» Mitch Marner UFA power rankings: Who needs him, what's funniest and where does he land?
25/06/25 13:11 from Down Goes Brown
We’re less than a week away from free agency, and the big name is Mitch Marner. You may have heard about it. It’s been kind of a thing . And as you’d expect, several teams have emerged as potential destinations, while others are likely h...

» Longevity vs. peak: The Hockey Hall of Fame debate, and 5 players who define it
23/06/25 12:36 from Down Goes Brown
What kind of Hall-of-Fame fan are you? With the HHOF committee meeting tomorrow to pick the class of 2025, and a stellar crop of first-time candidates added to some impressive holdovers, it’s time to have the Hall debate. After all, half...

» What your favorite UFA is up to right now, some Canadian pride, and more: Grab Bag
20/06/25 14:56 from Down Goes Brown
We’re just days away from free agency. Do you know what your favorite pending UFA is up to right now? My spies have been busy finding out, and reported back with this list of what a dozen of the biggest names on our UFA board are focused...

» Who says no to these trades (involving things that cannot actually be traded)?
11/06/25 13:10 from Down Goes Brown
In the NHL, you can’t trade coaches. There was a time when you could, and it happened back in 1987, when Rangers’ GM Phil Esposito sent a first-round pick to Quebec for head coach Michel Bergeron in a surprise swap . It was a creative mo...

» The road to the Stanley Cup Final: Ranking the 14 playoff series that got us here
09/06/25 16:26 from Down Goes Brown
We’re two games into a Stanley Cup final that already seems like it could be headed for classic status. But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s take a moment to look back at the 14 other matchups that brought us here, with ou...

» I want your trade proposals (involving things that cannot be traded)
08/06/25 02:47 from Down Goes Brown
We all love a good “Who says no?” trade column. Readers send in their proposals, and writers figure out which ones makes sense, and which teams would or wouldn’t be interested. It’s a great gimmick, which is why you see it show up so oft...

» The Mitch Marner UFA villainy rankings: Which destination would hurt Leaf fans most?
06/06/25 13:13 from Down Goes Brown
Mitch Marner’s run as a Maple Leafs is all but over, with all signs pointing to his departure as an unrestricted free agent on July 1. That reality raises all sorts of questions, including how it came to this, whether a breakup is really...

» Oilers or Panthers (again)? An updated rooting guide for 30 other NHL fan bases
04/06/25 13:09 from Down Goes Brown
I can’t speak for every hockey fan, but one of the reasons I enjoy this time of year in part is that there’s a pleasant sense of familiarity. The postseason story is winding its way to a conclusion, hitting most of the usual beats along ...

» Canada vs. USA: Two fans forced to watch each country’s worst 2025 NHL playoff ads
03/06/25 14:00 from Down Goes Brown
Every year, there's one post that more people ask me about than any other. Which is weird, because it has next to nothing to do with hockey. That would be this post, of course -- the annual "bad ads" piece, in which two Seans from differ...

» The Lightning are a lock to go deep, and other lessons from the prediction contest
30/05/25 13:33 from Down Goes Brown
And then there were two. And soon, just one winner. No, this isn’t a Stanley Cup preview post that accidentally ran a few days early. It’s an update on the annual playoff prediction contest, which is already over for almost all of you. W...

» Which bad Canadian ads should I make Other Sean watch?
29/05/25 15:09 from Down Goes Brown
It’s almost time for one of my favorite annual traditions: The exchange of terrible playoff commercials between a Canadian (me) and an American (other Sean). But which ads should I force him to watch? The field is crowded this year, so I...

» Auston Matthews and Connor Hellebuyck lead the 2025 NHL playoffs all-bust team
28/05/25 13:15 from Down Goes Brown
We’re well into the conference finals, having now witnessed over a month’s worth of playoff performances. For some fans, now would be the time to celebrate the best of the best, and spend some time admiring the players who’ve elevated th...

» Which NHL team should win the 2025 Conned Smythe for worst trade with a contender?
26/05/25 13:14 from Down Goes Brown
With the conference finals well underway and the Stanley Cup final looming, it’s time to focus in on the top candidates for the game’s most important playoff award: The Conned Smythe. Yes, that’s “Conned” and not “Conn”. We all know abou...

» Playing "What if?" with 6 key Maple Leaf decisions from the Brendan Shanahan era
23/05/25 13:07 from Down Goes Brown
It’s over. The Brendan Shanahan era is all but done, Mitch Marner is all but gone, and big changes seem imminent in Toronto. The Maple Leafs, or at least this version of them, have failed. Did it have to be this way? That’s the big quest...

» DGB "Leafs Lose" mailbag: Thoughts on Shanahan, Marner, hope, and all those boos
21/05/25 12:53 from Down Goes Brown
It’s the middle of May, which means that the Toronto Maple Leafs have lost. It took a little longer this time, with this team going deep into the second round, but the ending was the same: An absolutely brutal no-show , fans and media pl...

» It's "Leafs Lose" mailbag time
19/05/25 02:09 from Down Goes Brown
Hey folks... It's an annual tradition like no other: The Leafs are out, so we're doing a mailbag. Have a question? Want to propose a trade? Just need to vent? Whatever it is, send your questions, comments and rants via email at dgbmailba...

» Ranking the 16 possible Stanley Cup final matchups, based purely on narratives
14/05/25 13:00 from Down Goes Brown
Once the first round of playoffs was over, we could say goodbye to eight teams. And more importantly for our purposes today, we could also say goodbye to 48 potential Stanley Cup finals. Sorry, anyone hoping for Blues vs. Canadiens in a ...

» The right and mostly wrong (but maybe right?) of my Oddly Specific Predictions
12/05/25 17:11 from Down Goes Brown
Every year, just as the regular season is set to begin, I make Oddly Specific predictions for each NHL team. It’s one of my very favorite columns to write each year. And then in the spring, I have to see if I actually got any right. That...

» One-way offside? Free range faceoffs? NHL Rules Court is back in session
08/05/25 13:02 from Down Goes Brown
Welcome to Rules Court, the feature where you send in your proposals for NHL rule changes and three of us vote on them. Convince at least two of us, and your rule is passed. This is, by my count, the ninth edition of this feature. Over t...

» Five games that changed the outcome of the 2025 draft lottery
07/05/25 12:32 from Down Goes Brown
Did you enjoy this year’s draft lottery? I did. I thought the new format for the broadcast, which featured the full draw happening live, was a major improvement. As much as I like to complain about the lottery, and occasionally suggest a...

» Greatest revenge games in sports, from Mikko Rantanen’s Game 7 to Brett Favre to Luka Dončić
07/05/25 00:16 from Down Goes Brown
We love a good revenge game, don’t we folks? It’s an irresistible sports trope. A player leaves a team under murky circumstances — maybe against their will or maybe there’s a footprint on their back as they head out the door — then, inev...

» Draft lottery power rankings: Who needs it, who deserves it, who might trade it?
05/05/25 12:47 from Down Goes Brown
It’s now been ten years since I wrote a column that lives in infamy. Back then, while working for a site called Grantland, I decided it would be fun to write a power rankings-style column about the upcoming NHL draft lottery. There was a...

» How the Maple Leafs set themselves up for the division title, and the question marks remaining ahead of the playoffs — Leafs Notebook
14/04/25 19:15 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
With two games remaining, the Maple Leafs are one point away from clinching first place in the Atlantic Division. The regular-season division title is a goal we’ve discussed for years in this space, and it has always been met with mixed ...

» Game in 10: Joseph Woll carries Leafs through slow start, new-look middle-six leads the way offensively in 4-1 win over Carolina
14/04/25 02:06 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
Despite a shaky start, the Maple Leafs grabbed the lead and locked this game down in the final two periods, pushing the team one step closer to an Atlantic Division title with a 4-1 win in Carolina. Put simply, this was just a really sol...

» Craig Berube on the challenge of picking a playoff starter in the Leafs’ net: “I don’t know if it is a challenge… It’s a good thing that we have two guys capable of doing the job”
14/04/25 01:15 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
Craig Berube addressed the media after the Maple Leafs’ 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, which improved the team’s record to 50-26-4. On the team’s performance after a slow start to the game:  We weathered the stor...

» Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Carolina Hurricanes – Game #80 Preview, Projected Lines & TV Broadcast Info
13/04/25 20:50 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
The Maple Leafs have an opportunity to clinch the Atlantic Division title with a result in Carolina plus a little help elsewhere, but it starts with earning at least a point in a tired situation vs. the best home team in the Eastern Conf...

» Power play connects for three goals, Toronto Marlies finally solve Cleveland in important victory for the playoff cause
13/04/25 16:55 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
“Our power play was outstanding, our PK was outstanding, and Dennis [Hildeby] made some really big saves in a timely fashion. I’m proud of them. We’ve got to drive back (to Toronto) and do the exact same thing.” – John Gruden...

» Craig Berube on the Leafs’ OT win over Montreal: “We helped our (five) defensemen out… We didn’t spend much time in our defensive zone, and there was nothing off the rush”
13/04/25 03:20 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
Craig Berube addressed the media after the Maple Leafs’ 1-0 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens, which improved the team’s record to 49-26-4 and increased their lead in the Atlantic Division to four points with three gam...

» Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens – Game #79 Preview, Projected Lines & TV Broadcast Info
12/04/25 21:15 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
The Maple Leafs will need to overcome playing a defenseman short as they hope to inch themselves two points closer to an Atlantic Division regular-season title when they close out the season series on HNIC against the Canadiens (7:00 p.m...

» Craig Berube on the final Leafs vs. Habs matchup of the season: “I know they played last night, but throw it out the window… It is not going to matter”
12/04/25 17:45 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
Ahead of Saturday’s game, head coach Craig Berube discussed managing a game with only five defensemen, William Nylander’s recent ice time, Simon Benoit elevating his game down the stretch, and the final Leafs vs. Habs rivalry...

» Maple Leafs in the driver’s seat in the Atlantic Division race, and the potential playoff lineup — MLHS Podcast Ep. 89
11/04/25 17:19 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
In the latest MLHS Podcast, Nick Ashbourne and Anthony Petrielli discuss the Maple Leafs’ trip through Florida, how they match up vs. the Panthers and Lightning stylistically, and the Leafs’ potential playoff lineup. Maple Le...

» Craig Berube on the Leafs playing with five defensemen vs. Montreal on Saturday: “Our forwards need to help our D…  Not spending extended shifts in the defensive zone and tiring the D out will be a big part of the game”
11/04/25 17:18 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
After Friday’s practice, head coach Craig Berube discussed the injury status of Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jake McCabe, Jani Hakanpaa, and Max Pacioretty, shifting Calle Jarnkrok back onto the Tavares-Nylander line, and the challenge ag...

» Jani Hakanpaa on his progress toward a potential playoff return with the Maple Leafs: “We’ve been making some good improvements and slowly working our way toward playing again… Hopefully, we’ll get there”
11/04/25 16:52 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
After Friday’s practice, Jani Hakanpaa discussed his progress toward potentially suiting up again for NHL game action and the experience of spending most of the 2024-25 season rehabbing/ practicing instead of playing games. How are...

» Game in 10: Matthew Knies puts on statement performance in Maple Leafs’ huge win over Tampa
10/04/25 05:15 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
In one of the biggest regular-season games in recent memory for this core, the Toronto Maple Leafs won a tight 4-3 overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.  Looking to rebound after a dreadful effort last night against the Florida ...

» Anthony Petrielli joins Sportsnet’s Leafs Talk to break down the Maple Leafs’ big OT win over Tampa
10/04/25 02:54 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
MLHS’ Anthony Petrielli joins JD Bunkis on Sportsnet’s post-game Leafs Talk show to digest the Maple Leafs’ 4-3 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The post Anthony Petrielli joins Sportsnet’s Leafs Talk to break down the Maple Le...

» Jon Cooper on the Lightning going 0-3-1 vs. the Leafs this season: “If they win the division, they deserve to because they swept us this year”
10/04/25 02:30 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
Lightning head coach Jon Cooper discussed his team’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Maple Leafs, who swept the 2024-25 regular-season series against Tampa.  On the message to the team after the 2-0 deficit inside the first three minutes:...

» Craig Berube on Matthew Knies’ hat trick in a big OT win over Tampa: “His competitiveness is really, really high-end… He skates through people all night”
10/04/25 02:26 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
Craig Berube addressed the media after the Maple Leafs’ 4-3 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, which improved the team’s record to 48-26-4 and increased their lead in the Atlantic Division to three points with four ga...

» Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning – Game #78 Preview, Projected Lines & TV Broadcast Info
09/04/25 22:17 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
The Maple Leafs are looking to complete the season-series sweep against the Tampa Bay Lightning (two points behind, same games played) in a big four-point game that will go a long way in deciding the coming-down-to-the-wire Atlantic Divi...

» Jon Cooper on the Lightning losing the first three games of the season series to the Leafs: “When you drive your car, do you look in the rear-view mirror the whole time, or do you look out the windshield?”
09/04/25 19:50 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
Ahead of the final game of the Leafs vs. Lightning season series, head coaches Craig Berube and Jon Cooper discussed a big game in the division standings. Craig Berube on his team’s ability to respond to bad games this season: R...

» Game in 10: Maple Leafs’ stars fall flat in lacklustre loss to Panthers
09/04/25 02:47 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
The Maple Leafs entered this game 8-1-1 in their past 10, so you can excuse a loss. The issue is how they lost. They were outshot 37-18 and out-attempted 63-31. This wasn’t even close to a fully healthy Panthers team, either. The top lin...

» Paul Maurice after the Panthers’ 3-1 win over the Leafs: “We needed to win a game… It wasn’t a particularly heavy game, but we did what we needed to do to win”
09/04/25 02:46 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice discussed his team’s 3-1 win over the Maple Leafs, which ended their five-game losing slide and closed out the season series vs. Toronto at 3-1-0 in favour of Florida. On his team’s performanc...

» Craig Berube on the Leafs’ disappointing effort in Florida: “They wanted it more than us… We have to be more competitive than that”
09/04/25 02:08 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
Craig Berube addressed the media after the Maple Leafs’ 3-1 loss to the Florida Panthers, which dropped the team’s record to 47-26-4. On the difference in the game: They wanted it more than us. It starts in the faceoff circle...

» Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers – Game #77 Preview, Projected Lines & TV Broadcast Info
08/04/25 21:57 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
The Maple Leafs hope to move four clear of the Lightning at the top of the Atlantic — and open an insurmountable eight-point lead over the Panthers, with a game in hand — as they close out the regular-season series against a ...

» Craig Berube on Mitch Marner closing in on 100 points: “It’s like a guy scoring 50 goals… It means a lot to the individual, our team, and the organization”
08/04/25 18:00 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
Ahead of Tuesday’s game in Florida, head coach Craig Berube discussed the final game of the regular season against the Panthers and Mitch Marner’s pursuit of the 100-point milestone. Morning Skate Lines – Apr. 8 Lines a...

» Paul Maurice on Anthony Stolarz’s time in Florida before signing with the Leafs: “We would’ve loved to have kept him… We loved the guy”
08/04/25 17:44 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
Ahead of the final Maple Leafs vs. Panthers game of the regular season, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice discussed his expectations for the game, the status of his injured players, and his experience coaching now-Leafs goalie Anthony Sto...

» The Rielly-Carlo pairing rounding into form, Matthew Knies elevating, and bottom-six tinkering — Leafs Notebook
07/04/25 16:40 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
Another week of piling up wins has the Maple Leafs comfortably in the driver’s seat at the top of the Atlantic Division. However, this is the week we find out if they can retain it, as they have a big Florida trip and play out their fina...

» Craig Berube on whether Jani Hakanpaa could be a playoff option for the Leafs: “Well, that is still the question… Hopefully, he can get to the point where he’s capable of helping us if we need him”
07/04/25 16:39 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
After Monday’s practice, head coach Craig Berube discussed Jake McCabe and David Kampf’s status for the Florida road trip, Jani Hakanpaa’s progress toward a return, the division race, and Alex Ovechkin breaking Wayne Gr...

» Maple Leafs Momentum: Tavares Shines Amid Stolarz Setback
18/12/24 15:58 from Centre of Leafs Nation
Join us in this episode of “Maple Leafs Momentum” as we dive deep into the thrilling world of the Toronto Maple Leafs! With the team currently sitting atop the Atlantic Division, we celebrate the clutch performances of captai...

» Maple Leafs Talk: Overcoming Injuries and Hot Starts with Mike Commito
03/12/24 22:00 from Centre of Leafs Nation
In this episode, we welcome Mike Commito, the esteemed author of the Hockey 365 series published by Dundurn Press. Join us as we dive into a lively discussion about the Toronto Maple Leafs and their promising start to the season despite ...

» Maple Leafs on Fire: Thriving Without Matthews
27/11/24 16:00 from Centre of Leafs Nation
The Toronto Maple Leafs are surging with a stellar 7-2-1 record in their last 10 games, including an impressive 7-1 run without Auston Matthews in the lineup. Join us as we break down the exceptional goaltending led by Joseph Woll, who e...