Staff writer
@TheAthletic
(Maple Leafs/Canadian soccer) • The Voyageurs: The Canadian Men's Soccer Team's Quest for the World Cup • Pizzaiolo-in-training
Ryan Reaves tells TSN: “(The Leafs) are built with a lot of skill up front but not a lot of grit,” adding “I’ll just beat someone up and all the pressure is off.”
Maple Leafs prospect Rodion Amirov looks to have arrived in Toronto and is working out with the Leafs staff. He’s looking happy and healthy, which is terrific to see. (📸: Amirov’s Instagram)
Spezza on leaving his wife and four daughters to play in the playoffs: "They understand Daddy's got a dream of winning a Stanley Cup and there's not too many years left."
After The Tragically Hip’s last tour, Gord Downie’s family limited visitors for him, with one exception.
“There was always an open door for Joe.”
This is the story of a friendship that changed two men, and how it might have led Thornton to Toronto.
Spezza on his league-minimum deal: "All I care about is playing on a good team. I'd take less if I could. Anything I can do to help the team acquire better players."
While you might have been sleeping, Leafs prospect Fraser Minten scored another OT winner in the WHL conference finals.
This one featured quite the celebration though:
Meet the Mintens.
Chantal and Trevor said it was Morgan Rielly’s parents who ushered them into Scotiabank Arena today and gave them the lay of the land before they watched Fraser’s NHL debut.
“We would have missed warmups without them,” Trevor said.
A+ humans here:
William Nylander confirms he was suffering from migraines early in the series and the Leafs staff worried it was a concussion.
“I couldn’t really see,” Nylander says.
19-year-old Alphonso Davies has done what no Canadian men’s national team player has ever done: won the Champions League. A historic day for the best Canadian athlete on the planet right now.
Had someone told Josh Ho-Sang he'd be playing in the Olympics a few months ago, he says he would've "laughed in their face."
"I wouldn't have been able to do this without the opportunity given to me by Kyle Dubas."
Kirill Semyonov on his time in Toronto (translated):
“I learned a lot, both in the professional sphere and in everyday life. Most of all I talked with Jason Spezza. It was interesting to watch how he prepares for games, how he trains. I had a tremendous experience in Toronto.”
Jack Campbell on the urgency in playing with players like Jason Spezza and Mark Giordano late in their career: “The best feeling would be seeing them lift a Cup.”
Forgive the lack of impartiality, but watching Christine Sinclair in particular play for gold has the chance to be one of the most important events in Canadian sports history. Can’t wait.
#CanWNT
Jason Spezza on the Leafs adhering to the strict COVID-19 protocols, and making the effort as a team to stay as safe as possible: "It shows the overall commitment of what we're playing for: the Stanley Cup."
Bradley: "When you look at Toronto, the diversity, the tolerance, the progressiveness, the city and the country, when you talk about a place to raise your family, we're proud to live here and we're proud to call the city home."
#TFCLive
Dubas said the Leafs didn't sign any of their AHL players to NHL deals to keep the slots open for possible college players incoming.
Knies and Abruzzese joining the Leafs soon feeling even more likely...
Now that restaurants are open again, Jack Campbell is excited to organize a Leafs team dinner at Red Lobster instead of sending meals to teammates.
“It’s better when it’s hot,” said Campbell.
Training camp, friends, is dragging on.
Leafs prospect Roni Hirvonen will be Finland's captain at the world juniors, according to head coach Antti Pennanen.
Fellow Leafs prospect Topi Niemelä will be an assistant captain.
Dubas says most Leafs have begun to look to return to Toronto and begin small group training whenever possible. Also confirms Ilya Mikheyev and Jake Muzzin should be 100% ready to return to play.
Babcock said he had old teammates from England in town this week: “They saw two Marlies losses, two Leafs losses and midway through this game I wanted to send security up to get them outta the building.”
Just had a chance to ask Alistair Johnston why he thinks Canada can get out of the World Cup group stage. Here's his long, and revealing, answer.
Getting excited yet,
#CanMNT
fans?
Sheldon Keefe on how William Nylander has juggled a week’s worth of off-ice obligations while delivering on the ice: “He’s unflappable,” before adding:
“He’s a rockstar here.”
William Lagesson was in the middle of a sushi lunch in Montreal with his former Leafs teammates when he found out he was claimed off waivers. Timothy Liljegren says Lagesson barely had time to finish before having to leave. Tough business.
Justin Trudeau should be happy he already left Edmonton because Milan Borjan just grabbed a beer from someone in the crowd and is still chugging it and he probably could have become Prime Minister in that moment.
#CanMNT
“I know my name isn’t what it used to be. I don’t give a f—.”
Nick Robertson is no longer the next young hope in Toronto. But that hasn’t changed his belief in becoming an NHL player.
Joe Thornton had already played 55 NHL games before Mac Hollowell was born. Thornton was giving Hollowell a ton of playful jabs, and pointers, at Leafs practice earlier this week. Just another player Thornton has influenced: (📸:
@hollowell44
)
Might be missing something, but why not just wear these in the game? NHL teams continue to miss out on not having a handful of different jerseys every season.
Dubas jokes about Hyman progressing through his injury: "I saw Hyman on Twitter today being thrown up into the air like six feet at a wedding so I think we're on course there."
John Klingberg won’t play tomorrow, per Sheldon Keefe.
Is Keefe worried that Klingberg’s injury will keep him out long-term?
“It’s certainly getting to that place.”
Canada is in first place in Concacaf World Cup qualifying after a resounding 2-1 win over Mexico, long the best team in the region.
After arguably the most historic night in Canadian men's soccer history, World Cup dreams are starting to look like reality.
#CanMNT
Kyle Dubas on the TSN pre-game, speaking about Rasmus Sandin: "We would expect him, at some point here in the second half of our season, to contribute to the Leafs and be ready to go for the playoffs with us."