Tavares' Ongoing CRA Court Case & Keefe Sparks New Maple Leafs-Devils Rivalry
Plus, will Marner cement team legacy or chase a big contract, the latest news & rumours and more
Welcome to the THW Toronto Maple Leafs Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Maple Leafs writers.
THW 2024 Mock NHL Draft Round 1: Our Writers Make Their Picks
May 27, 2024 by Peter Baracchini
It’s that time of year again. With the 2024 NHL Entry Draft about a month away, it’s time for the THW writing staff to make their picks in the annual mock draft.
Leafs Taking Action After Eight Seasons of Failure
May 29, 2024 by Anthony Testaguzza (Premium Subtack Content)
The Toronto Maple Leafs convinced everyone they could play like a team when they finally got past their first-round demons in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The franchise was in hopeful spirits this season to move one more step further to a successful team. Auston Matthews scored 69 goals, William Nylander reached a career-high in points with 98 this season, Morgan Rielly looked more like a leader, sacrificing a suspension in February for the honour of the team, and Mitch Marner played the playmaker role he usually plays during the season.
Tavares’ Ongoing CRA Court Case May Hurt Maple Leafs in Free Agency
May 29, 2024 by Jim Parsons
John Tavares and the Canadian Revenue Agency continue to battle in an off-season financial dispute over what the CRA calls the forward’s mislabeling of a signing bonus paid to him by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2018. The two sides disagree on how to categorize the $15.25 million (US) he was given up front when he signed. He calls it a signing bonus. The CRA does not. The appeal Tavares filed when it was deemed he owed $8 million was responded to and it doesn’t look promising for the Leafs’ captain.
Sheldon Keefe Sparks New Maple Leafs-Devils Rivalry
May 29, 2024 by The Old Prof
It has been 39 years since the New Jersey Devils have existed in the National Hockey League. In that time, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Devils met in the postseason twice, in 2000 and 2001. In both cases, it was in the second round of the playoffs. The Devils won both series. In 2000, New Jersey, backed by the stellar goaltending of Martin Brodeur, went on to win the Stanley Cup. In 2001, the Devils made it to the finals but lost to the Colorado Avalanche.
3 Players on Both Sides of the Canadiens-Maple Leafs Rivalry
May 29, 2024 by Karine Hains
There’s a lot of history between the Original Six teams, especially between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens. How could it be otherwise? Both teams are over a hundred years old and have crossed paths more times than Gary Bettman has been booed by NHL fans. There are over 100 players who have played on both sides of the rivalry over the years, and at least one wanted no part of being on the Maple Leafs’ side.
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Sheldon Keefe is Ready to Show Maple Leafs’ Loss is Devils’ Gain
May 29, 2024 by Josh Reinitz
Like many Americans, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald was happy to begin his Memorial Day Weekend a few days early. Fitzgerald told the assembled media that his meticulous and exhaustive search for a new head coach wrapped up three days before the unofficial start of summer when he received a text message from former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe accepting the job offer that Fitzgerald had tendered a few days earlier. Seven days after receiving that text, Fitzgerald, managing partner David Blitzer, and radio play-by-play announcer Matt Laughlin formally introduced Keefe as the 22nd head coach in Devils team history.
Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Keefe, Cowan, Minten & Knies
May 29, 2024 by The Old Prof
I’ll share three thoughts about the team in this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs news and rumors. First, I’ll discuss the quick hiring of former Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe by the New Jersey Devils. Second, I’ll highlight Easton Cowan’s impressive postseason success in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Third, I’ll share an idea I read this morning about possibly having a Maple Leafs kid line for the 2024-25 season.
Sheldon Keefe Saw His Termination by the Maple Leafs Coming
May 29, 2024 by Karine Hains
After the Toronto Maple Leafs fell short in Game 7 of their first-round series with the Boston Bruins, it was obvious that something had to give. They needed change, but the question was, what would that change be? Would Brendan Shanahan finally be given his marching orders? Would Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and co. finally, be held accountable? Would Brad Treliving be given another chance, as he had just arrived with the team before the 2023-2024 Season? Or would it once again be the coach who would fall on his sword? Sheldon Keefe knew the answer before any of us knew.
Will Mitch Marner Cement Maple Leafs Legacy or Chase a Big Contract?
May 28, 2024 by The Old Prof
As Mitch Marner approaches a pivotal point in his career, there is speculation about his potential departure from the Toronto Maple Leafs. On one hand, it is understandable that Marner might pursue greater financial opportunities elsewhere. That’s the nature of being a professional hockey player, it would seem.
Maple Leafs Should Target These 3 Mid-Tier Free Agent Defencemen
May 28, 2024 by Spencer Lazary
The 2024 NHL Playoffs are now in the conference finals which means, they are down to four teams. With these series already a handful of games in, it is a good time for teams that are eliminated from the playoffs to meet with their pro scouts and talk over their free-agent targets. For the Toronto Maple Leafs, their number one goal outside of attempting to re-sign both Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi would be improving their defence core.
Toronto Maple Leafs 2023-24 Report Card: William Nylander
May 28, 2024 by JP Gambatese
Entering the season an expiring unrestricted free agent (UFA), Toronto Maple Leafs star forward William Nylander came into 2023-24 looking to build upon a career year in which he scored 40 goals and surpassed the point-per-game marker for the first time. Not only did he execute that admirably, putting together a 40-goal, 98-point campaign, but he extended his tenure in The Six to the tune of an eight-year, $11.5 million average annual value (AAV) contract. That might seem a tad rich, especially for a team that has pumped more than $40 million into just four players, but you can’t really argue that it wasn’t deserving.