Ladies Talkin’ Leafs

Welcome to our 6th season talkin’ Leafs! In this episode of Ladies Talkin' Leafs, its all about the pre-season, as we discuss training camp expectations, and highlight the excitement surrounding some of our rookie prospects, opening the show with a puck drop primer Q & A. Then we welcome back LTL Insider Mike Augello for the Third Period to help us analyze recent signings, including Nick Robertson and Max Pacioretty, while also addressing the goaltending concerns and defensive pairings. We wrap up our conversation getting Mike's impression surrounding the significance of Auston Matthews being named captain and his overall outlook for the upcoming season. For however quiet it was for Leafs news over the summer, it seems that that dial has now been turned up to 100, with news and sightings coming fast and furious! There aren't many things that can top the  anticipation of a new NHL hockey season and seeing your favourite team hit that fresh sheet again after a long hiatus. As camps open today, enjoy the exc

Welcome to the final Patio Season episode of the Ladies Talkin’ Leafs offseason with another year in the books for our show! We are celebrating an incredible season and the 5th Anniversary of this Podcast, doing what we love, talkin' Leafs with all of you! In this episode we're going to take a listen down memory lane as we run a very special Anniversary edition of the LTL Highlight Reel, featuring our most popular episodes from each of the past 5 seasons. Then, with training camp just around the corner and many holes yet to fill, we welcome Nick Barden, contributor to The Hockey News Toronto, to discuss the top prospects in the Leafs organization and get his thoughts on who he thinks could make the Leap to the big club. He also gives us his insights into the recent hiring of Steve Sullivan as an assistant coach for the Marlies and what he feels are the biggest question marks the Leafs still have going into the upcoming season. It's been another incredible year for us here on Ladies Talkin' Leafs and we have s

The Leafs gave us some big news to talk about in naming Auston Matthews the 26th captain of the team! All things being equal, we don't think MLSE could've executed the move any better and by most accounts the official reveal was received positively by players and Leafs Nation alike. John Tavares handled the transition with grace and we are certain will continue to be a valuable presence in the dressing room. The appointment of Matthews as captain begins a new chapter and will help bridge the generational divide within the team. The press conference was filled with touching moments, including Tavares' support for Matthews and his kids wearing Matthews jerseys. Moving forward, we are sure JT will thrive without the added pressure of being captain, and we expect Matthews to grow into the role and show even more leadership on and off the ice. One thing is certain, the honour of wearing the C for the Toronto Maple Leafs is not lost on AM34! Our lasting impression will definitely be the image of him beaming with pr

It's been a fairly quiet off-season for the Maple Leafs so far. In taking a bit of a closer look though, Brad Treliving and Co., have done some tidy business in the back-ground. In this episode we review what the front office has accomplished so far, and what we expect is still on their to-do list. We open the show with our Leaf Talk segment reviewing what the Leafs have accomplished to this point in the off-season, highlighting Development Camp, and some of the standout players. We then discuss the recent management changes, including the hiring of Mark Leach as the new Director of Amateur Scouting, and of course we also discuss the recent signing of Alex Nylander. in addition we discuss the uncertainty surrounding the unfinished business of the Jani Hakanpää free agent signing and still un-signed Nick Robertson, and potential impacts these have on the team. Of course, the conversation would not be complete without a mention of the ongoing Mitch Marner trade rumours. Then we switch gears as we rate the summe

Welcome to another episode of Ladies Talkin’ Leafs Quick Hits!  It’s Patio Season and we hope everyone is having a great summer!   In this instalment we revisit episode 5 from earlier this season where we welcomed former Olympian, as well as Hockey Analyst and Broadcaster Cheryl Pounder to discuss the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) and the excitement surrounding its inaugural season. Cheryl highlighted several of the teams and players to watch out for, including players like Carla McLeod and Brianne Jenner from Ottawa, Alina Mueller from Boston, and Marie-Philippe Poulin from Montreal. She also mentioned the depth of talent in the league, with players coming from college and showcasing their skills. Cheryl was the perfect guest to have on to showcase the League for us, and after speaking with her, we could hardly wait for the PWHL season to start. A few months later, we now know that the league definitely came as advertised and we could not be happier with the visibility and growth that women's hoc

Welcome to Ladies Talkin’ Leafs Quick Hits!  It is our Patio Season, but as we mentioned in our previous episode we will be with you all summer long! In this episode, we take you back to our recent interview from our 100th episode, with former Leafs player Mark Osborne. It was so great to interview him and of course we could not resist asking Mark about the ‘93 and ‘94 playoff runs. Mark shared with us his special memories from those exciting years for Leaf players and LeafsNation. He talked about the team's resilience and the special moments that defined those playoff runs. It seriously gave us goosebumps hearing him recount his experience and brought back all those memories from those glorious playoffs past. Here's to hoping we'll be making a lot more playoff memories in the not too distant future. Hope you enjoyed this instalment of LTL Quick Hits! While the rest of the hockey world is on hiatus, we're bringing you Leafs content throughout the summer, so be sure to subscribe or follow so you don't miss an

This has been one exciting week for the NHL! Before the dust had even settled on an electric Stanley Cup win by the Florida Panthers, the league pivoted right to the NHL Awards, followed in quick succession by the Draft at Sphere and the opening of the Free Agency. For Leaf fans like us this also signalled an end to the lull in Leafs news, giving us lots to talk about in a jam packed show, our first of Patio Season! We start the conversation discussing the NHL draft and free agency, and touch on the moves made by the Maple Leafs. The draft at Sphere in Las Vegas was a real spectacle, giving us lots to discuss as we share our thoughts on the Leafs' draft picks. Then we turn our attention to the team's signings prior to the opening of free agency, including Max Domi, Timothy Liljegren, and Joseph Woll. For the Third Period, we welcome back our LTL Insider Mike Augello to break down the signings made by the Leafs during the opening hours of the NHL free agency period, getting Mike's insights on the team's moves

It's been almost eerily quiet in Leaf Land over the last few weeks, with only a few hushed exits and a hiring on the coaching front to speak of. With the Cup still up for grabs, and Gary's unwritten "No Announcements" rule, its probably to be expected (the Stanley Cup Final is still being contested as I write this). But, we cover the Toronto Maple Leafs though, which means there's never a shortage of ongoing off-season storylines to follow and discuss. In this episode we open the show touching on a variety of topics including the NHL salary cap increase, the Four Nations Face-Off tournament, and the upcoming NHL docu-series on Prime Video.Then in our next segment our conversation turns to--you guessed it--Leaf talk, where we cover the Leafs coaching changes, the status of some of the current player contract negotiations, and of course the uncertainty surrounding Mitch Marner. Next, the LTL Highlight Reel returns, celebrating a few of our favourite moments from the 2023-34 Leafs Season, including a m

Other than Mitch Marner and Craig Berube having a chat over coffee, there hasn’t been much going on in Leaf Land. But that doesn't mean there's a shortage of things to talk about when it comes to the Leafs! In this episode, before we get into the Leaf Talk, we take a bit of time to congratulate some Leafs that are enjoying some off-season success as well as weigh in on the PWHL Playoffs, and the incredible foundation that was laid this season for that league's future success! After a brief conversation covering a range of topics including NHL playoffs, we pivot to the Leafs headlines of the day, discussing player performances, assistant coaching changes, and potential team strategies for the off-season. In particular, we take a deeper dive into the way that the Maple Leafs organization has handled player development, and the potential impact a rumoured coaching hire may have on the Leafs' anemic power play, highlighted in some recent articles that caught our eye. Then, for The Third Period, we welcome back La

The Leafs have a new head coach and we’re going to give our thoughts on the hiring of Craig Berube and what’s next on the to-do list for GM Brad Treliving! We start off this episode, looking at Craig Berube, the former player, and coach, as well as the potential changes that may come under his leadership. To that end we explore a couple of trade possibilities involving players that may no longer fit the new mold like Timothy Liljegren, Nick Robertson and possibly also Mitch Marner. For the Third Period we revisit an interview with Damien Cox, who emphasizes the difference between fan expectations and the business side of success. We also touch on the impact of new CEO Keith Pelley and his focus on stability and unity within MLSE. Overall, our conversation highlights the need for the Leafs to make strategic moves to improve the team, laying the ground work to finally get the Buds over the hump en route to the ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup. The wheels are already in motion, with likely much more to c

It’s just over a week since the Leafs lost Game 7 to the Boston Bruins.  A very familiar outcome, and we knew there would be a lot of news coming out of this playoff exit and so here we are with an extra episode! In this bonus Third Period instalment, we welcome back LTL Insider Mike Augello to discuss the Leafs latest playoff exit, and the fallout, as we head into another early off-season. We get his thoughts on everything from the end of season player comments, including Mitch Marner's remarks, to an analysis of Sheldon Keefe's firing as head coach, as well as debate potential replacements. The conversation then shifts to the Maple Leafs' post season media availability featuring Keith Pelley, Brendan Shanahan, and Brad Treliving, and together we wonder whether changes are finally coming to the team, and we look at the possibility of trading one of the core and whether its time for a new captain. One things for sure, MLSE has got to get the coaching decision right! We wrap up our chat with Mike by getting hi

In an all too familiar turn of events, another season is over too soon and it’s going to be another interesting summer for the Toronto Maple Leafs! For this Maple Leafs postmortem we reprise our Good, the Bad and the Ugly segment, and open by discussing how well the Leafs' defense performed as a whole, despite lacking big-name players. and how rookie Matthew Knies stood out with his tenacity and scoring.  The team's home ice record however was a disappointment, with a lack of success at Scotiabank Arena, and the power play was a major weakness, with a lack of goals and missed opportunities. Unfortunately, results like this also yield some ugly moments, so we touch on the coaches' controversial post-game comments, with Sheldon Keefe suggesting that opposing teams set the team up to beat themselves and Jim Montgomery's comments about seeking advice from other coaches, namely Mike Babcock! Despite the disappointment, there were still standout performances. In a special edition of the LTL Playoff Highlight Reel,

Leafs are down 3 to 1 in the series vs. Bruins and its quite the predicament the they find themselves in! Emotions are running high on the bench and in the recording booth! In this playoff episode we discuss the Toronto Maple Leafs' performance in this series vs the Boston Bruins so far, focusing on their struggles at home, their lacklustre specialty teams, and the performance of the core four. Like all of Leafs Nation we're frustrated with the team's inability to make adjustments and just play their game in the playoffs! One thing's for sure if the the lack of accountability continues and the right adjustments in strategy aren't made, the performance of head coach Sheldon Keefe will be called into question once again, and this time, we have no doubt changes will be made. Still, there is at least one more game to be played. Never give up. Never surrender! GO Leafs GO! Takeaways The Toronto Maple Leafs have struggled in the playoffs, particularly at home. The team's power play and penalty kill have been ineffe

Welcome to the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs!  Unfortunately, for the Leafs it has started with a game one loss to the Bruins but it’s only the first game of a 7 game series. One game, and as usual some hockey people are already saying the series is over. For this episode we welcome back LTL Insider Mike Augello to discuss the Toronto Maple Leafs' performance in the playoffs so far, specifically in their opening game loss to the Boston Bruins. Mike brings you all his criticisms and concerns surrounding the Leafs, including those surrounding their goaltending, lack of scoring, undisciplined play, and coaching. We also touch on the importance of players stepping up in the playoffs and the need for the team to play to their strengths and stick to their roles. We wrap things up with a discussion on who should start in Game 2 and whether Willy will be back, as his absence left a big hole in the the lineup and had a huge impact on the result of game 1. Leafs Nation, while we all felt that all too familiar sinking feelin

We're celebrating our 100th episode! Joining us to discuss the Leafs and the upcoming NHL playoffs are  journalist and author Damien Cox and former Leaf and current Pro Scout for the NHL's LA Kings, Mark Osborne. Damien Cox, a media and broadcasting veteran, shares his thoughts on Auston Matthews' historic season, the Leafs' defense, Sheldon Keefe's coaching, and the potential impact Keith Pelley may have as the new CEO of MLSE. Then, in our conversation with Mark Osborne, we chat about what its like playing with record-breaking teammates, the role of a shutdown line, the pressure of playing in Toronto, and his experience as a pro scout with the LA Kings. He shares insights from his time as a player, his perspective on the media, and the importance of the best players performing in the playoffs. We're so happy to be able to bring you the insights of these two savvy pros! With Damien Cox's extensive knowledge of the Leafs and the Canadian sports media landscape, and Mark Osborne's vast experience in hockey on

Welcome to our 1st volume of LTL Quick Hits!  In this bonus episode, we discuss the upcoming NHL playoffs and who would prefer to play the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round. When we last spoke with Rachel Doerrie, we asked her to weigh in on the potential matchups between the Leafs, the Boston Bruins, and the Florida Panthers. In this excerpt, Rachel explains why Boston would probably want to take on the Buds and we definitely agree! With the  Bruins historical dominance over the Leafs and the mental advantage they hold, no doubt they would be licking their chops. We also discuss the Panthers' strong offensive weapons and the goaltending factor. One thing is for sure, at some point the Leafs' playoff hopes will need to go through Boston. Beating the Bruins could be just the thing to galvanize the Leafs and relieve them of the mental burden they've been carrying. After that anything goes! Go Leafs Go! Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:24 The Bruins: A Nightmare Matchup 08:09 Conclusion and Farewell

It’s April and that means it’s almost playoff time!  We don’t know who the Leafs are going to play, but we do know that Ladies Talkin’ Leafs is once again going weekly for the playoffs! It’s always exciting at this time of year and just like you we’ll be cheering and hoping our Leafs will have a long playoff run, which will mean even more Ladies Talkin’ Leafs! In this episode, we discuss the upcoming NHL playoffs and congratulate a couple former Leafs on their milestones. Then, for this instalment of the LTL Highlight Reel, we spotlight the signings of Simon Benoit and Bobby McMann, the incredible atmosphere for the game against the Oilers, and of course, Auston Matthews' 60th goal! Then for the Third Period, we welcome Maple Leafs reporter David Alter to discuss the team's performance heading into the final weeks of the regular season.We also discuss players who have impressed and those who have not lived up to expectations. We wrap up our conversation with a discussion about Mitch Marner's return and the li

Its inevitable that when the annual St. Paddy's Day game rolls around, our thoughts drift to the history of the team we love, and this year is no exception, so we begin the show remembering Pat Burns. In this episode, the Good the Bad and the Ugly returns and we spotlight the performances of Ilya Samsonov and Pontus Holmberg, critique of Sheldon Keefe's coaching decisions, as well as express our concerns about the penalty kill. Then for the Third Period we welcome Rachel Doerrie to help us analyze the Leafs' performance at the trade deadline. We discuss various topics related to the Leafs' moves, including the impact of not having a second-round pick, the goaltending situation for the playoffs, and the evaluation of Timothy Liljegren. And she pulls no punches with respect to her thoughts on Keefe's adjustments in the wake of Mitch Marner's injury! She is a wealth of knowledge and we appreciated her expert analysis and had fun getting to know her a bit better. To wrap up we preview the upcoming games and discu

It’s March and this is where the games start to mean a lot more and teams get their game ready for the stretch drive to the playoffs.  The Leafs are 9-1-0 in the past 10 games and you can’t get much better than that! In this episode we start the show with a run down of some recent Leafs' milestones and recognize the achievements of several players, as well as coach Sheldon Keefe with regular season win #200. The GBU is taking a break for the week and we instead move from milestones to highlights! We roll the Reel and shine the spotlight on the performance of a couple newcomers to our list in Ryan Reaves and Tyler Bertuzzi, as well as Highlight Reel regular Mitch Marner! For the Third Period, the conversation shifts to the upcoming trade deadline as we welcome our LTL Insider Mike Augello to discuss whether Treliving still has a card to play, the goaltending situation, and his opinion on John Tavares' new role and whether he expects it to stick. With the NHL Trade Deadline only a few days away, it has been eer

Time has flown by since our last episode and as always we have a lot to get into. The NHL standings are very tight and the Leafs right now sit 3rd in the Atlantic only three points ahead of the Lightning, but with 3 games in hand. We kick off the show with a bit of levity, sharing some fun social media posts. Then, we’re back to our regular programming, with the Good, the Bad and the Ugly, where we highlight the performances of Jake McCabe and Max Domi. We also take a look at the Leafs' struggles against bottom six teams and the inconsistent play of Pontus Holmberg, as well as express our frustration with the NHL Department of Player Safety. Next we showcase the standout performances of Ilya Samsonov, Bobby McMahon, and Auston Matthews with the LTL Highlight Reel. Then, in the Third Period, we discuss potential trade options for the Leafs leading up to the NHL trade deadline, and take a stroll down memory lane reviewing some past trade deadline deals, featuring Yannick Perreault and Owen Nolan. We wrap up wit