Maple Leafs Rumors & News

Sportsnet "The American Hockey League’s Board of Governors has approved moving the anticipated start date of the 2020-21 season to Feb. 5, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The league says further details about the upcoming campaign have yet to be determined. " October 28

The Score "Offer sheets are extremely rare in the NHL. Aside from the Montreal Canadiens' sad effort to poach Sebastian Aho from the Carolina Hurricanes last offseason, offer sheets have gone unsigned since the Calgary Flames' attempt to lure Ryan O'Reilly away..." October 28

ESPN "In an ideal world, Los Angeles Kings director of amateur scouting Mark Yannetti would currently be crisscrossing the globe in search of the next building block for his team's loaded prospect pool. He'd be digging in on the 2021 NHL draft class and starting to piece..." October 28

Pension Plan Puppets "Today the Maple Leafs announced another loan of a player, presumably a short-term loan until training camp begins. Mac Hollowell, 22, is a right-shooting defender drafted by the Leafs out of the Soo Greyhounds in 2018 in the fourth round. He is about to enter the second year of his..." October 28

Sportsnet "Remember that feeling of coming home from the office, dropping a bag and flicking open a handful of overtaxed buttons to start the process of changing from the clothes you wear to satisfy society’s demands to the ones you exist in for 98 per cent of your home life? Of course you..." October 28

The Score "The Ontario Hockey League is a go in 2021. The major junior hockey league will play a condensed 40-game season beginning Feb. 4, according to Sportsnet's Jeff Marek. Each team typically plays 68 games in a normal season. Only four teams from each conference (eight..." October 28

Bleacher Report "On Oct. 20, the Chicago Blackhawks issued an open letter to their fans to indicate their intent to rebuild by developing young talent. This was a long time coming for a once-dominant franchise that has fallen out of Stanley Cup contender status. This approach was similar to..." October 27

TSN "To say the 2020 version of free agency had little precedent is probably an understatement. The ongoing pandemic has really stung at the National Hockey League’s bottom line, and the business uncertainty facing teams around the league has had a substantial chilling effect on the..." October 27

The Province "The moving COVID-19 containment target for safe commencement of the 2020-21 National Hockey League season has shifted from Dec. 1 to Jan. 1 and possibly Feb. 1. A strong second infection waive of the worldwide pandemic virus has Canadian health officials pondering the viability of..." October 27

Sportsnet "The core of the NHL's off-season seems to be through — the draft is in the books, the majority of the biggest unrestricted free agents have chosen their new threads, and the quiet of summer (winter?) is setting in. But aside from business as usual, there's still one..." October 27

Pension Plan Puppets "Today the Leafs have loaned another player to Europe. This time, 20-year-old Semyon Der-Arguchintsev is joining Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the KHL. He is joining the team just as they’ve cut Leafs draft pick Semyon Kizimov to the VHL. Der-Arguchintsev, born in Russia,..." October 26

Featurd "Plenty of activity was expected in the NHL offseason trade market following the Stanley Cup playoffs. Before Oct. 1, there were eight trades involving established players. Among the notable moves was the Toronto Maple Leafs trading Kasperi Kapanen to the Pittsburgh Penguins,..." October 26

NHL.com "NHL Central Scouting's initial players to watch list for the 2021 NHL Draft was compiled in a manner unlike any before it. Game reports, video viewing and working the phone lines each was as vital this time as watching games in person, traditionally the life blood of scouting but..." October 26

Pro Hockey Rumors "The 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the “bubble playoffs”, were nothing short of an immense success for the NHL. The venture may have cost the league upwards of $90MM to put on and there were a few complaints after the fact about living conditions and scheduling, but the postseason was..." October 24

Sportsnet "So, this is what a flat NHL salary cap looks like. Taylor Hall taking a one-year flyer with the Buffalo Sabres, and scads of familiar names signing for less than seven figures. Talented scorers in their prime (Mike Hoffman, Anthony Duclair) kicking around the open market..." October 24

Pro Hockey Rumors "This has been one of the more interesting free agent classes in recent years.  We’re two weeks in and several notable forwards and quality defensemen are still available.  That’s not normal in a typical free agent year where most of the top players are gobbled up within..." October 24

The Score "NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said that planning next season is proving to be a highly difficult task. "It's a totally different challenge and requires a whole bunch of different considerations that I think probably, in some respects, are more challenging than the return..." October 24

The Score "A number of the NHL's general managers are calling for the league to once again tweak its draft lottery format. During a virtual meeting Friday, multiple executives around the league argued to increase the odds for the teams that finish lowest in the standings, according..." October 23

The Score "The NHL is looking to hold opening day of the 2020-21 season at an aesthetically pleasing location to make it even more memorable, according to The Athletic's Michael Russo. Beginning the campaign at Lake Louise in Alberta was one possibility, but that idea has since been..." October 23

Bleacher Report "Want to start an argument among hockey fans? Wade into a particularly passionate group and casually bring up the topic of jerseys—or sweaters, to the purists out there—with a quick suggestion or two about the best and worst of all time. Then remove yourself to a..." October 23

Sportsnet "Two weeks into one of the most unique free-agency periods we've seen in the NHL, one of the top snipers on the market still finds himself without a team to play for in 2020-21. Few situations around the league exemplify just how odd this off-season is like that of Mike..." October 23

Pro Hockey Rumors "The Toronto Maple Leafs have re-signed restricted free agent Travis Dermott to a one-year contract. Dermott, who was not eligible for arbitration, has signed for his qualifying offer amount of $874,125. " October 23

New York Post "Sorry, but I can’t allow someone as special as Doc Emrick to slip into retirement with just a few paragraphs in Monday’s paper on the day the announcement was made. Besides, we haven’t heard from those who similarly cherished him: his listeners. And since Monday..." October 22

TSN "The NHL has announced the postponement of the 2021 Winter Classic and the All-Star Game. The annual outdoor game was scheduled for Jan. 1 at Target Field in Minnesota. The All-Star Game was scheduled for Jan. 30 in Sunrise, FL. The postponements were expected as the dates were..." October 22

ESPN "The American Hockey League's target start date for the 2020-21 season is Dec. 4, but the league is preparing to offer another plan to its Board of Governors that could push it later. "We're getting close to Dec. 4, and there's been minimal improvement as far as fan..." October 22

SI "Ever start a workout and realize it’s just not your day? Maybe you had one too many sugary alcoholic drinks the night before and your head is pounding. Maybe the Popeyes chicken sandwich isn’t sitting right and the burpees make you want to throw up. So you call it. You shave a few..." October 22

Pro Hockey Talk "In the grand scheme of things, it seems like the Maple Leafs covered most of their offseason to-do list after signing Ilya Mikheyev. Sure, they need to settle things with RFA Travis Dermott. And there might be some cap-related wrangling on the margins. (As you may remember..." October 22

ESPN "Retro gaming fans, rejoice: It's 2020, and NHL '94 is back. Electronic Arts announced in early October that the beloved game that often finds itself in the "Mount Rushmore of sports video games" conversation is officially getting the remaster treatment. Entitled..." October 21

Sportsnet "I wonder if, in the history of the NHL, more has ever been said about the signing of a player to a league minimum contract than has been said about Joe Thornton signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs. If an occasion has surpassed this, it can’t have been by much. Granted,..." October 21

Sinbin Vegas "We’ve heard it a lot from the Golden Knights front office, and we hear it pretty much any time any team ends up with a new high-end player. We had what we believe was an incredibly rare opportunity to add a defenseman, an elite player like Alex to our team. We really viewed it..." October 21

Sportsnet "Fewer than 24 hours before Wednesday’s scheduled arbitration case, restricted free agent Ilya Mikheyev and the Toronto Maple Leafs found common ground — although it did mean a last-minute financial concession on the player’s part. The Russian..." October 21

The Daily Goal Horn "The NHL season is expected to start sometime in January or February. That gives General Managers plenty of time to assess their teams from now until then to make a big trade. There are three big names rumored to be available and to be had in the right deal. They are Patrik Laine from..." October 20

Pro Hockey Rumors "The Maple Leafs have avoided salary arbitration with winger Ilya Mikheyev.   " October 20

The Score "Mike Hoffman's representative says his client isn't lacking suitors 11 days into free agency. Interest in the productive forward "has been very strong," Robert Hooper told The Athletic's Adam Vingan on Monday. Hooper revealed that 13 teams..." October 20

Sportsnet "When faced with deciding where his life and career would take him next, Joe Thornton didn't do it alone. He sought advice and insight from those he knew best and those who knew what it was like to leave a city they'd called home for the majority of their professional..." October 20

Toronto Sun "A player who risked his Hall of Fame reputation in a failed 33-game stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs said he understands why veterans Joe Thornton, Jason Spezza and Wayne Simmonds all decided to return home this year. “There’s a pull,” said Eric Lindros...." October 20

Broad Street Hockey "It’s been a little sleepy around here, since the draft has wrapped up and most of the big free agent signings are out of the way, but we’ve got some actual hockey news dropping on this fine Monday evening. That’s right, the World Juniors schedule is..." October 20

The Score "Legendary broadcaster Mike "Doc" Emrick announced his retirement Monday, and the hockey world is celebrating the 74-year-old's storied career and already missing his distinct voice. Here are kind words from the many people Emrick impacted over his 47-year career, along..." October 19

Pro Hockey Rumors "After Tony DeAngelo, Matt Grzelcyk and Andrew Mangiapane all signed new contracts before their hearings this week, the arbitration schedule will be kicked off on Wednesday with Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ilya Mikheyev. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet..." October 19

Sportsnet "Whenever a team makes big off-season moves, the cranks out there are quick to remind us that Stanley Cups are won in June, not the first day of free agency. (Well…you know.) Sure, you can’t secure your rings simply by making a few splashy moves, but the heavy lifting when..." October 19

The Leafs Nation "So the Leafs did the unthinkable on Friday night and were able to convince Joe Thornton to play for his hometown team on a league minimum contract. He is the eighth player acquired by the Leafs since free agent frenzy began last week, and that results in some..." October 19

The Mercury News "Among the people Joe Thornton consulted while weighing his decision to leave the Sharks after 15 seasons was one whose departure might rank No. 1 in Bay Area sports history. Yes, Thornton spoke to Joe Montana, who spent 13 seasons with the 49ers before requesting a trade to the Kansas..." October 19

TSN "The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed defenceman Cody Ceci to a one-year, $1.25 million contract, according to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger. The 26-year-old scored one goal and recorded eight points in 56 games last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had one..." October 17

The Sports Daily "We are now one week into National Hockey League free agency. Here are the six richest contracts so far. 5) T.J. Brodie–Toronto Maple Leafs–The native of Chatham, Ontario signed a four year deal worth $20 million from the Calgary Flames on October 9. Brodie, a..." October 17

Sportsnet "Joe Thornton was probably sound asleep under the Swiss Alps, resting up to open up his 24th professional hockey season, when the CN Tower alit in teal. The colour long associated with the heart and soul of the San Jose Sharks — all their hopes and disappointments,..." October 17

The Star "The Maple Leafs have signed Joe Thornton, ending a three-year pursuit of the future Hall of Famer whose passing skills are among the best the NHL has ever seen. Thornton, who this week joined the Swiss league to keep his skills sharp while testing free agency, signed a..." October 16

Bleacher Report "Though the NHL draft has come and gone, and the free-agency market has been open for a week (as of noon ET on Friday), the B/R ice hockey team hasn't gotten its player-movement fix. So we took a look at teams still in need of specific talent—not to mention others..." October 16

Pension Plan Puppets "The Marlies announced this morning that they have signed winger Scott Sabourin to an AHL contract. A quick look at his boxcars will reveal that Scott Sabourin is not being signed for his power play prowess. He scores about five goals a year in the AHL and has more penalty minutes than..." October 16

The Score "After seven months away from his place of work, an amateur scout for an NHL club drove into the parking lot of a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League arena and found a prime spot. The lot, usually bustling on game nights, was nearly empty. The scout, who had been asked by the league to..." October 16

Bleacher Report "It's been almost a week since the 2020 NHL free-agent market opened. A handful of unrestricted free agents, such as Alex Pietrangelo, Torey Krug and Jacob Markstrom, signed expensive long-term contracts despite a flattened salary cap and economic uncertainty..." October 16