Friday, November 30, 2018

Leafs loosen up in great outdoors at Gardiner Classic


Outdoor tournament on eve of road date with Minnesota Wild (in Jake Gardiner’s backyard, more or less) was a welcome diversion in a long season with the William Nylander contract deadline looming. Also, says coach Mike Babcock: “The sausage, the hot chocolate, they were spot on.”

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Babcock not begging Nylander to sign: 'It's a privilege to be here'

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Saturday NHL preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Minnesota Wild


High-scoring defencemen Morgan Rielly and Matt Dumba square off at Xcel Energy Center.

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Leafs’ Marner graduates with honours from ‘primary’ school


Mitch Marner leads the NHL in primary assists, one sign of his value to the deep Leafs attack.

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Report: Flyers, Dave Nonis to discuss GM opening

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Thursday, November 29, 2018

Babcock still confident on Nylander: 'We think he's going to be a career Leaf'

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Leafs’ Matthews healthy and scoring — for the fun of it


Auston Matthews and the Leafs’ young guns still lean on the veterans at times, but also help set the tone in an entertaining break from NHL tradition.

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Report: Leafs intend to sign Nylander, still asking teams for trade specifics

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1 emoji for each NHL team: Early-season edition

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Coyotes claim Pickard off waivers from Flyers

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Vezina Trophy Power Rankings: Rinne looking to repeat

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Matthews lauds Leafs equipment manager's 'third assist'

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Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Game Centre: Matthews scores twice in triumphant return as Leafs beat Sharks


Matthews had two goals and an assist in his first game back since injuring his left shoulder Oct. 27 against Winnipeg.

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Grizzled veterans Thornton, Marleau glowing examples to young and old NHL players alike


Together, the’ve appeared in more than 3,000 games — 1,601 for Marleau, 1,510 for Thornton. They are examples to all players of what’s possible if you combine talent with preparation.

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Maple Leafs will have Auston Matthews in lineup against Sharks


Star centre medically cleared to return from shoulder injury that has sidelined him for the last 14 games. “I’ll just play him, see what happens,” Leafs coach Mike Babcock said.

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Norris Trophy Power Rankings: New wave of young defensemen enter mix

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Maple Leafs' Matthews will play vs. Sharks after 14-game absence

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Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Maple Leafs deal Andrew Nielsen to Flames for Morgan Klimchuk


Nielsen, 22, has played in eight games for the Marlies this season, recording three assists. He has 20 goals and 50 assists through 152 AHL games. Klimchuk, 23, has appeared in 16 games with the AHL’s Stockton Heat this year, scoring three goals with five assists.

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Maple Leafs trade Andrew Nielsen to Flames for Morgan Klimchuk

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Dave Feschuk: Auston Matthews says ‘he’s ready to play’ but there’s no rush for Leafs to bring him back


Matthews took part in his first full-contact practice Tuesday, suggested his reinsertion in Toronto’s lineup could come as early as Wednesday’s home game against the San Jose Sharks. But Toronto has played at a 105-point pace in Matthews’s absence, so what’s the rush?

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Josh Leivo’s future with Leafs cloudy with stars’ impending return


The popular fourth-line winger’s role could be reduced with the expected return soon of Auston Matthews and William Nylander, but he’s filled in admirably in the mean time.

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Wednesday NHL preview: San Jose Sharks at Toronto Maple Leafs


Sharks went after Kadri right off the opening face off two weeks ago in San Jose, a retaliation for the infamous scrap with Joe Thornton last season in which Kadri unintentionally wound up with a fistful of Thornton’s beard. Could this be round two?

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Auston Matthews says he’s ready to return to Leafs lineup


If medical staff clears him, star centre could be back from shoulder injury as soon as Wednesday against San Jose.

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Matthews says he feels ready to return

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4 mistakes that doomed Ron Hextall's tenure in Philadelphia

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Monday, November 26, 2018

Leafs win over Bruins won’t erase concerns over playoffs durability


Boston remains the brick wall the Leafs must bust down to prove themselves a force in the East.

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Game Centre: Leafs win over short-handed Bruins


It was a big night for Toronto defencemen as Travis Dermott notched his first goal of the season, and Igor Ozhiganov his career first goal in 4-2 victory over Boston.

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Bruce Arthur: As Patrick Marleau hits milestone for NHL games played, Leafs coach praises his veteran’s off-ice impact


Marleau played his 1,600th NHL game against the Bruins on Monday. If the 39-year-old plays all 82 games this season, he will sit fourth all-time behind Jaromir Jagr, Mark Messier and Gordie Howe. Coach Mike Babcock says he’s ‘so important to the team’ and ‘makes you a flat-out better human being just by walking by you.’

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Nylander has the support of Bruins’ Pastrnak


Bruins forward — and owner of the oft-referenced Nylander contract benchmark — only missed one day of training camp when he had his impasse but “he has to be patient and get what you think you deserve. It’s for your whole life.”

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NHL Power Rankings: Sabres tearing it up, Kings' struggles continue

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Sunday, November 25, 2018

Monday NHL preview: Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs


Bruins winger David Pastrnak scored three on Maple Leafs last time they met.

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Damien Cox: Nylander contract saga hints at future of every NHL team


Mercifully, Leaf William Nylander’s fate will be settled by 5 p.m. Saturday. The impact of any deal he signs, though, will reverberate around the league for years, Damien Cox writes.

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Making room for Matthews (and maybe Nylander) tricky call for Maple Leafs


Andreas Johnsson’s Saturday hat trick and success down the stretch last season bode well in battle for ice time with Tyler Ennis and Frederik Gauthier when Auston Matthews returns from injury and if William Nylander signs by Saturday.

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Saturday, November 24, 2018

Rosie DiManno: Leafs’ dazzle on full display in breeze past Flyers


Andreas Johnsson’s first-period hat trick. A Garret Sparks hat trick, starting opposite Calvin Pickard no less. Mitch Marner everywhere. It’s been quite remarkable how well the Leafs have adjusted, just carried on, minus Auston Matthews, Rosie DiManno writes.

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Game Centre: Johnsson’s quick trick sparks Maple Leafs past Flyers


Andreas Johnsson scores three goals in the first period, first Leaf to do it since Wendel Clark. Crowd gives James van Riemsdyk warm welcome. Garret Sparks outplays former Marlies net mate Calvin Pickard.

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Trade fits tricky if Leafs don’t sign Nylander


Getting a defenceman in return would be a priority with three blue-liners on expiring contracts, but top pending unrestricted free agents might also be in play.

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Friday, November 23, 2018

Leafs give away free points on Black Friday


Turnovers ruin otherwise solid road performance in Columbus. Now they’re looking up at the Sabres in the Atlantic. Kapanen nets 10th in losing cause.

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Game Centre: Leafs’ turnovers help Blue Jackets turn tables in Columbus


Offence hard to come by for Leafs on road. Rough night for Morgan Rielly. James van Riemsdyk’s Flyers in town Saturday night.

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Damien Cox: Sabres would make a perfect rival for Maple Leafs


Over 48 years of playing each other, of existing 150 kilometres apart, you’d think they’d identify as each other’s rival more than they do, Damien Cox writes.

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Saturday game preview: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Philadelphia Flyers




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Flyers’ James van Riemsdyk expects ‘emotional’ return to Toronto


Leafs’ leading goal scorer last season will play first game at Scotiabank Arena since rejoining Flyers as a free agent over the summer.

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Babcock confident Nylander will sign with Maple Leafs

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Thursday, November 22, 2018

Babcock: 'Significant pieces not here, and they will be'

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Dave Feschuk: Team speed is icing on the cake for Maple Leafs


Toronto’s predilection for icings is product of a few things, lack of speed not among them. For one, Toronto’s entire defensive philosophy is based on quick transition, writes Dave Feschuk.

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Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Game Centre: McElhinney gets last laugh as Maple Leafs fall to Carolina


The former Leaf goaltender got his third win in a row as he outduelled his former battery-mate, Frederik Andersen.

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Maple Leafs stuck to their rebuild plan. And it worked.


It wasn’t long ago the Leafs were in the same painful place as the Edmonton Oilers and Buffalo Sabres, if not further behind. Now they are a model of stability and a top tier team in the NHL.

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Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Kucherov says he'd do same thing as Nylander if faced with contract dispute again

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Bottom six top rate for Maple Leafs of late


Third and fourth lines turned the tide against the Blue Jackets. It can be a thankless job, but it doesn’t go unnoticed in the Leafs’ room.

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Slavin emerging faith of the franchise in Carolina


Hurricanes defenceman Jaccob Slavin, linked to William Nylander trade buzz, is a member of the NHL’s unofficial God Squad and credits his faith for improving his game.

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5 takeaways at the quarter mark of the 2018-19 NHL season

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Ex-Leafs coach and player Dan Maloney dead at 68


Maloney coached the Maple Leafs in the 1984-85 and 1985-86 seasons.

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Monday, November 19, 2018

Game Centre: Maple Leafs shake off sluggish start, rally for victory over Columbus Blue Jackets


Zach Hyman led the attack with two goals, while John Tavares had a goal and an assist and Mitch Marner chipped in with two helpers.

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Kasperi Kapanen coming into his own with Toronto Maple Leafs


He misses his “brother” William Nylander, but has produced on right wing with the added ice time.

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John Tavares thriving in the fish bowl that is the Toronto Maple Leafs


He could have been slightly overwhelmed. He could have required a period of acclimatization to a new everything after nearly a decade on Long Island. He could have wilted ever so slightly under the burden of expectations. Instead, Tavares has danced the light fandango.

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Sunday, November 18, 2018

Monday NHL preview: Columbus Blue Jackets at Toronto Maple Leafs


Red-hot Cam Atkinson leads surging Jackets for date with Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.

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Rosie DiManno: Leafs put Kadri in a tough spot and reap rewards


No NHL team can expect to succeed as snowflakes. On a team that dumped hard-nosed relics Matt Martin, Roman Polak and Leo Komarov, that job has somewhat devolved to Kadri, Rosie DiManno writes

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Leafs’ stellar first quarter could have been even better


John Tavares, Mitch Marner and Frederik Andersen in particular have raised the bar with William Nylander unsigned and Auston Matthews sidelined. They’re in a good place after 20 games. The challenge is to keep doing it when Matthews returns, whether Nylander signs or not.

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Matthews says shoulder has progressed well upon return to practice

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Leafs’ Matthews returns to practice minus contact


Auston Matthews takes big step toward return to lineup and will travel with Leafs to Columbus and Carolina.

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Saturday, November 17, 2018

Report: Leafs comfortable letting Nylander sit if no deal struck by Dec. 1

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Bruce Arthur: Sparks takes his best shot for Leafs out west


Garret Sparks made his second start in a week and stood tall in Friday’s OT win over the Ducks, helping to erase bad memories of Boston. The adjustment from Marlies main man to Frederik Andersen’s rarely used backup is tougher than you might think, Bruce Arthur writes.

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Friday, November 16, 2018

What could a Nylander trade look like? 3 logical deals for the unsigned Swede

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Report: HHOF deems Wickenheiser eligible for 2019 induction

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Bruce Arthur: Leafs’ Rielly turns the corner in comfort zone


Confidence takes time, says defenceman Morgan Rielly, off to the best start of his career by far. His next goal is to make this his new normal, Bruce Arthur writes.

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Bruce Arthur: Game Centre: Speedy Leafs skate away from Shark tank with win


Nazem Kadri takes more than one for the team in San Jose. Frederik Andersen stretch pass to Mitch Marner rounds out west coast offence, setting up shot at California sweep Friday night in Anaheim.

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Thursday, November 15, 2018

Bruce Arthur: Maple Leafs going about their business, but decisions loom large


They’re traversing California, but the Leafs are approaching a fork in their very new road regarding William Nylander. Pretty soon, one way or the other, there’s going to be some noise.

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NHL podcast: Poring over Leafs-Nylander mess with Down Goes Brown, Zeisberger

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Friday game preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Anaheim Ducks


Goals are at a premium in Anaheim — Ryan Getzlaf leads the team with five and the Ducks, with 44 goals for, rank second-last in the Western Conference.

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Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Bruce Arthur: Tavares, Karlsson off to different starts with their new teams


Tavares has fit in seamlessly with the Maple Leafs and is putting up great numbers. Karlsson, meanwhile, is struggling to find his way in San Jose.

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Thursday game preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at San Jose Sharks


The Sharks beat Nashville 5-4 for their second straight win and fourth in their past six games.

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Kings, Penguins shake things up with Hagelin-Pearson trade

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Golden Knights' Haula month to month with injury

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Bruce Arthur: Game Centre: Leafs open west coast trip with no-doubt win over Kings


L.A. goalie Peter Budaj’s first NHL start of 2018 didn’t last long. The Leafs have won seven of eight on the road, and this is already looking like a trip where the points could pile up. Next stop, San Jose.

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Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Bruce Arthur: Leafs’ Moore returns to the corner of hope and despair


Call-up Trevor Moore returns to his ravaged hometown of Thousands Oaks, the site of devastating wildfires and a recent mass shooting, to find parents and close friends safe. Sometimes the world comes to your door whether you want to answer or not, Bruce Arthur writes.

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Rask returns from leave of absence

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Monday, November 12, 2018

Bruce Arthur: Maple Leafs’ bright future all began in sunny California


Three years ago, the Leafs scored one goal in three California games to start an 8-27-5 plummet the rest of the way. That led to many of the changes that have the team where it is today.

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