened in those last five minutes? I do believe it started from the […]
The post John Gruden after another comeback win punched the Marlies’ ticket to the Conference Final: “I said it between the periods: ‘We bet on you guys i...
“We got our team back. They found their confidence. They found their mojo. And I knew they would. We’ve said it all year and all playoffs long: When their backs are against the wall, it brings out the best in them. I guess that is a good trait to have when your team is on […]
The post Artur Akhtyamov & Ryan Tverberg stay hot, Toronto Marlies force Game 5 with best effort of the series vs. Cleveland appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discusses his team’s 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Monsters in Game 4 of the North Division final. On the team finding a higher level to its play in a do-or-die game, after two straight losses: It definitely hasn’t happened in this series other than the third period of the […]
The post John Gruden on the Marlies bouncing back to force a winner-takes-all Game 5 vs. Cleveland: “We got our team back” appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
“They haven’t seen our best game yet, and that’s on us as a whole group. We have spurts, and we have shifts, but we just can’t string them together right now. It comes down to us wanting it a little bit more and playing more physical.” – Logan Shaw We were on our heels for […]
The post Toronto Marlies face elimination on Friday night after feeble shutout defeat to Cleveland appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
Now serving as the General Manager for Team Canada at the World Championships, Brad Treliving joined TSN Overdrive to discuss John Tavares shifting to the wing in the tournament, Morgan Rielly’s future, and where it went wrong in Toronto in the lead-up to his firing last March. John Tavares has been playing some left-wing in […]
The post Former Leafs GM Brad Treliving on Morgan Rielly’s future: “Who knows what the future holds, but sometimes, a change is good for everybody, right?” appeared ...
about 1 month ago
· 0 reads
After Tuesday’s practice, Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discussed splitting the two road games in Cleveland, areas for improvement for Game 3, Ben Danford’s first two playoff appearances, and the team’s strength in net. Over the first two games of the series, it seemed like there were maybe 25 minutes of playing the way […]
The post John Gruden on Ben Danford’s two playoff appearances for the Marlies: “He is not afraid of the moment” appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
about 1 month ago
· 1 reads
According to Elliotte Friedman, the Toronto Maple Leafs are “legitimately” interested in University of Denver head coach David Carle. Carle, long viewed as one of the best hockey coaches outside of the NHL, has been considered for pro jobs the past couple of offseasons but has remained in Denver. It remains to be seen if […]
The post A deep dive on David Carle amid reports of serious interest from the Maple Leafs appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
about 1 month ago
· 0 reads
“We were watching and didn’t respond very well to [allowing the first goal]. We were shooting ourselves in the foot. We have to be more direct in our first 10 minutes because you could see it coming again. It looked like a very familiar script from the last time we played them. You can only […]
The post Despite more heroics from Artur Akhtyamov, Toronto Marlies slump to Game 2 defeat in Cleveland appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
about 1 month ago
· 0 reads