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.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock

Leafs Notebook: On a middling March and an important final week of the regular...

A big trade for Jake Muzzin set the stage for the Toronto Maple Leafs to ice a reasonable defense. They finally had all of...
Toronto Maple Leafs' Nazem Kadri

Leafs Notebook: On slow starts, Nazem Kadri’s production, the final seven games

The worst period for the Toronto Maple Leafs, by far, is the first period. It’s really as simple as looking at the goal differential: In their...
Toronto Maple Leafs' bench

Leafs Notebook: Lessons from the Tampa game & the Leafs’ record against good teams

Against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night, John Tavares scored a beautiful goal. On a bad line change by the Oilers, Nikita Zaitsev made a...
Trevor Moore of the Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: The middling penalty kill, Trevor Moore’s instant impact, Re-uniting Matthews-Nylander

The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the midst of another strong campaign, currently on track to finish top five in the standings and generally...
Jake Muzzin of the Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: Jake Muzzin’s ice time, trade deadline wrap up, injury bug strikes

Trade deadline day came and went with the Toronto Maple Leafs making one small move that has some minor implications. We will get into those...
Jake Muzzin of the Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: Line shuffling, Jake Muzzin’s immediate impact, Is Patrick Maroon a fit?

Let’s rewind to a year ago. On the day after the Superbowl last season, the Toronto Maple Leafs looked at the standings and found themselves...
New Toronto Maple Leaf Jake Muzzin

Jake Muzzin: The Player, The Trade Value, and The Fit

Well, one day after writing about the Toronto Maple Leafs' need on defense, they went out and actually acquired a legitimately good defenseman in...
Toronto Maple Leafs' Igor Ozhiganov, Morgan Rielly

Leafs Notebook: Evaluating team needs, state of the defense at the All-Star Break

The NHL All-Star weekend is officially over, there are roughly 30 games left for each team, and the NHL trade deadline is under a...
Toronto Maple Leafs' Mike Babcock

Leafs Notebook: Fully-loaded lineup yet to find its groove

First, we start off with some… basketball. Two summers ago in the NBA, the Boston Celtics made waves with a blockbuster summer, trading for star...
Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: Should Mitch Marner’s contract match Auston Matthews’?

After the William Nylander contract was signed, fans barely had time to breathe before the Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner contract talk sparked up. GM...

Leafs Notebook: On matchups, Auston Matthews’ recent play, and other thoughts at the turn...

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you all had a great holiday and maybe even got to catch up on some rest and relaxation. The Toronto...
toronto maple leafs vs. new jersey devils, john tavares and ron hainsey

Leafs Notebook: A Christmas Wish List

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the rink Not a creature was stirring, not even a Nylander contract stink With the holiday season upon...
Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas

Leafs Notebook: What do Kyle Dubas’ past teams tell us about his view on...

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been one of the top-five teams in the league so far this season, currently sitting tied for second in...
Toronto Maple Leafs' bench

Leafs Notebook: Line combo experimentation, Nylander’s return to action, Marlies’ struggles

When it comes to the Toronto Maple Leafs forward group, the combinations have been anything but stable so far this season. Auston Matthews has missed...
William Nylander, Auston Matthews, Jake Gardiner and Patrick Marleau of the Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: On William Nylander’s new contract and the full Leafs lineup

It is finally over. William Nylander's new deal is six years long and totals $41.77 million. Because it was signed in the middle of the...
Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: Leafs excelling with the long change, Auston Matthews’ return, Josh Leivo, Andreas...

Sorry to disappoint, but this isn’t your regularly scheduled William Nylander content. We’re going to move on right to some actual hockey discussion. One Mike...
Toronto Maple Leafs' Kasperi Kapanen

Leafs Notebook: Taking stock at the quarter mark, anticipating Auston Matthews’ return & more

With roughly a quarter of the season now complete and American Thanksgiving upon us (Happy Thanksgiving to our American readers, by the way!), now...
Kasperi Kapanen of the Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: Kasperi Kapanen’s next contract, Power Play Adjustments, Willy Watch

As the Toronto Maple Leafs and William Nylander continue their stalemate and new contracts for Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews loom (and potentially Jake...
Toronto Maple Leafs' John Tavares

Leafs Notebook: What’s behind Toronto’s home vs. road record?

The contrast in the Toronto Maple Leafs record at home versus away is well known – they are 3-5-0 in Toronto and 6-0-0 everywhere...
Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate

Leafs Notebook: Options with Auston Matthews out, Power play Adjustments, Kasperi Kapanen’s hot start

With only two games for the Toronto Maple Leafs this past week, I thought we would get right into the notes this week. I’d also recommend giving...

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