Ladies Talkin’ Leafs

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

In this episode, Chris and Syl celebrate winning the Bronze Award at the Sports Podcast Awards. They review the Toronto Maple Leafs' performance in the first half of the season, highlighting the resiliency of the defense and also the team's inconsistency. They also discuss the team's needs at the trade deadline, focusing on the defense and left winger positions. The hosts then recap the NHL All-Star Weekend, sharing their top 10 moments, including meeting media members, the All-Star red carpet, and the mascot showdown, Chris's favourite! Finally, in their Third Period segment, they analyze the Eastern Conference standings and discuss potential playoff matchups for the Leafs. In this episode, the hosts discuss various topics related to the Toronto Maple Leafs, including goaltending, team physicality, the upcoming schedule, the importance of winning games, and of course, the up and coming trade deadline. Takeaways The Toronto Maple Leafs' defense has shown resiliency despite injuries and inconsistent performanc

This Leafs team is taking us through an emotional roller coaster and they are in a tough stretch of games right now playing 8 games in 13 nights and so far it hasn’t been great! In this episode we start the show with some Leaf Talk, and our conversation covers the team's recent struggles, concerns about coach Sheldon Keefe, and issues with specialty teams, the PK in particular. Then, for our Third Period segment, in anticipation of this week's home and home with the Winnipeg Jets, we welcome Jets Host and Producer Sara Orlesky to break it all down. She shares her impressions of what has made the Jets so successful so far this season, and why it should stick this year. As well we discuss the pseudo-rivalry between the Leafs and the Jets, the upcoming NHL All-Star Game, and her work in creating a connection between fans and the team through the documentary features she is producing. Finally, we discuss the best and worst aspects of a Winnipeg winter. Surprisingly, despite the cold temps, the good seems to outwe

Happy 2024 everyone!  A New Year, and for the Leafs they have started 2024 in pretty good shape, going 3 and 0 on their California road trip! Auston Matthews had a December to remember, and we’ve started the year with plenty of Nylander buzz, while also being in the midst of a full on All Star voting frenzy on X! This episode sees the return of our regular segments, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, and the Ladies Talkin’ Leafs Highlight reel. We’re back on track after a Post Global Series hiccup, with mostly good news to report, but there’s still some work to be done, notably on the power play, particularly if the Leafs plan on making any inroads in the standings. We celebrate 2 debuts on the Highlight reel this episode, as a new fan favourite and emergency back stop join the ranks. Of course the top spot is once again occupied by a familiar player that is continuing to re-write the Leafs record books. Then, for the Third Period, we welcome back our Ladies Talkin’ Leafs Insider, Mike Augello. It seems all road

Welcome to the 5th Annual LTL Holiday Special! So excited to be bringing this to you for a 5th straight season! This year we have a special show for you as we have Paul Hendrick to regale us with his favourite stories from his years covering the Leafs, and of course he gives us his insight on John Tavares' 1000 point milestone! To start the show, its time to give thanks to all the people that have made this year possible, namely YOU our listeners, and also all the Maple Leafs Fan groups that have supported us this season. We have also had some incredible guests join us, with a special shout out to our LTL Insider Mike Augello! Its been one hell of a year! Next its time to talk some Leafs, and we roll the LTL Highlight Reel and discuss the week that was which included some exciting comebacks, JT's incredible milestone in the most poetic of settings, and some sweet revenge vs Pittsburgh! Then, for our Third Period segment, we welcome 40 year veteran broadcaster and long time voice of Leafs TV and Leafs Nation N

We're baack! We are so excited to tell you about our trip to Stockholm, and what it was like being behind the scenes at the NHL Global Series! There were so many highlights, from mixing with the players and media members, witnessing touching fan interactions, and the splendour that is Stockholm. Each of us had moments we will never forget. Next, its the return of the Good the Bad and the Ugly, and we pick up where we left off, giving kudos to Morgan Rielly and finally give Tyler Bertuzzi his due, as well as point some criticism coach Sheldon Keefe's way, and discuss our frustration with all the too many men on the ice penalties. Then, with the delicious staple Swedish Meatball as our inspiration, we created a fun segment called 'Maple Leaf Meatballs' where we match different meatball flavours with Maple Leafs players! Check it out to see if you agree with our picks! We conclude this episode with a fascinating interview with Travis Howe and Laith Murad of NHL Breakaway on the future of sports collectibles, and

We are back after a couple of big wins for the Leafs vs Flames and Canucks and now the team is heading off to Stockholm, Sweden for the NHL Global Series for games vs. Detroit Red Wings on Friday, Nov. 17th and vs. the Wild next Sunday, Nov. 19th. We'll be there to bring you all the news and highlights from a fans point of view and as a wrap we'll be holding our first ever livestream on YouTube Sunday November 19th at 3 PM Eastern, 12 noon for our listeners in the West. Feel like we need to pinch ourselves and we are beyond excited to represent Leafs Nation in Stockholm! Before we get there though we still have business to attend to here at home. We begin this episode with a bit of Leaf Talk, reviewing the week that was. It was an interesting one, with lots of ups and downs, player movement, rumours and innuendo, culminating with perhaps Leafs most complete game, a win versus the Canucks. Then, for our Third Period segment we welcome Jackie Redmond, host on the NHL Network and the NHL on TNT, as well as backs

Welcome to a bonus episode of the show!  Not because we want to talk about the Leafs losing streak, which is up to 4 games now after the loss to the Sabres. But, because we have great guest coming up in our 3rd Period segment! Before we get to our guest, we of course have some Leaf talk, and we look into the 3 games vs the Kings, Bruins and Sabres. While we managed to get a couple of points from these losses, we know that a lot has to improve with our depth scoring, defensive play and penalty kill for this team to ultimately have success. With a few games left before they head to Stockholm, we're hoping they start to turn things around. What better way to start than with a win over Tampa? For our 3rd Period segment we have a very special guest and are excited to have 2-time Gold Medalist for our Canadian women’s hockey team and now a broadcaster with TSN, Cheryl Pounder! Cheryl joined us to talk about the Leafs, the Senators, and the new PWHL that is starting up in January 2024! Cheryl had some amazing insigh