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Leafs Notebook

Since 2011, Anthony Petrielli has been providing his weekly long-form breakdown of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ games and the big storylines surrounding the team.

Chris Tanev, Maple Leafs vs. Flames

Leafs Notebook: The Chris Tanev acquisition & potential contract and other draft weekend notes

The story of the 2024 draft for the Maple Leafs is just as much about the 2023 draft before it and the 2025 draft...
Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs

Brad Treliving’s $12+ million Offseason Question: Weighing the trade or keep scenarios with Mitch...

The Maple Leafs’ first order of business this offseason was to address the head coaching position. Now that Craig Berube has been hired, the...
Marc Savard, Maple Leafs assistant coach candidate

Leafs Notebook: Marc Savard’s fit as an AC, Kampf, Tavares & Holmberg’s showing at...

Shortly after the Maple Leafs introduced Craig Berube as their new head coach, the Calgary Flames and Marc Savard, who worked with Berube in...
Sheldon Keefe, Jon Cooper, Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: The positives and ultimate failures of the Sheldon Keefe era, and the...

The dust has settled since the Maple Leafs were eliminated from the 2024 playoffs and Sheldon Keefe was subsequently dismissed as head coach. Now,...
Brendan Shanahan, Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs

It’s time for the Maple Leafs to be honest about the flaws in the...

“The challenge here in Toronto is not coming up with the plan. The challenge in Toronto is sticking to it.” Those were Brendan Shanahan’s famous...
John Tavares, Danton Heinen, Maple Leafs vs. Bruins

Leafs Notebook: Series comeback hinges on Toronto’s offensive strengths coming through

After three playoff games, the Maple Leafs are down 2-1 in the series and face some lineup uncertainty around one of their best players,...
Maple Leafs vs. Panthers

Leafs Notebook: Mitch Marner’s usage since his return, PK & PP adjustments ahead of...

Nothing is better than longer spring days with Maple Leafs playoff hockey in the air. In this week's notebook, as we enter the final few...
Sheldon Keefe, Maple Leafs bench

We’re about to find out how committed Sheldon Keefe is to his three-line attack

The final week of the regular season is finally here, and the Maple Leafs have locked themselves into third in the Atlantic Division. We know...
Simon Benoit, Maple Leafs vs. Islanders

Leafs Notebook: The looming playoff lineup decisions on defense

The Maple Leafs have officially clinched a playoff spot and are getting healthy at the right time. Another busy week lies ahead with four...

Leafs Notebook: The recent adjustments on the PK, Pontus Holmberg at center, Ilya Samsonov’s...

A big week for the Maple Leafs starts with a much-anticipated matchup against the Florida Panthers. Earlier today, I examined the issues plaguing the Leafs'...
Sheldon Keefe, Maple Leafs bench

Why did the Maple Leafs’ power play fall off a cliff in March? A...

In February, the Maple Leafs posted the best power-play percentage in the NHL, tying a league record with a 50% success rate. In March,...
David Kampf, Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: David Kampf’s fit, Pontus Holmberg’s future, playoff toughness, sorting out the defense...

Since the NHL All-Star break, the Toronto Maple Leafs are tied with the Dallas Stars for seventh in the league with a .674 points...
Nick Robertson, Maple Leafs vs. Kings

Leafs Notebook: Lineup experimentation, Nick Robertson’s frustration, and special teams adjustments

It was a week light on games for the Maple Leafs, but injuries and illnesses are keeping the lineup in constant flux heading into...
Nick Robertson, Bobby McMann, Maple Leafs

Why the Maple Leafs aren’t “Cup or bust” this spring — and how they’re...

Last week on our podcast and on Kyper and Bourne, I broached the subject of the Maple Leafs not going all-in this season and...
Bobby McMann, Maple Leafs bench

Leafs Notebook: A critical time for Timothy Liljegren, lessons from the losses to Boston,...

The trade deadline is over, the clock sprung forward, the weather is improving, and we are officially in the stretch drive of the season...
Brad Treliving, Leafs GM

Evaluating the moves Brad Treliving did and didn’t make in his first trade deadline...

The trade deadline has come and gone. While it wasn’t earth-shaking, the Maple Leafs took a swing at addressing their two biggest needs: the...
Ryan Reaves, Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: Penalty kill progress, Reaves’ resurgence, Robertson sits, and the needs remaining after...

The Maple Leafs have won nine of their last 10 games with the opportunity to make up more ground in the divisional race with...
Sheldon Keefe, Toronto Maple Leafs bench

Brad Treliving spoke of Sheldon Keefe returning as a “second job.” Now we’re seeing...

Throughout every Maple Leafs season, we discuss so many topics and themes about the team in this space that it behooves me to track...
Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, William Nylander, Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: John Tavares’ buy-in, a credible fourth-line duo, Tyler Bertuzzi’s power-play success, and...

The Maple Leafs are streaking. Earlier today, I broke down some of the big-picture takeaways from their seven-game winning tear with a focus on ice-time...
Sheldon Keefe, Maple Leafs bench

Big-picture takeaways from the Maple Leafs’ seven-game winning streak

The Maple Leafs are on their first seven-game winning streak in 20 years. It is almost hard to believe it's been so long, but stringing...

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