The Toronto Maple Leafs’ options in goal looked a lot better following the first day of NHL free agency. On Wednesday, they signed former Washington Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov to a one-year, $1.8 million contract. The Russian played in 44 games last season and he essentially split the goaltending duties with Vitek Vanecek. But with…
Before he took a questions from a number of interested reporters during his media availability, Matt Murray opened with a statement talking about how impressed he was with the Toronto Maple Leafs support team. “It’s a place where I really feel like I can thrive,” Murray said. Perhaps a change of scenery is enough to…
MONTREAL — It’s easy to criticize Kyle Dubas’ decision to sign Petr Mrazek to a three-year, $11.4 million contract last summer. With little salary cap space heading into next season and a $3.8 million hit on a tandem goaltender who had an abysmal first year with the club, the Toronto Maple Leafs GM traded the…
MONTREAL — The Toronto Maple Leafs don’t have a lot salary cap space and have a goaltending problem. Not only do they have to figure out who their No. 1 goaltender will be for next season as incumbent starter Jack Campbell appears destined to free agent market on July 13, but backup goaltender Petr Mrazek…
Timothy Liljegren came to form in his first full season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but his first taste of NHL playoff action opened his eyes to where he needs to take his game. “It’s faster, it’s more physical,” Liljegren said. “I think that’s a part of my game where I can improve, especially around…
Auston Matthews was awarded the 2022 Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player on Tuesday, becoming the first Toronto Maple Leaf to win the award since Ted Kennedy did it back in 1955. The Scottsdale, Arizona native set career highs in assists (46) and points (106) this season and became the first NHL…
The Toronto Maple Leafs have made some sharp moves over the past few years to help build out a competitive team. Whether it’s to sign low-cost free agents that can fill demanding positions like forward Michael Bunting, or fixing mistakes like trading forward Nick Ritchie to the Arizona Coyotes for useful defenceman Ilya Lyubushkin, Kyle…
Maybe it shouldn’t have come as a complete shock when the Boston Bruins relieved head coach Bruce Cassidy of his duties on Monday. Despite a 245-108-46 regular season record over six seasons that also included a Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2019, the writing appeared to be on the wall when Bruins president Cam Neely…
Jason Spezza’s passion for the game and his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs were on display around this time last year when he met with reporters via Zoom video conference to discuss his one-year, $750,000 extension with the club. “All I care about is playing for a good team,” Spezza said on Jun. 17. “If I…
Mark Giordano could have made more money by signing with another club. But having grossed well over $60 million in salary over the course of his NHL career, the Toronto-native opted to stay home by signing a two-year contract worth $1.6 million on Sunday with the Toronto Maple Leafs. And while the lure of being…
It is the biggest decision looming for the Toronto Maple Leafs heading into this summer. Do they retain pending unrestricted free agent goaltender Jack Campbell? If so, how much are they willing to pay? If not, what is Plan B? These are the questions the club has to ponder just days after yet another first-round Stanley…
The Toronto Maple Leafs are keeping things more or less the same. And that’s their choice to do so. But following another opening-round exit, the team stressed confidence and belief in their group, even if that comes at the cost of hubris. Following a bitter upset against the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of…
