» Tax-adjusted salary cap? Single game playoff tie-breakers? NHL Rules Court returns
19/12/24 14:05 from Down Goes Brown
Welcome back to Rules Court, where things will look a little different this time around. Without digging into the details, we had to make the difficult decision to fire one of our long-serving judges because he knows what he did . That o...

» Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Dallas Stars – Game #32 Preview, Projected Lines & TV Info
18/12/24 20:12 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
The Maple Leafs look to start turning their underwhelming road record around in their annual visit to the Lone Star State tonight in Dallas (7:30 p.m. EST, Sportsnet). This will be an interesting game to evaluate from the Toronto perspec...

» Craig Berube on Joseph Woll taking the reins during Anthony Stolarz’s absence: “He has to take the ball and run with it… He’s prepared for it, and I think he wants that”
18/12/24 20:00 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
Ahead of Wednesday’s game in Dallas, head coach Craig Berube discussed the loaded-up Nylander-Matthews-Marner line, OEL’s play on the right side, expectations for the new third line of McMann-Domi-Robertson, and the challenge...

» 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...

» Trying to find a precedent for the Rangers' ongoing Presidents' Trophy plummet
18/12/24 14:22 from Down Goes Brown
The New York Rangers are in freefall, suffering through the kind of in-season implosion we rarely see from a contender. The captain has been traded, the longest-serving star is on the block, the coach is on thin ice, and the GM is gettin...

» Brad Treliving on Anthony Stolarz’s knee procedure: “You’re glad it’s nothing where there is structural damage… This isn’t related to any previous injury”
17/12/24 18:37 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
After Tuesday’s practice, GM Brad Treliving addressed the news of Anthony Stolarz’s four-to-six week injury timeline due to a procedure on his knee as well as the decision to send Fraser Minten down to the Marlies. Statement ...

» Craig Berube on keeping Nylander-Matthews-Marner together: “They were good… The issue is they have to get to the net, too… Can’t be all on the outside”
17/12/24 18:36 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
After Tuesday’s practice, head coach Craig Berube discussed Anthony Stolarz’s 4-to-6-week absence, Fraser Minten’s return to the Marlies, keeping Nylander – Matthews – Marner together, and the return of Davi...

» Slow starts continue to plague Toronto Marlies in first regulation home defeat of the season
17/12/24 15:21 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
“I’m not exactly sure what it is (driving the slow starts). It’s something for us to figure out internally. You have to give our group credit for not quitting, but we always start behind the eight ball.” –...

» Leafs Notebook: A new third line to trial, John Tavares’ big first half, and can the Leafs keep the McCabe-Tanev pairing together with Rielly-OEL’s struggles?
17/12/24 01:07 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
The Maple Leafs are in first place in the Atlantic Division and are approaching full health among their player group amid a busy pre-holiday stretch of games this month.  With the latest developments on the power play covered in my ...

» Why the Maple Leafs’ power play was so effective without Auston Matthews, and how they can successfully re-integrate their superstar goal-scorer
16/12/24 18:10 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
When Auston Matthews was injured, there was a lot of talk about sticking by the John Tavares-Mitch Marner pairing when Matthews returned on account of the team’s strong record in his absence. The Leafs’ 7-2-0 record during Ma...

» NHL weekend rankings: Avalanche, Red Wings, and way too many teams in crisis
16/12/24 13:49 from Down Goes Brown
It’s mid-December. Do you know what level of crisis your favorite team is in? Chances are, the answer is “pretty darn high”. This is the time of year when we normally see a few teams figuring out that reality isn’t going to match their h...

» Game in 10: Maple Leafs score three in three minutes to overcome slow start vs. Buffalo
16/12/24 05:53 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
The Maple Leafs finally found another gear offensively in the second half of this game, firing 31 shots on goal and scoring three unanswered (plus an empty netter) to defeat the Buffalo Sabres 5-3. Your game in 10: 1.   The Lea...

» Craig Berube Post Game, Leafs 5 vs. Sabres 3: “Our leaders stepped up and did a really good job tonight”
16/12/24 02:16 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
Craig Berube addressed the media after the Maple Leafs’ 5-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres, which improved the team’s record to 19-10-2. On overcoming a 3-1 deficit to win it in regulation:  We had good intentions in the fi...

» Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Buffalo Sabres – Game #31 Preview, Projected Lines & TV Info
15/12/24 21:05 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
In the second half of a back-to-back for both teams, the Maple Leafs are looking to avoid a trap game against the deeply slumping Buffalo Sabres, who haven’t won a game since November 23rd (5:00 p.m. EST, TSN4). Game Day Quotes Cra...

» It was 5-1: Alex Nylander’s five-point game propels Toronto Marlies to massive comeback versus Bakersfield
15/12/24 19:06 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
“We left [Akhtyamov] out to dry. He’s been our best player pretty much all year. It sucks to see him leave the ice, but [Matt] Murray came in and did a job and we came back, so we’re happy with that.” – Wi...

» Game in 10: Maple Leafs shoot themselves in the foot, struggle to find five-on-five offense in loss to Detroit
15/12/24 04:40 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
The Maple Leafs’ lack of offense is becoming a major storyline as the season progresses. In a game where the Leafs’ top two lines generated tons of zone time, they ultimately scored just one goal at five-on-five. The teamR...

» Craig Berube Post Game, Red Wings 4 vs. Leafs 2: “We had a lot of good things going on, but we can’t come out of the game with only 24 shots on net”
15/12/24 04:39 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
Craig Berube addressed the media after the Maple Leafs’ 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, which dropped the team’s record to 18-10-2. On the difference in the game: We made two mistakes on two goals that we didn’t need...

» Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings – Game #30 Preview, Projected Lines & TV Info
14/12/24 20:05 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
While goaltender Anthony Stolarz is out day-to-day, the Maple Leafs are inching closer and closer to full health among their player group, as Bobby McMann returns to the lineup for a Saturday night clash with the struggling Detroit Red W...

» Craig Berube on Anthony Stolarz’s injury status: “Good news overall… Let’s just leave it at that”
13/12/24 20:23 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
After Friday’s practice, head coach Craig Berube discussed Anthony Stolarz’s status, Max Pacioretty’s buy-in, the keys to improved offensive production, and Bobby McMann’s imminent return to the lineup. Practice L...

» Various Mark Messier leadership award winners, ranked by how poorly they held up
13/12/24 19:36 from Down Goes Brown
I’m not sure the NHL has a weirder annual award than the Mark Messier Leadership Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Leadership. It’s not quite a slam dunk, because the Lady Byng exists. But at least that award has been aro...

» Game in 10: Maple Leafs do enough to beat lowly Ducks, hope for good news on Anthony Stolarz’s injury
13/12/24 07:06 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
It wasn’t completely stress-free — and might have come with a notable injury loss (depending on Anthony Stolarz’s status) — but the Maple Leafs got the job done against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night. The L...

» Craig Berube Post Game, Leafs 3 vs. Ducks 2: “[Pacioretty-Tavares-Nylander line] controlled the play every time they were out there… They played good, hard hockey”
13/12/24 03:12 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
Craig Berube addressed the media after the Maple Leafs’ 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks, which improved the team’s record to 18-9-2. On the team’s performance: Pretty good game. A really good third with the lead. We only...

» How much concern is justified about the Maple Leafs’ five-on-five play? – MLHS Podcast Ep. 79
12/12/24 17:26 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
In the latest MLHS Podcast, Nick Ashbourne and Anthony Petrielli discuss the Maple Leafs’ dip in five-on-five play, the state of the team’s power play, the bottom-six forwards, the defense pairings, the OT win over Keefe̵...

» Alex Steeves extends goal streak to five games, Toronto Marlies erase early two-goal deficit in victory over Lehigh
12/12/24 17:25 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
“The (first intermission) message was that we needed to get going. [Lehigh] were controlling the play, and we weren’t playing to our capabilities. I was very impressed with the way we responded, and we didn’t just do i...

» Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Anaheim Ducks – Game #29 Preview, Projected Lines & TV Info
12/12/24 00:45 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
Jake McCabe returns to the lineup as the Maple Leafs look to take care of business against a tired and struggling Anaheim Ducks team that has lost four in a row, including a 5-1 loss last night in Ottawa (7:00 p.m. EST, Sportsnet Ontario...

» Five season storylines that we were all wrong about (except, were we really?)
11/12/24 13:29 from Down Goes Brown
One of the most important things a sportswriter can do is admit when they’re wrong. Or at least, that’s what I’ve been told. For me, personally, it never really comes up. OK, that’s not quite true. I suppose it’s possible that I’ve been ...

» Game in 10: Stolarz owns the night, Maple Leafs’ PK and Matthews’ OT winner clinch the two points in 2-1 win over New Jersey
11/12/24 07:27 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
Never in doubt! Your game in 10: 1.   What is there to say about the first period that isn’t glaringly obvious? Shot counts don’t end up 15-1 in a 20-minute period if you aren’t losing most of the puck race...

» Craig Berube Post Game, Leafs 2 vs. Devils 1 (OT): “We got more chances shorthanded than we did at five-on-five or on the power play”
11/12/24 03:13 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
Craig Berube addressed the media after the Maple Leafs’ 2-1 overtime win over the New Jersey Devils, which improved the team’s record to 17-9-2. On finding a way to grab two points despite getting outshot 39-16: Our goalie ke...

» Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New Jersey Devils – Game #28 Preview, Projected Lines & TV Info
10/12/24 19:32 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
Anthony Stolarz starts in goal and Max Domi is a game-time decision as the Maple Leafs look to snap a two-game losing slide in their second visit to New Jersey this season (7:00 p.m. EST, TSN4). Mission one for a Leafs team that has conc...

» Alex Steeves breaks franchise point record, third period collapse sends Toronto Marlies to regulation defeat in Laval 
10/12/24 14:09 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
“I thought we played probably one of the best third periods in a long time. Unfortunately, we still have to keep the puck out of our net. Our guys worked extremely hard, and sometimes, it’s not what play you make, but what y...

» Brendan Shanahan on the Maple Leafs’ play under Craig Berube: “The big shift between this year and previous years is our play on the defensive side”
09/12/24 23:59 from Toronto Maple Leafs Hot Stove
President Brendan Shanahan joined TSN’s Gino Reda to discuss the Maple Leafs’ start to the season, Mitch Marner’s expiring contract, Auston Matthews’ recent injury, the team’s performance under Craig Berube,...

» NHL weekend rankings: Kings roll, Sabres spiral, and a wild weekend in New York
09/12/24 14:29 from Down Goes Brown
Remember a few years ago when the NHL had that weird marketing campaign promising “no soap operas, just hockey”? I don’t think they got the memo in New York. The Rangers have been tumbling down the standings lately, but they’ve shot to t...

» Baggy nets and blue undershirts: 6 more things I miss from the NHL’s ancient days
06/12/24 13:27 from Down Goes Brown
Exactly one year ago today, I wrote a column about being old , and the subtle things I miss about what hockey used to be. No big issues, to be clear – we’re talking stuff like how the water bottles used to pop off the nets, and how ...

» Which NHL players are the best at each age right now? Who are the best all-time?
05/12/24 13:32 from Down Goes Brown
If you’re a sports fan, you’re familiar with the adage “Father Time is undefeated.” It’s ubiquitous because it’s true. It’s why we talk about the dreaded “wrong side” of 30, and even fret over long-term deals signed by 29-year-olds; even...

» Which bad team's fan base might be nearing a tipping point of hopelessness?
04/12/24 14:17 from Down Goes Brown
Somebody should probably check on Duane. You remember Duane, the disgruntled Buffalo fan who reached his breaking point in January 2020. Frustrated after watching his beloved Sabres spin their wheels on their way to what would be their 1...

» 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 ...

» NHL weekend rankings: Rangers, Kraken, a November blockbuster, and a new Top 5 team
02/12/24 13:24 from Down Goes Brown
A big NHL trade in November? Are they allowed to do that? Apparently they are. And while Saturday’s deal that sent David Jiricek from Columbus to Minnesota may not quite rise to the level of a certified blockbuster, but it's at least eno...

» The Contrarian: That famous Bobby Orr photo is bad, and other fake arguments
29/11/24 14:46 from Down Goes Brown
Welcome back to The Contrarian, one of the most beloved and popular features that I write. Unless it isn't. The concept here is simple. Readers send me statements about the NHL which they believe to be obviously true, bordering on the in...

» 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...

» Leafs Under Pressure: Injuries, Suspensions, and Big Moments
25/11/24 22:15 from Centre of Leafs Nation
The Toronto Maple Leafs face mounting challenges as Auston Matthews and David Kämpf join the injury list. How will the team fill the void left by key players? Meanwhile, Ryan Reaves’ suspension for a controversial hit raises questions ab...

» NHL weekend rankings: Change in Boston, déjà vu in Ottawa, and expected storylines
25/11/24 13:41 from Down Goes Brown
We’re a quarter of the way through the NHL season, which means it’s time for two things: Saying “quarter-pole” around your most pedantic friends just to annoy them, and writing pieces about how nothing is going the way we expected. We’ve...

» Remembering 10 times a season's list of Jack Adams finalists did not hold up well
22/11/24 13:32 from Down Goes Brown
The firing of Jim Montgomery this week was newsworthy for plenty of reasons, mostly surrounding what it means for the spiralling Bruins . But it was also interesting for awards watchers, who probably recall Montgomery winning the Jack Ad...

» It's not just you, Sid: Remembering six legends whose careers ended with playoff droughts
20/11/24 15:52 from Down Goes Brown
Sidney Crosby is bumming me out these days. Not because he’s playing poorly. Quite the opposite – even at 37, he’s still scoring and playing a strong two-way game. No, the sad part is that it’s not anywhere near enough for the Penguins. ...

» NHL weekend rankings: Avs, Blues, a new bottom team, and we were all so wrong
18/11/24 13:45 from Down Goes Brown
We’re over a month in the NHL season, just days away from US Thanksgiving. Are you ready to admit you were wrong? I am. When it came to predicting how the 2024-25 season would play out, I was very wrong. I almost always am. I’m bad at th...

» Take the quiz: "Satan's Wallpaper", and other fake nicknames you've never heard
15/11/24 09:09 from Down Goes Brown
We were treated to the top comedy moment of the hockey season this week, and we have a former Devils goaltender to thank for it. No, not Mackenzie Blackwood hanging a 44-save shutout on his former team, although that was pretty funny too...

» A brief history of skate-in-crease reviews, an awful rule some of you seem to want to go back to
13/11/24 14:17 from Down Goes Brown
The NHL’s GMs are meeting this week, and one of the items expected to be discussed is the replay review system. It’s mostly working fine, the league’s powerbrokers seem to agree. But reviews are taking too long, and maybe we should learn...

» NHL weekend rankings: Canucks, Predators, and 5 way-too-early offseason lessons
11/11/24 13:32 from Down Goes Brown
We’re a month into the season, which seems like more than enough time to look back at the offseason and use the benefit of hindsight to completely shift our opinions of everything that happened. You remember the offseason, right? The Pre...

» Help me become a better contrarian
09/11/24 16:33 from Down Goes Brown
Hey folks… Thinking of doing another edition of The Contrarian. You send in a statement that you think is obvious or inarguable, and I’ll try to come up with the contrarian view. We've done a few of these, and the ones that work best fin...

» Making the HHOF case against Pekka Rinne, P.K. Subban and even Alexander Mogilny
08/11/24 14:02 from Down Goes Brown
The Hockey Hall of Fame will welcome seven new members this weekend, including three players from the men’s side. That’s one fewer than the committee is allowed to induct, meaning they didn’t run out of room; they just decided that some ...

» What was NHL history's worst team to have a bunch of Hall-of-Famers?
06/11/24 14:05 from Down Goes Brown
I’ve had the Hall of Fame on my mind this week, mostly because it’s induction weekend. That’s the fun part of the calendar that starts with you going “Oh yeah, that’s who they picked back in the summer” and ends with a cool ceremony that...