With the Maple Leafs’ head coach search well underway, we are starting to hear certain names emerge or recede with more clarity, one way or another. As the search continues, I wanted to explore coaches I would be interested in for various reasons. While it’s stating the obvious, we should note that all we can […]
The post A shortlist of head-coaching candidates for the Maple Leafs as the hiring process continues appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
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The Toronto Marlies just keep finding ways to win, and now they’re off to the Calder Cup Finals. Two overtime wins, an entertaining 5-1 victory, and a win in which they were outshot 36-16 helped them take their best-of-seven series against the WBS Penguins and capture the conference title. This was, for my money, the […]
The post What have we learned from the Toronto Marlies’ Eastern Conference championship playoff run? appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
“It hasn’t been easy. It’s not supposed to be easy at this time of the year.” “ A lot of the credit goes to the other guys; we have a really good mix of great, older guys who have been around, have great leadership qualities, and who led us. And then we have a bunch […]
The post Artur Akhtyamov’s superb performance, Alex Nylander’s OT winner punches Toronto Marlies’ ticket to the Calder Cup Final appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discusses his team’s Eastern Conference title after a 4-2 series win over the WBS Penguins. On winning the East as the fourth seed in the North Division: It hasn’t been easy. It’s not supposed to be easy at this time of the year. A lot of the credit goes […]
The post John Gruden on the Toronto Marlies winning the Eastern Conference championship: “No one was expecting anyone to put on a show… They just played as a team… All they care about is winning” a...
“He has been a breath of fresh air for us. He brings a lot of jam and energy. He is making plays. He is doing his job and is doing a really good job in his role. He brings a lot of jam to the group, and it couldn’t be more fitting for a guy […]
The post Redemption for Easton Cowan, and a first-star performance from Landon Sim: Toronto Marlies one win away from the Calder Cup Final appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discusses his team’s 5-1 win over the WBS Penguins in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final. The Marlies now lead the series 3-2. On Landon Sim’s goal to tie the game at 1-1: He has been a breath of fresh air for us. He brings a lot of […]
The post John Gruden on Easton Cowan bouncing back with a goal and an assist in a Game 5 Marlies victory: “That is what big-time players do” appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
At the 2026 NHL Draft Combine, John Chayka spoke to Ryan Leslie about his takeaways from the combine, his meetings with Ivar Stenberg and Gavin McKenna, his discussions with Auston Matthews, the coaching search, and his first month on the job. What can you share about the discussions and meetings with your staff and also […]
The post John Chayka on his patient process for hiring the Leafs’ next head coach: “It has been a while since the organization has done a full search” appeared first on ...
At the 2026 NHL Draft Combine, Maple Leafs Director of Amateur Scouting Mark Leach discussed the evaluation process, the opportunity to draft 1OA, working under John Chayka, and his thoughts on Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and Chase Reid. How many players have you interviewed over the last week or so? Leach: Well, we take advantage […]
The post Maple Leafs draft czar Mark Leach on whether he dug into Gavin McKenna’s bar fight incident in his combine interview: “I didn’t really dig into that...
“We missed a couple of coverages in front of our own net. They didn’t do anything other than just put pucks to the net, which you do at this time of year, and they got rewarded. “Our guys do a lot of good. We just have to eliminate the catastrophic. If we do that, we’ll […]
The post Backs against the wall, Toronto Marlies face pivotal Game 5 after blowing two-goal lead in Game 4 appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
At the 2026 NHL Draft Combine, GM John Chayka discussed his visits with Gavin McKenna and Ivan Stenberg, his coaching search, Max Domi’s health situation, his meetings with Auston Matthews, the hiring of Freddie Hamilton as Chief of Staff, and much more. What is this experience like for you in anticipation of the first-overall pick? […]
The post John Chayka on his meeting with Auston Matthews: “I saw a happy captain, someone who has a lot of pride in being the captain of the Leafs, someone w...
Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discusses his team’s 4-3 loss to the WBS Penguins in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final. The series is now tied 2-2. On the team conceding three goals in the second period: Their goalie made some really big saves early to keep it at 2-0. They got a […]
The post John Gruden on Easton Cowan’s giveaway costing the Marlies late in Game 4: “It’s not going to define who he is as a Toronto Maple Leaf… He’s a pro and a gamer, and he’ll bounce back” appeared...
“I thought we did a lot of good things. We scored the late goal in the second. I thought we came out really well in the third. We got playing in a four-on-four with these guys, and we missed a check down there. They had a line rush 3-on-2, and they made us pay. They […]
The post William Villeneuve sets franchise playoff points record, Toronto Marlies in need of a response after a frustrating, controversial Game 3 loss appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discusses his team’s 5-3 loss to the WBS Penguins in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final. The Marlies now lead the series 2-1, with Game 4 set for Wednesday in Toronto. On the deciding factors in the result: I thought we did a lot of good things. We […]
The post John Gruden on the officiating in the Marlies’ Game 3 loss to WBS: “They’re trying to protect the goalies, and they should… They said they would start taking one, but it just seems like it’s ...
John Chayka continued to reshape the Maple Leafs’ front office on Monday, hiring Judd Brackett as an AGM (Player Evaluation) and Freddie Hamilton as Chief of Staff. It’s hard to figure out what’s going on with this theme of Leafs managers owning restaurants outside of hockey, but maybe it’s part of why Chayka and Judd […]
The post John Chayka continues reshaping Maple Leafs’ front office, hires Judd Brackett as new AGM appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
“It was one of our better games, I thought. Over 60 minutes, we did a lot of good things. We were better tonight than we were in Game 1. We have to bottle up a lot of what we did there and use it. We have to realize that, at the end of the day, […]
The post Michael Pezzetta comes up clutch again, Toronto Marlies head home with a 2-0 series lead in Eastern Conference Final appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discusses his team’s 2-1 overtime victory over the WBS Penguins in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final. On Michael Pezzetta scoring a game-winner in back-to-back games: If you look at the playoffs for any team that continues to have success, the top lines neutralize themselves, and it is […]
The post John Gruden on the Marlies’ fourth line scoring back-to-back game winners to take a 2-0 series lead: “We have four lines that can all play the game” app...
“I thought we played really well in moments, but we still know how dangerous they are in their transition game. We got a little cute on a few shifts there, but again, it is a bend-don’t-break mentality, and when it matters the most, our group finds a way to show up. This is a best-of-seven, […]
The post Pezzetta scores game-winner, Akhtyamov wins goaltending battle as Toronto Marlies score late goal to stun WBS in Game 1 appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discusses his team’s 4-2 victory over the WBS Penguins in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final. On starting the fourth line (Pezzetta-Johnston-Johnson) to begin the game, and the line coming through with the game-winner in the third period: They’re the heartbeat of our team at times. When we […]
The post John Gruden on the Marlies’ fourth line scoring the winner in Game 1 of the ECF: “They’re the heartbeat of our team at times” appeared first on Maple...
Against all expectations, the Toronto Marlies have bested the rest in the North Division. They did it the hard way, becoming the third team in AHL history to win three winner-take-all games in a single Calder Cup postseason. Now playing with house money, the Marlies’ reward is a matchup with the vaunted Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Regular […]
The post Toronto Marlies vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins: Eastern Conference Finals Series Preview & Schedule appeared first on Maple Leafs Hots...
As we gear up for the NHL Draft, free agency, and the Maple Leafs’ hiring of a new head coach, the Toronto Marlies keep finding ways to win playoff series. It hasn’t always been pretty, but the Marlies are off to the conference finals after winning their third winner-takes-all game this postseason. It’s only positive […]
The post Five Thoughts on the Toronto Marlies’ playoff run: Akhtyamov shines, Danford’s pro debut, Villeneuve’s production, Cowan’s showing & more appeared first on Maple ...
Ahead of the start of the Conference Final series in Wilkes-Barre, Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discussed the challenge of facing the Penguins, the importance of his veteran leaders during the playoff run, and the developmental benefits of postseason experience for the team’s younger prospects. What are the key areas of focus ahead of […]
The post John Gruden on the benefits of the Marlies’ deep playoff run: “These are great moments for Cowan, Chadwick, Danford, Akhtyamov… I can’t ...
“I thought we came out with the right mindset. The resilience of our group — to bend, but not break — is such a credit to our guys, with the way they handle themselves when our backs are against the wall.” – John Gruden “We’re never out of the fight.” – Vinni Lettieri. “We always […]
The post Easton Cowan scores dramatic late winner, Toronto Marlies roar back in final five minutes to clinch series victory in Cleveland appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discusses his team’s series-clinching 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Monsters in Game 5 of the North Division final. On the feelings coming off another winner-takes-all playoff victory: How can you not be excited about what just happened in those last five minutes? I do believe it started from the […]
The post John Gruden after another comeback win punched the Marlies’ ticket to the Conference Final: “I said it between the periods: ‘We bet on you guys i...
“We got our team back. They found their confidence. They found their mojo. And I knew they would. We’ve said it all year and all playoffs long: When their backs are against the wall, it brings out the best in them. I guess that is a good trait to have when your team is on […]
The post Artur Akhtyamov & Ryan Tverberg stay hot, Toronto Marlies force Game 5 with best effort of the series vs. Cleveland appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discusses his team’s 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Monsters in Game 4 of the North Division final. On the team finding a higher level to its play in a do-or-die game, after two straight losses: It definitely hasn’t happened in this series other than the third period of the […]
The post John Gruden on the Marlies bouncing back to force a winner-takes-all Game 5 vs. Cleveland: “We got our team back” appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .