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Alex Drain

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Alex Drain is a sportswriter who joined MLHS to cover the Toronto Maple Leafs in March 2022, writing analysis pieces as well as game reviews. You can follow him on Twitter at @AlexDrain_NHL or contact at alex.drain7@gmail.com.
Jani Hakanpaa, Maple Leafs

Instant Analysis: Maple Leafs sign Jani Hakanpaa to two-year, $1.5 million AAV contract

The Toronto Maple Leafs continued to bulk up their defense by signing veteran defenseman Jani Hakanpää to a two-year, $1.5 million AAV contract. The first...
Matt Murray, Mark Giordano, Timothy Liljegren, Toronto Maple Leafs

Instant Analysis: Maple Leafs bring back Matt Murray on one-year, $875,000 contract

The Toronto Maple Leafs addressed a hole at their third goalie spot by extending Matt Murray on a one-year, $875k contract. Murray missed all of...
Timothy Liljegren, Maple Leafs vs. Flyers

Instant Analysis: Maple Leafs re-sign Timothy Liljegren to two-year, $3 million AAV contract

The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the qualifying offer buzzer on Sunday afternoon and re-signed D Timothy Liljegren to a two-year contract worth an AAV...
Chris Tanev, Maple Leafs FA Target

Instant Analysis: Maple Leafs trade for the rights to Chris Tanev

The Toronto Maple Leafs have made the precursor transaction to their first splash of unrestricted free agency, acquiring the rights to Chris Tanev from...

Victor Johansson drafted 120th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs

With their fourth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, the Maple Leafs have selected 6'1, 143-pound left-shot defenseman Victor Johansson of the Swedish Jr....
Chris Tanev, Maple Leafs FA Target

The Maple Leafs’ Free Agent Defense Search: The 20+ Minute Studs and Intriguing Second-Pair...

It is no secret that Brad Treliving's top priority for the upcoming offseason is building up Toronto's defense. That information has been repeated in countless...
Cam Talbot, LA Kings

The Maple Leafs’ Offseason Goaltending Search: Big-Name Trade Options, Cheap Backups, and the Veteran...

The Toronto Maple Leafs have several roster areas to address in what will be a pivotal offseason for the future of the franchise. One...
Joel Edmundson, Maple Leafs

Staying or Going, Part 2: The Defensemen

After reviewing the forwards and goaltenders in the Maple Leafs’ 2024 FA class last week, we’ve left the defense for last. In case you missed...
Max Domi, Maple Leafs

Staying or Going, Part 1: Max Domi, Tyler Bertuzzi, Ilya Samsonov, Martin Jones, Noah...

We’re just about a month away from the opening of free agency. We’ll soon examine external options that might fill the Maple Leafs' needs in...
Maple Leafs vs. Bruins handshake line

With one playoff series victory eight years into the Matthews era, where do the...

In some ways, the latest Maple Leafs vs. Bruins post-season battle was one of the toughest playoff series to analyze. Before the first game started,...
William Nylander goal celebration, Game 6

Game 6 Analysis: Pressure shifts Boston’s way after Woll, Nylander lead Maple Leafs to...

It was always going to come down to Game 7. Boston and Toronto at the TD Garden one more time.  The Leafs forced Game 7...
Matthew Knies, Maple Leafs vs. Bruins

Game 5 Analysis: Marner, Woll, and Knies keep the series alive for the Maple...

With their backs against the wall and without Auston Matthews, the Toronto Maple Leafs played their best game of the series in Game 5...
David Kampf, Maple Leafs

Game 3 Analysis: Familiar special teams failures doom the Leafs

It's pretty hard to win in the playoffs when you have the worse goalie and are massively outplayed on special teams.  For the second time...
Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs

Game 2 Analysis: Auston Matthews drives the Leafs to victory

In need of a big win to even the series, the Toronto Maple Leafs leaned on the brilliance of their best player and got...
Maple Leafs vs. Bruins, game 1

Game 1 Analysis: The song remains the same in another frustrating loss to Boston

For the second straight year, the Toronto Maple Leafs opened the first round of the playoffs with a near-worst-case scenario.  The Leafs allowed the first...
Ilya Samsonov, Maple Leafs

Game in 10: Maple Leafs’ injury scares, ugly first period make for suboptimal final...

Auston Matthews scored #69, but Maple the Leafs fell 5-4 in overtime to the Red Wings in a game that saw plenty of goals...
Jake Quillan, Maple Leafs

The 411 on new Maple Leafs prospect Jacob Quillan

With the NCAA Hockey season nearing its conclusion, the Maple Leafs snapped up one of the more coveted undrafted free agents in Quinnipiac's Jacob...
Tyler Bertuzzi, Maple Leafs

Game in 10: Maple Leafs turn in an “immature” performance in sloppy loss to...

The Maple Leafs lost 6-3 to New Jersey in arguably their worst defensive performance of calendar 2024. William Nylander and Auston Matthews both tallied for...
Auston Matthews fist bumps Max Domi, Maple Leafs vs. Capitals

Game in 10: Matthews’ five points, Domi’s four assists highlight Maple Leafs’ big offensive...

The Toronto Maple Leafs buried the Washington Capitals in a 7-3 win powered by a dominant effort from the Auston Matthews and Max Domi-led...
Cade Webber, Maple Leafs prospect

Who is Cade Webber? The 411 on the Maple Leafs’ new 6’7 defense prospect

Brad Treliving continued his spree of adding huge defenders by picking up a college prospect, Boston University's Cade Webber. Webber, a fourth-year player for BU,...

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