Latest news with #Leafs'
Edmonton Journal
2 days ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Depth in picks won't necessarily turn into draft gold for Maple Leafs
Article content Dig into that draft depth, Maple Leafs. Currently with no selection in the 2025 National Hockey League draft until the last pick of the second round, Leafs amateur scouting director Mark Leach and his staff will have to bide their time next weekend. Article content Barring trades by general manager Brad Treliving, the Leafs are about to embark on a run of three consecutive drafts without a first-round choice. Consider that since 2011, there have been only three drafts that the Leafs didn't announce the name of a prospect in the first round. Article content In 2022, Toronto picked Fraser Minten with their first selection at No. 38; in 2021, Matthew Knies was snagged at No. 57 and, in 2019, Nick Robertson was taken at No. 53. There might be a good prospect available when the Leafs make their first choice at No. 64. Whether they get it right, we're not going to know for several years. As for organizational needs, they're not really applicable without a first-round pick. Taking the best player available (as deemed by you and your staff) would be the most prudent route. With this in mind, we take a look forward and a glance back to see where the Leafs stand heading into the draft. WHERE DO THE LEAFS PICK? The final order of the draft was set once the Stanley Cup final between the victorious Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers finished on Tuesday night. The Leafs will have six picks: Nos. 64, 86 (third round), 137 and 153 (fifth round), 185 (sixth round) and 217 (seventh round). Article content The Leafs have known for a while they weren't going to have a first-round pick this year, going back to the Kyle Dubas era. In February 2023, in the trade with the Chicago Blackhawks in which defenceman Jake McCabe was the centrepiece coming to Toronto, a conditional first-round pick in 2025 was sent to the Blackhawks. The pick was top-10 protected and when the Leafs qualified for the playoffs early in April, it became Chicago's selection. It's going to be the 25th pick overall. The choice at 64th came via the Panthers in a swap of picks between the teams last June. Originally, the Leafs would have had the 57th pick. Now owned by Seattle, the pick has changed teams several times since the Leafs traded a conditional pick to Arizona in February 2022 in a deal that brought defenceman Ilya Lyubushkin to Toronto. The Coyotes had a choice between the Leafs' third-round pick in 2023 or the second-round pick in '25 and went with the latter before trading it (now in Utah) to Tampa Bay. Article content The 86th pick was acquired in the trade last October that sent defenceman Timothy Liljegren to San Jose. The Leafs would have had the 89th pick, but traded it to Anaheim (which then sent it to the New York Rangers in the Chris Kreider trade last week) in a February 2024 swap for forward Kirill Slepets. The Leafs' fourth-round pick, which would have been 121st, went to the Minnesota Wild in a three-team trade (including the St. Louis Blues) in February 2023 that saw forwards Ryan O'Reilly and Noel Acciari land in Toronto. The 137th pick was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in March for forward Connor Dewar and defenceman Conor Timmins. The 153rd pick is the Leafs' own, as are the 185th and 217th picks. WHAT IS THE LEAFS' HISTORY WITH LATER PICKS? If you have your hopes high for the potential for the Leafs to find greatness in what picks they have, you might want to temper them. Article content The fact is, it really does become a crapshoot the deeper the draft gets and there's no player that will be a slam-dunk blue-chipper by the time Toronto gets to No. 64. He might become that, but he won't be of that ilk next Saturday. The Leafs have chosen 64th four previous times and got it right once: In 1994, forward Frederik Modin was snapped up by Toronto and played three seasons with the Leafs before he went on to better things in the NHL, winning the Cup with Tampa Bay in 2004. Modin played in 898 NHL games with six teams. More recently, the Leafs chose defenceman Topi Niemela at 64 in 2020. He doesn't factor in Toronto's future. Perhaps that would have been different had Dubas still been in charge. The best showing the Leafs have in the three times they have had the 86th choice came in 2011, when they took Sudbury Wolves winger Josh Leivo. He scored 42 goals in 265 NHL games with five teams and is coming off a 49-goal season with Ufa of the KHL. Article content The 64th and 86th picks haven't borne much NHL fruit in the past 25 years. Since 2000, three players taken 64th — forward Vincent Trocheck (Florida , 2011), defenceman Tyson Barrie (Colorado, 2009) and goalie Jimmy Howard (Detroit, 2003) — made an impact in the NHL. At 86, you're looking at defenceman Colton Parayko (St. Louis, 2012) and not much else. Regarding the later rounds, you can count on two hands the number of players the Leafs have taken since 2000 that made a dent with the team. We don't include the most recent drafts in that thinking, as those players remain in the developmental stages. From 2000 to 2018, the Leafs had 63 picks beyond 137th overall. The best recent example would be forward Pontus Holmberg, chosen 156th in 2018. Article content You also have forward Pierre Engvall (188th, 2014); forward Andreas Johnsson (202nd, 2013); goalie Garret Sparks (190th, 2011); forward Connor Brown (156th, 2012); defenceman Carl Gunnarsson (189th, 2007); forward Leo Komarov (180th, 2006); defenceman Anton Stralman (216th, 2005) and defenceman Ian White (191st, 2002). With respect to each one, it's not a bunch of difference-making all-stars, is it? The best outlier in Leafs history would be defenceman Tomas Kaberle, chosen 204th in 1996. We'll be curious to see what comes of the six-pack of picks that the Leafs own, provided no further trades are made. We do know that we won't be able to say whether Leach and his staff was right or wrong on any of them for years to come. Latest National Stories
Edmonton Journal
4 days ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Maple Leafs scouting director will work through lack of picks in NHL draft
Article content General manager Brad Treliving's aggressive trades for playoff help emptied the cupboard, but it could fill unexpectedly. In his first draft as Toronto's amateur scouting director, Leach could be sitting until as late as 64th overall before the Leafs' first selection, if Florida wins the Stanley Cup and its pick that Toronto holds drops one spot to the bottom of Round 2. The Leafs also are without a fourth-rounder this year before getting two in the fifth. 'I'm used to it,' Leach told Postmedia prior to the June 27-28 draft. 'Going back to my years in Dallas and Detroit, we often had (few high) picks, but you had to be prepared for anything. 'Brad might make a trade and we could go at anything from a first to a fourth. Our list are in order.' Leach agrees with the forecast that this year's draft is not deep, but full of character players. 'Someone out of it will find a way to play or a late name will pop up. The tough part of course is that at age 17, not many have matured physically and mentally or might be unprepared for the development stage.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Not a drop of sweat on his head': Mitch Marner gets called out as fans make a peculiar observation during viral outburst
Mitch Marner was caught yelling at his teammates.(Image via Dan Hamilton) Mitch Marner , the Toronto Maple Leafs ' star player, was caught yelling at his teammates as the team was losing to the Florida Panthers . The video of Mitch Marner yelling at his teammates quickly went viral and now fans are calling him out. But it seems like some fans have made a peculiar observation about how much Mitch Marner really contributed towards his team even though he was spotted yelling at his teammates. Fans make a peculiar observation about Mitch Marner as the Leafs' star player gets heavily trolled While it is not exactly clear what Mitch Marner told his Leafs' teammates, many feel the star player said, 'Wake the f**k up'. Now, an user has shared the video of Mitch Marner on X with a caption that read as, 'You can't bark like that with hair that dry' and fans are here for it. Fans are now calling Mitch Marner out for hardly contributing towards his team, which explains why the star player's hair was not drenched in sweat. A fan commented, 'I tend to agree here. Not just that there is no sweat, but if you are going to call your team out, then you need to lead by example. I don't see that.... at all', while another fan wrote, 'LOL good one. Not a drop of sweat on his head.' A third fan wrote, 'Meanwhile 'captain' Matthews is silent daydreaming about his tee time in the morning', while another user wrote, 'Facts hair should be drenched from warmup lol espicially in that heated arena.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo A fifth fan noted, 'Has anyone noticed that his hair is completely dry if you've ever played hockey as long as he has in the game to this point, you'd realize his hair should be wet if he actually played. The only time I ever saw his face red is when he was screaming at his players. Bye, alicia' Another fan wrote, 'Most emotion he has shown all series. Too bad it comes when he knows his Leaf days are numbered', while a seventh fan joked, 'when you have zero goals in 7 games seven losses... they should all be yelling at you.' Also Read: "We can handle it": Leon Draisaitl reflects on "pressure" as Edmonton Oilers carry Canada's hopes and fans are in awe of him Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
'Don't think it's justified': Brad Marchand slams Leafs fans, says Toronto backlash is ‘crucifixion' not criticism
Brad Marchand defends Maple Leafs after Game 7 loss (Image via AP) The Toronto Maple Leafs' latest playoff heartbreak—a 6-1 Game 7 dismantling at the hands of the Florida Panthers—has once again triggered a familiar cycle: frustration, finger-pointing, and fierce backlash from Leafs Nation. But in an unexpected twist, two voices from the opposing bench are speaking out in defense of Toronto's embattled stars. Brad Marchand defends Maple Leafs after Game 7 loss, calls fan backlash 'really unfortunate' Brad Marchand, known for being a longtime thorn in the Leafs' side, surprised many with his postgame comments, not only acknowledging the Leafs' growth but also condemning the intense criticism their players face. Marchand, who notched a goal and two assists in the Panthers' decisive win, emphasized that the scrutiny on Toronto's core is crossing the line. 'I think if you look at the heat this team catches, it's actually really unfortunate,' Marchand said. 'They've been working and building something really big here for a while, and they were a different brand of hockey this year. They're getting crucified, and I don't think it's justified.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo That's high praise coming from a player who's now 5-0 in Game 7s against Toronto. Coach Paul Maurice backs Toronto's growth despite crushing loss Echoing Marchand's empathy, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice also defended the Leafs, stressing that the current group is far stronger than past versions Florida has faced. 'This is a much better team than we played two years ago,' Maurice said. 'You're going to assign a bunch of character flaws that just aren't true.' While Florida marches into their third straight Eastern Conference Final, set to face the Carolina Hurricanes, the Leafs are left to pick up the pieces yet again. The focus now turns to major offseason questions, including the futures of Mitch Marner and John Tavares. But amidst the criticism, new head coach Craig Berube offered a different perspective on the team's struggles. 'For me, it's all between the ears,' Berube said. 'It's a mindset.' Also Read: Did Mikko Rantanen just end Josh Morrissey's season? NHL faces heat over possible suspension call Toronto's talent isn't in question. But as Marchand, Maurice, and Berube suggest, the real battle for this team may not be on the ice—it's mental, and it's magnified by the pressure cooker of a hockey-mad market. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Edmonton Journal
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Brad Marchand rejects his new nickname: 'Maple Leafs Executioner'
Article content Tkachuk also spoke in support of his friend Auston Matthews, the Leafs' star centre. 'I think he's been playing really well this whole series. He's a force at both ends. And I got to see his leadership at the 4 Nations and how he leads by example,' said Tkachuk, as reported in The Leafs Nation. Justin Bieber believes in Leafs: 'I know this is the team to do it' The Toronto Maple Leafs might have been eliminated from their Stanley Cup run, but they still have one fan who believes in them. Life-long Leafs fan Justin Bieber and his wife Hailey Bieber attended the Sunday night game. Despite the stinging loss, the 31-year-old remained steadfast in his loyalty towards the team. The Ontario native said in an Instagram post that he doesn't remember a time in his life when he wasn't obsessed with the 'leafsssss.' 'This year we made it farther than we have in so long and im happy about that I can be patient cuz I know this is the team to do it,' Bieber wrote. With this win, the Panthers will now face Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Justin Bieber (@justinbieber)
