Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images Big money! Big money! As we embark on the second half of the season, I find myself thinking back to the beginning of the year. Nothing matters until the playoffs, how will the goaltending tandem hold up, and will Auston Matthews score 70 this year? And then there was quite a bit of talk about the next contract for Auston Matthews. … [Read more...] about The Next Contract For Auston Matthews
FTB: Tuesday Brings Practice
Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images And practice brings news, noteworthy or otherwise Good morning and welcome to the Tuesday edition of From The Branches. I will be your guide today; please follow me. After a couple of wins and an off-day the Leafs should be back in action to prepare for the next game against Nashville. That one runs Wednesday at 7:30 PM, and … [Read more...] about FTB: Tuesday Brings Practice
Half full, half empty, half done
Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images Where are the Leafs at the half? With Sunday’s win over the Flyers, the Maple Leafs have played their 41st game, and are half done. As of Sunday night, they are third in the NHL in points (tied with Carolina at 57), and third by points percentage, with New Jersey as the only eastern team close to them from below. There is a … [Read more...] about Half full, half empty, half done
Monday FTB: Timmins’ first and the Marlies’ 4000th
Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images It was a good night for the Leafs and the Marlies as both teams went 2-0 over their weekend back-to-backs. Good morning! Last night the Leafs beat the Flyers 6-2. It was a solid win against a bad Flyers team: Tavares is absolutely rolling lately, Matthews got his 20th of the season, ZAR finally got a goal, and Timmins scored … [Read more...] about Monday FTB: Timmins’ first and the Marlies’ 4000th
T25 revisited: Once again, we were wrong in our analysis
Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images No one ever wrote a song called Look Back with Chagrin. It’s time once again to put on the hindsight goggles and laugh at our former selves. Or brag, there might be some bragging too. In what has become a part of the Top 25 Under 25 ranking of Maple Leafs prospects tradition, we’re going to go back and see what we got wrong, what we … [Read more...] about T25 revisited: Once again, we were wrong in our analysis