The Toronto Maple Leafs shocked the hockey world Tuesday night by winning the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery despite entering with the fifth-best odds, and the conversation that followed immediately turned to one question: would they trade the first overall pick?
Elliotte Friedman offered an answer by way of a history lesson on the latest episode of 32 Thoughts .
The most instructive example, he said, came from the 2013 draft, when the Calgary Flames made what amounted to a franchise-altering offe...
Thursday afternoon means a fresh episode of Real Life was recorded and edited, and it’s ready to help you wrap up the week. On today’s podcast, the guys discussed what comes next for the Edmonton Oilers, Evan Bouchard’s Norris Trophy snub, the Leafs winning the NHL Draft Lottery, and much more. The guys kicked off…
Two of the first big items on new Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka's checklist are figuring out what to do with head coach Craig Berube, and getting a feel from captain Auston Matthews on what he has in mind for his future. Insider Pierre LeBrun told the gang on TSN Overdrive on Thursday that meetings are now in motion with both of those key figures. First up, a tete-a-tete with Berube. Pierre LeBrun on OverDrive on John Chayka and Craig Berube meeting this week pic.twitter.com/xRz6hYV...
Matthews Knies was selected 57th overall in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs . He made his debut on Apr. 10th, 2023, against the Florida Panthers . The Maple Leafs still had a competitive roster built by general manager Kyle Dubas, then, and defeated the Panthers 2-1. Knies wouldn't contribute to the scoresheet, but played 18 shifts and 13:09 time on ice. Three years later, and he's developed into a two-way, top-six forward who scored 66 poin...
With the NHL Draft Lottery bringing some shocking results this week, it sure sounds like we are in store for some major trades next month in Buffalo. The Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks shot up the draft board, with the Leafs winning the first overall pick, and the Sharks, once again, sitting in the second hole. Both teams are looking to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs next season, and there's certainly already been a ton of potential trades discussed throughout the hockey world. On Thur...
The Toronto Maple Leafs have had themselves quite the week. From a cringe-worthy press conference, to Auston Matthews wanting out, to then winning the NHL Draft Lottery, Leafs Nation has been through the ringer this week. While TSN's Chris Johnston has been the only one to report the fact Matthews is 'unsure' if he'll return to the Maple Leafs next season, it turns out some other reporters have been able to track down a completely different narrative. According to David Pagnotta, who was co-ho...
The yet-unnamed PWHL Detroit franchise will be the league's ninth team and will begin play next season, continuing league expansion.
With playoffs in progress for some leagues and ending for other leagues, this is clearly one of the busiest times of the year in the hockey world. The NHL Draft Lottery just saw Toronto claim the top pick, there was a new expansion team announced in the PWHL, there will be a new name and logo for the AHL team in Hamilton announced soon, and there are stories from around the globe that should be examined. I'm not doing any of that tonight, though, because my life has been busy enough with the i...
The Jays don’t play today, so I figured we’d do the open thread today. There isn’t all that much for Jays news, as we wait to hear who leaves to make room for Addison Barger. It will be interesting, I’m not sure who I’d pick. Since Barger is a left-handed batter, a lefty batter would […]
Very recently, I wrote an article here talking about the opportunity presented to the Yankees in 2026, competing for the top spot in an American League that lacked standout clubs. Some of their potential biggest adversaries were dealing with more than their fair share of issues in the Blue Jays and Mariners. Since then, the […]
In the latest MLHS Podcast, Nick Ashbourne, Anthony Petrielli, and (for the first half) Alec Brownscombe discuss the Maple Leafs’ lottery windfall, what it changes for the Leafs moving forward, the player debate at #1 overall, the hiring of John Chayka and Mats Sundin, and much more. Episode Topics Initial reactions to the draft lottery […]
The post Chayka-Sundin era starts with a draft lottery miracle – MLHS Podcast Ep. 119 appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
“They flipped the script on us. They’re a really good team. The close-out one is the hardest. They got to their game early and got that early goal. They got some life. We never recovered from that. We just seemed flat. I’ll look into a couple of things, but we didn’t have our energy… We […]
The post Winner-takes-all Game 5 required after Toronto Marlies fall flat in shutout loss to Laval appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
Maple Leafs GM John Chayka joined TSN Overdrive to discuss the draft lottery win, the process of deciding on a first-overall selection, the report of uncertainty on Auston Matthews’ behalf about returning in the Fall, and whether he believes the team can contend next season. Take us through your viewing experience of the draft lottery. […]
The post John Chayka on the resources available to him as Leafs GM: “The directive from Edward Rogers to me is to do whatever it takes to win a Stanley Cu...
Is this hell? No, this is Tropicana Field. That might be what the Toronto Blue Jays think of The Trop. Since 2021, the Jays have a .655 OPS and a 10-22 record under the tilted roof at One Tropicana Drive, and losers of 10 of the last 12. Even the Blue Jays, biggest podcast, Gate […]
On Tuesday morning, Auston Matthews’ future in Toronto was reported as uncertain, and later that night, those may have been quelled. The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery had the Toronto Maple Leafs jump from fifth best odds, to the sweepstakes winners as they were awarded the first overall selection in this year’s draft. THE TORONTO MAPLE…
Los Angeles Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow records his 1,000th career strikeout by fanning Yordan Alvarez in a start against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park.
Sounds like the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs were discussing some big trade proposals ahead of March's trade deadline. Multiple reports have surfaced that the Oilers and Maple Leafs were engaged in advanced trade talks leading up to the trade deadline, centered around Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse, and Scott Laughton and Morgan Rielly of the Maple Leafs. It didn't get to the point of Rielly and Nurse being asked to waive their no-movement clauses, but sources have indicated the Oi...
With free agency on the horizon, teams are building their postseason plans. News of Auston Matthews' noncommittal statement to the Toronto Maple Leafs organization has caused an uproar in the media. Statements like his yesterday should give pause to general manager John Chayka, as he will have to contend with a potentially disgruntled superstar in Matthews and figure out where to go next. With not even so much as their yearly first-round exit, the Maple Leafs will have...
Based on their woeful finish at the bottom of the standings this season, the Vancouver Canucks were the heavy favorites to land the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft Lottery. But it wasn't to be, as the Canucks dropped to No.3 while the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Lottery Tuesday night and the right to select No. 1. That selection is expected to be the long-favored top pick, Gavin McKenna. But on The Fan Hockey Show on Sportsnet today, analyst Mike Futa proposed a wild offer that new Leafs GM John C...
Blue Jays 0 Rays 3 I said in the thread: The thing I like about baseball, is the team can be going bad, the game can be going bad, but there are still just amazing plays to watch. I have been a Jays fan pretty much since the first series. There have been a lot […]
Last of three in Tampa. If they light a match on the way out, I will not shed a tear. I hate afternoon weekday games, it messes up the day. There are some updates: Today’s lineup: Today’s Lineups BLUE JAYS RAYS George Springer – DH Yandy Diaz – DH Kazuma Okamoto – 3B Ryan Vilade […]
With three podcast coming out in short order there is one article to cover all three. The first is a look back at the Tampa Bay Lightning series.
Mostly it focused on a low event hockey gamble from Jon Cooper. The bet was on Andrei Vasilevskiy besting Jakub Dobeš. In the end the goalies stole one game each, and Dobeš came on put on top.
Looking back on the picks the panel had a pretty good selection.
Jared’s Lane Hutson pick was great, the defender played out of his mind and one...
Last night saw the hockey world settle in to watch the NHL draft lottery, an annual event in which a collection of ping pong balls reward whichever franchise and its fans are found to be the most noble and pure of heart . So now we know the NHL’s order for this June’s draft, pending any trades. And it really feels like we’re only saying that last part to be polite. It’s exceedingly rare to see a team trade a pick in the first half of the first round, at least once the lottery has come and gone...
It's decision time for the Leafs.
Just when you think you’re out… Long-time Maple Leafs diehards are extremely familiar with the rollercoaster ride of following this beleaguered franchise day in and day out over the years, but the last 24-48 hours are about as dizzying as it gets. First, a controversial GM hire with little initial popular support was announced by […]
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