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 win, Frederik Andersen

Leafs Notebook: A checkup on the North Division, the split-unit power play, Jason Spezza’s...

Leafs Notebook is posted every Monday by noon EST It’s only 12 games in, but we are already over 20 percent of the way through the...
Frederik Andersen, Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Edmonton Oilers

Leafs Notebook: How sustainable is Toronto’s hot start?

Leafs Notebook is posted every Monday by noon EST Every team in the league desires a hot start in a shortened season. Mission accomplished for...
John Tavares returns to the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup

Leafs Notebook: John Tavares stepping up in first month of the season, Justin Holl...

After another early exit for the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, the pitchforks were out and criticism of the team was the loudest we’ve...
Joe Thornton and Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: Early thoughts on the lines, the ice time, and the depth options

We have to start with the obvious here: Boy, is it ever nice to have hockey back. You can tell there was no preseason...
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: Five bold predictions for the 2021 season

Between the long break, the uncertain times we are living in, and the lack of social events in the real world, I am really...
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadiens, preseason, Alex Kerfoot

Toronto Maple Leafs Training Camp Questions, Part 2: The bottom-six makeup, special teams, and...

In Part 1 of my training camp series, we addressed the following questions: Who will flank Auston Matthews (and by process of elimination, Tavares...
Toronto Maple Leafs' Sheldon Keefe

Toronto Maple Leafs Training Camp Questions, Part 1: Auston Matthews’ linemates, Morgan Rielly’s partner,...

Happy New Year, MLHS! It’s a little surreal to say at this point in the calendar, but the NHL is almost back. It will feel...
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Nashville Predators

State of the Toronto Maple Leafs – Position by Position

It’s always best to let the dust settle and reflect a little bit before providing an opinion on this team. It was an emotional...
Toronto Maple Leafs’ John Tavares and William Nylander

10 questions facing the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of the return to play

It is a little strange to be writing the words, “Welcome back,” knowing many of us are anxious about how long this will actually...

How do the Toronto Maple Leafs match up with the Columbus Blue Jackets in...

As we wait for normalcy – and hockey – to return, I have been looking back at the Toronto Maple Leafs' season and ahead...
Sheldon Keefe of the Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs Suspended-Season Thoughts, Part 2: The Coaching Change and the Future in...

A few weeks ago, I covered some Toronto Maple Leafs questions and observations amid the suspension of the 2019-20 season. Since then, more health regulations...

Toronto Maple Leafs Suspended-Season Thoughts: Travis Dermott’s emergence, the battle for third in the...

Let’s start with the really important stuff: I hope everyone is staying safe and taking social distancing seriously. We all have a responsibility to...
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: How much do championship teams load up their top lines with ice...

Over the past few years, fans of this team have been clamouring for the Toronto Maple Leafs to load up their top-line players with...
Toronto Maple Leafs' celebration with Auston Matthews

Leafs Notebook: A 3-0-0 week, five questions for the stretch run, Travis Dermott &...

How quickly things can change. A week ago, it was the trade deadline, the Toronto Maple Leafs had just lost to a 42-year-old emergency backup...
Sheldon Keefe of the Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: Panic in Leafs Nation & final thoughts ahead of the trade deadline

In the span of about five days, the Toronto Maple Leafs played arguably their two worst games of the season with their best game...
Kyle Dubas, Toronto Maple Leafs GM

Leafs Notebook: The imminent Jake Muzzin contract extension, depth issues, and trade deadline plans

As the trade deadline approaches with one eye towards summer free agency, the Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly close on a contract extension for...
Kyle Dubas, Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs Notebook: What’s next for Kyle Dubas?

It was almost inevitable that the Toronto Maple Leafs would acquire a backup goaltender of consequence. With Frederik Andersen injured, the deal with LA...
Toronto Maple Leafs' Kasperi Kapanen

Leafs Notebook: 2020 Trade Deadline Preview

The saying goes that the best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour, so let’s rewind to last year’s trade deadline -- GM Kyle...
Toronto Maple Leafs celebration

Leafs Notebook: What adjustments are opponents making to Keefe’s Leafs? And other thoughts at...

The Toronto Maple Leafs enter their bye week sitting on the outside of a playoff spot. The good news is that they are only...
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings

Leafs Notebook: Morgan Rielly vs. Tyson Barrie on the top power play unit, the...

Let’s set the scene back to the start of the 2019-20 Toronto Maple Leafs season for a second. Coaching and player animosity aside, it is...

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