London

Development Isn’t a Life Sentence

by on October 4, 2010- 150 Comments

It is by no means the end of his career, strictly the next step.

On Monday, Nazem Kadri, 7th overall selection in the 2009 draft, was assigned to the Toronto Marlies. The player in whom a whole city had welcomed, became enamoured with and inked into their own starting lineup will not appear at ACC at all… at least not yet. It will prove to be a powerful lesson for the 19 year old, if not the whole city of Toronto; the Toronto Maple Leafs are about winning hockey games, not necessarily selling tickets.

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Pre-Season Game #3: Leafs vs. Flyers

by on September 23, 2010- 526 Comments

The Leafs face the Flyers tonight in London in what will surely be a physical endeavor. Paul Hendrick over at MapleLeafs.com has the lines for tonight's game:

Forwards

Versteeg-Kadri-Armstrong

Caputi-Brent-Mueller

McKegg-Irwin-Boyce

Rosehill-Hanson-Brown [more…]

Toronto-Pittsburgh: Live Game Blog

by on September 12, 2010- 946 Comments

The following is a live, up to the minute game blog featuring the rookie tournament game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Remember to hit refresh for the latest updates.

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Ottawa-Chicago: Live Game Blog

by on September 12, 2010- 33 Comments

The following is live, up to the minute coverage of today's rookie tournament game between the Ottawa Senators and the Chicago Blackhawks.  Remember to refresh the page to get the latest updates.

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Rookie Tournament: A Look Back, And a Look Ahead

by on September 12, 2010- 109 Comments

After the jump, Derek Harmsworth recaps last night's action in the NHL Rookie tournament, including locker room access, and looks ahead to today's action.

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Penguins-Senators: Live Game Blog

by on September 11, 2010- 78 Comments

The following is live in game, up to the minute coverage of the rookie tournament game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators.  Remember to refresh the page for the latest updates.  Remember also to check out my Twitter for notes and pictures

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Rookie Tournament: Game Day

by on September 11, 2010- 107 Comments

Finally the day many of us have been waiting for has arrived.  The NHL Toronto Maple Leafs rookie tournament kicks off this afternoon in London, Ontario, and for many it's a chance to catch on ice hockey for the first time in quite a while.

Today's action features the Pittsburgh Penguins rookies taking on the Ottawa Senators rookies in afternoon action.  Also on the bill today, the Maple Leafs rookies will play the Chicago Blackhawks rookies in the nightcap.

Here is all you need to know about today's games.

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Rookie Tournament Preview: Leafs Announce Full Roster

by on September 7, 2010- 1,073 Comments

Finally, the moment a lot of us have been waiting for is upon us.  The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Tuesday afternoon the full roster of players who will represent the blue and white at the 2010 rookie tournament, taking place this weekend in London, Ontario.  The event runs from September 11th to the 14th at the John Labatt Centre, and remember Maple Leafs Hot Stove will have wall-to-wall coverage and unprecedented access.

A tap of the pads to Gus Katsaros for providing me the email.

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MLHS Exclusive: Nazem Kadri on Offseason & NHL Expectations

by on September 7, 2010- 135 Comments

Last Wednesday (September 1st), Toronto's MasterCard Centre for Excellence, the Maple Leafs' own practice facility, played host to the 2010 NHLPA Rookie Symposium in association with trading card leaders Upper Deck and Panini America. MLHS' own Gus Katsaros was in attendance, and has kindly provided audio from his own conversation, as well as portions of a larger media scrum Q&A, with Leafs' top prospect Nazem Kadri.

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Rookie Tournament Preview: Who To Watch

by on September 6, 2010- 289 Comments

The Toronto Maple Leafs will host their rookie tournament this year in London, Ontario from September 11th to the 14th, and Maple Leafs Hot Stove will have unprecedented, wall-to-wall coverage of the event.

Join us here for live game blogs, game previews, game reviews, exclusive interviews, and more!  Today, we will look at the top ten Leafs players who will be worth paying extra close attention to at this weekend's event.

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The Ties That Bind

The Ties That Bind

by on September 3, 2010- 499 Comments

During an appearance on London radio's “The Hook” with Norman James last Friday, our conversation at one point took an interesting turn toward the notion of player personality, and how it affects fan perception and the manner in which fans relate to the players.

It's an interesting subject – the trichotomy of fan/player/team identity, and not one the majority of fans spend much time pondering. What is it, beyond star power, that draws fans to feel they have formed certain bonds with specific players they have never met? What is it that keeps others at arms' length? Is it the nature of the players themselves, is it our own as fans, or is it perhaps both?

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MLHS To Have Exclusive Rookie Tournament Coverage

by on August 19, 2010- 39 Comments

The Toronto Maple Leafs 2010 rookie tournament is coming to London, Ontario and Maple Leafs Hot Stove is pleased to announce that we will have exclusive, unprecedented coverage of the event!

Just confirmed earlier tonight, I will be in attendance at the John Labatt Centre for the duration of the tournament, providing up to date news from the rookie tournament for the Toronto Maple Leafs, as well as the other competing teams (Pittsburgh, Ottawa, and Chicago.)

As part of our exclusive coverage, I am pleased to announce that we will have game day previews, game day recaps, live blogs, live tweeting, as well as exclusive interviews with some of the Leafs biggest rookies and prospects. [more…]