Dion Phaneuf suspended for two games

It's the first time since November of 2010 that we've even had to ponder the question of what the Maple Leaf blueline will look like without Dion Phaneuf. Alas, Phaneuf has been suspended for two games as a result of his hit from behind on Kevan Miller at the end of Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins. It seemed like a game would suffice given...

Maple Leaf Hangout Episode #21 with special guest Paul Hendrick

Honoured to have Leafs TV's Paul Hendrick join Michael and Michael to talk Leafs.

Dion Phaneuf facing possible suspension for Miller hit

The Maple Leafs haven't experienced a game without Dion Phaneuf since November of 2010. That may change on Wednesday vs. the Los Angeles Kings, as the Leafs' number one defenceman will have a hearing with the league discipline office tomorrow for a hit on Kevan Miller at the end of Sunday night's 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins. It will be a phone hearing,...

Game in 10: Game #31, Bruins 5 at Leafs 2

The opposite of the typical Leaf game from earlier in the season. A decent even-strength performance by the Leafs, but the game was lost on special teams and an uncharacteristic bad goal on the Leaf netminder. The Leafs again played the Bruins pretty even, but can't find a way to beat this team. 1 - An excellent opening period of hockey from the Leafs. Toronto...

Game in 10: Game #30, Leafs 4 at Sens 3 (SO)

A game in Ottawa on a Saturday night. It brought the goals, the chippy-ness, the sloppiness, and the Leaf win we were all expecting. Bizarre stat - this was James Reimer's third 49+-shot win over the Senators in his career. 1 - 58 seconds into the game, Kadri did what he does better than anyone in the league, earning a powerplay for his team. After...

Preview and GDT: Bruins at Maple Leafs (7 p.m., LeafsTV)

The Leafs look to build on a two-game winning streak against a familiar adversary tonight at the ACC. The Bruins enter the game after an emotional, controversial win over the Pittsburgh in which Shawn Thornton pretty much committed assault on Brooks Orpik. Loui Eriksson won’t play due to the after effects of a perfectly clean hit he sustained from Brooks Orpik which led to the aforementioned...

Game Highlights: Leafs/Sens

Preview and GDT: Maple Leafs at Senators (7 p.m., CBC)

The Leafs return to Ottawa for the first time since April 20, 2013, the night of a 4-1 Leafs win that clinched their playoff berth for the first time in 9 years. Good times. And remember this angry drunk Sens fan from the Leafs' 4-0 win over the Senators a few weeks earlier? That was...

Maple Leafs Systems – Neutral Zone & Offensive Zone Forechecking

Unlike a singular rigid structure in the defensive zone, neutral and offensive zone systems fluctuate upon game factors including score, time remaining, and game situation (5v5 or 4v4). They also vary line to line and shift to shift. Varying conditions make it difficult to really pin down one specific system being applied as a core philosophy, while personnel and opposition systems further muddy the...

JM Liles called up, expected to play Saturday

Placing Tyler Bozak on Long Term Injured Reserve freed up the cap space to call up defenceman John Michael Liles on Friday. Trying out someone with his puck moving ability and experience on the backend couldn't hurt based on how the team has been struggling to get out of their zone. Liles has 13 points and is a plus-nine in 16 games in the AHL this...

Leafs and the World Juniors: First Thoughts

Team Canada has effectively named their roster for the World Junior Championships to take place in Malmo Sweden starting on Boxing Day.  Having had a little bit of time to digest their decisions from a Leafs perspective, here are some of my thoughts. No Matt Finn The biggest surprise on Team Canada's roster from a Leafs perspective is Matt Finn's omission.  Finn is an all-situations defenseman whose...

Game in 10: Game #29, Leafs 3 vs. Stars 2

Toronto welcomed the HBO crew with a 3-2 overtime victory at the Air Canada Centre.  They came out with the appropriate amount of desperation and effort for a team that has been stumbling significantly. 1. The Leafs certainly came to play tonight. Maybe it was the HBO presence or an unheralded urgency in response to the squad's recent stretch of dismal outings. It could also...

Preview & GDT: Stars at Maple Leafs (7 p.m., Sportsnet)

The Leafs look to pick up their first win in five games tonight against the Dallas Stars. The Stars are 10th in the west with a 13-9-4 record, but some of below-average teams in the West would probably be good teams in the East. I caught parts of a couple of Stars games this season and this is a fast team. Jerry D’Amigo received his...

Morning Mashup: Stars In Town Tonight

The Leafs dropped their first December contest to extend the losing streak to five games, and six of the last seven. San Jose hurled 41 shots on the net and James Reimer was pretty good yet again, but it was another game where a poor first period meant that the Leafs were playing catchup all night. What really stood out on Tuesday night was the...

The NHL Plans to Grow HRR by $1 Billion in 3 Years

How will it happen & what does it mean for the Toronto Maple Leafs? A. Background In a memo released in September of this year, the Chief Operating Officer of the NHL notified all league employees of initiatives and staff changes to take effect during the 2013-2014 season. In the memo the league identified a plan to increase annual gross national revenue by $1 billion...

Randy Carlyle – November 4

Carlyle touches on: - HBO 24/7 started filming at today's practice. - Tyler Bozak injury status update. - Phil Kessel left practice early with a "tweak." - Joffrey Lupul stormed off the practice rink angrily. - Jerred Smithson waived.

Game in 10: Game #28, Sharks 4 vs. Leafs 2

Two vastly different Maple Leaf teams showed up, but neither were enough to muster W, as the Leafs fell to the San Jose Sharks 4 – 2 Tuesday night.  Ex-Leaf Mike Brown, Joe Thornton, Brad Stuart and Logan Couture tallied for the Sharks, who won their 19th of the season and sixth straight.  Mason Raymond and Phil Kessel replied with power play goals for...

24/7 – Road to the Winter Classic: Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings

HBO hits the ice with the all-new, four part series this winter. 24/7 - Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings Road to the NHL Winter Classic premieres Saturday, December 14th at 10PM on HBO. For the full broadcast schedule, click here. Become more impatient by watching these videos below:

GDT: Sharks at Maple Leafs (7 p.m., Sportsnet)

The Sharks enter this game 18-3-5, and are 9-1-2 against fellow Pacific Division opponents, which is easily the strongest division in the NHL. They enter winners of five straight. This is a dominant team with a deeeeep lineup. How can the Leafs beat them? Well, it begins and ends between the pipes with James Reimer, one would think. The Leafs are shorthanded and are the inferior...

Game Preview: Sharks at Leafs

A struggling Leafs team running into a 18-3-4 opponent can go one of two ways - the bloody Jaws-like scene we’re picturing, or the Leafs sensing the urgency of a fin in the water, rising to the level of competition, and icing a respectable showing. The Sharks are obviously on another level personnel wise; they tick all the boxes required...