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.

William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens

Leafs Notebook: Final preseason thoughts, the new fourth line, and five major storylines entering...

Entering the offseason, the Maple Leafs’ needs were not particularly extensive, but they did have some holes and question marks, as every team does. In...
Michael Bunting, Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: Early thoughts on ice-time distribution, the Matt Murray injury, Nick Robertson’s opportunity,...

Through three games this season, Auston Matthews has played over 20 minutes only once. It was only a few seasons ago – in the shortened...
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, Michael Bunting

Leafs Notebook: Michael Bunting’s contract year, Pierre Engvall’s healthy scratch, Wayne Simmonds’ return, and...

Over the last few seasons, Kyle Dubas and his management team have done a good job of navigating some notable pending-UFA contract negotiations by...
Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: Why the questions about this team run deeper than a middling 10...

This isn’t just about 10 games. If nothing else, this reality has to be recognized. Truthfully, Sheldon Keefe set the tone in this respect after the...
Erik Kallgren, John Tavares, Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: The Atlantic Division race through 13 games, Timothy Liljegren’s return, goaltending injuries,...

After two impressive wins over high-end opponents, Leafs Nation can exhale. The Maple Leafs, 13 games into an up-and-down season, currently sit with a...
Toronto Maple Leafs, Sheldon Keefe, Michael Bunting, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner

Leafs Notebook: At the 20% pole, where do the 2022-23 Maple Leafs stack up...

The Maple Leafs are now 16 games into the 2022-23 NHL season, or about 20 percent of the way through the schedule. It’s not enough...
Matt Murray, Mark Giordano, Timothy Liljegren, Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: Nick Robertson’s development, Leafs locking it down defensively, and why 3C is...

The Maple Leafs have a busy week ahead with four games in six days.  A perfect time for an extended notes edition of Leafs Notebook. Notes - ...
Michael Bunting, Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: Pontus Holmberg’s emergence, Rasmus Sandin stepping up, and the Leafs excelling through...

Over the past few seasons, General Manager Kyle Dubas has consistently emphasized the importance of evaluating his team’s response to adversity. Here he was in...
Matt Murray, Mark Giordano, Timothy Liljegren, Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: 29 games into 2022-23, the Leafs are an incrementally improved team —...

Maybe we just have to accept this is how it goes with this Maple Leafs team to start the season: A weak October filled...
Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate, Auston Matthews, John Tavares, William Nylander, Morgan Rielly, Mitch Marner

Leafs Notebook: Why Morgan Rielly remains critical to the team’s Cup chances

When injuries strike, it can open your eyes to all sorts of things. For a chunk of this season, the Leafs were missing three of...
Auston Matthews, Morgan Rielly, William Nylander celebrate a Toronto Maple Leafs goal

Leafs Notebook: Evaluating the state of the team’s bottom six & anticipating Morgan Rielly’s...

Last offseason, the Maple Leafs rightly prioritized goaltending. Unfortunately, it left little in the way of cap space to improve the roster elsewhere.  It certainly...
Pierre Engvall, Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: Could Toronto realistically move Pierre Engvall or Alex Kerfoot in search of...

Last week, I examined whether the Maple Leafs' bottom six, while composed of valuable role players, offers enough scoring punch come playoff time knowing...
Auston Matthews, Morgan Rielly, Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: A position-by-position evaluation at the halfway point

The Maple Leafs have officially reached the halfway point of the 2022-23 season, which makes it as good of a time as any to...
Toronto Maple Leafs, Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Alex Kerfoot

Leafs Notebook: Re-examining the team’s center and defensive depth

In this week’s notebook: Bobby McMann’s potential as an NHL contributor, the Maple Leafs’ reputation defensively, and re-visiting the team’s defensive and center depth...
Kyle Dubas and Brendan Shanahan of the Toronto Maple Leafs

In leaving Kyle Dubas unsigned, Brendan Shanahan is wisely — and quietly — keeping...

In Kyle Dubas’ season-opening press conference, the Maple Leafs GM announced that President Brendan Shanahan told him he would not be receiving an extension...
Kyle Dubas, Toronto Maple Leafs GM

Leafs Notebook: At the top of the Atlantic Division, the 2023 trade deadline is...

Three of the current top six teams in the league by point percentage reside in the Atlantic Division. Between the second-seed Maple Leafs and...
Kyle Dubas, Toronto Maple Leafs GM

Leafs Notebook: Breaking down three possible approaches Kyle Dubas could take at the trade...

Last week, we discussed the high-stakes poker game that is the NHL trade market this deadline. Between the speculated asking prices and a daunting...
David Kampf, Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: How does the Maple Leafs’ bottom six stack up against Boston and...

Last week over at Sportsnet.ca, Justin Bourne published an excellent piece on the Maple Leafs' defensive play, including some of their issues handling opposing...
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, Michael Bunting

Leafs Notebook: The race for home ice, 2023 ice-time trends, Rasmus Sandin’s spot in...

Between the All-star break, the bye week, and a stretch in which four of five Toronto Maple Leafs games are against Columbus and Chicago,...
Ryan O'Reilly, Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: With Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari in the fold, it’s now on...

It is difficult to evaluate much of anything in two games against bottom feeders in a back-to-back situation, with Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari...

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