Toronto Maple Leafs News & Opinion

Gaining some perspective on Grabovski and Kulemin’s next contracts

Alex Mamalis | December 5, 2011

Lost but not forgotten in the midst of the Leafs’ first quarter success is a couple of re-signings Brian Burke will have to tackle this off-season. Nikolai Kulemin is in…

Early Season Maple Leafs Awards

Lukas Hardonk | December 4, 2011

We have passed the one-quarter point of the 2011-2012 NHL regular season, which means we now have a good idea of how most players and teams will perform this season. For the Toronto Maple Leafs, certain players have stuck out more than others

Toronto Maple Leafs Profiles: Dion Phaneuf

Lukas Hardonk | December 3, 2011

Dion Phaneuf first began playing at a high level of hockey in 2001 after he was drafted by the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey Leaugue. As a 16-year-old, Phaneuf had a very strong rookie season with the Rebels. He scored just 17 points in 67 games, but he finished the season with a plus-21 rating and a total of 170 penalty minutes

Brian Burke Almost Fought Kevin Lowe

Lukas Hardonk | December 3, 2011

Remember that crazy general manager vs. general manager feud in the National Hockey League that began way back in 2007? Yeah, that one when Kevin Lowe, the general manager of the Edmonton Oilers at the time, signed Anaheim Ducks forward Dustin Penner, a restricted free agent, to a five-year, $21.25 million contract

Toronto Maple Leafs Profiles: Phil Kessel

Lukas Hardonk | December 1, 2011

Phil Kessel’s career really took a huge step forward when he joined the United States National Under-18 Team. He was just as much of a goal scorer and point producer as he is now when he played for the U-18 team. Over two seasons, Kessel, who was 16 when he began playing for the team, scored 32 goals and 58 points over two seasons (44 games).

Joffrey Lupul Named November’s Third Star

Lukas Hardonk | December 1, 2011

After Phil Kessel was named the NHL’s first star for the month for October, the Toronto Maple Leafs were involved in the awards once again. This time, however, it was not the league’s leading point and goal scorer. Rather it was Joffrey Lupul, the second half of what many are calling the league’s most dynamic duo.

Jake Gardiner – a rare find in the NHL rookie class

Paul Bruno | December 1, 2011

Jake Gardiner was the Anaheim Ducks’ first round pick (17th overall) in the 2008 Amateur Draft, but is only now playing in his first NHL season as a 21-year old…

First Quarter Findings…

James Phieffer | November 29, 2011

With all 30 teams having reached the 20 game mark, the unofficial quarter mark of the NHL season, it’s time to take a hard look at the story so far,…

The Angst of Maple Leaf Gardens

Mark Ascione | November 29, 2011

Change is, as most folks will tell you, inevitable. Frankly, the NHL is loaded with change, be it franchises moving cities or introducing new uniforms, changing styles in play, and of…

More Than Just a Face in the Crowd

Jas Faulkner | November 29, 2011

by Jas Faulkner, senior correspondent author’s note: Stick taps to Andrea Lindgren and Phyl Good for catching that Ryan Kesler is actually American by birth (a Canuck by the grace…

Book Review: Stellicktricity

Christopher Ralph | November 29, 2011

Stellicktricity: Stories, Highlights, and Other Hockey Juice from a Life Plugged into the Game by Gord Stellick Check out the THW Book Room for many more hockey book reviews. While…

Maple Leafs’ Gustavsson Beginning to Shine Without Reimer

Lukas Hardonk | November 27, 2011

When sophomore goalie James Reimer went down with an upper-body injury on October 22 in Montreal, just about everyone involved with the Toronto Maple Leafs held their breath. At the time, Reimer appeared to be OK. However, after he was re-evaluated in the dressing room during the first intermission, the decision was made to pull him