Leafs Morning Take

Nick Alberga and David Pagnotta break down another massive week in Leafs Nation with Senior Writer from The Fourth Period, Dennis Bernstein. To start, they dive into Toronto's stunning sign-and-trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning for Darren Raddysh. Bernstein explains why he likes the move, why the 8-year, $68 million contract doesn't bother him, and what realistic offensive expectations should be...

Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill sift through the latest news, notes, and rumours surrounding the Maple Leafs following their unveiling of Jim Hiller as the 41st head coach in franchise history. The boys break down the hire, discuss what it means for the future of the team, and dissect the key takeaways from Hiller and GM John Chayka's introductory media availability. Meantime, the Toronto Marlies...

Barry Trotz joins Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill to break down what the Maple Leafs are getting in new head coach Jim Hiller. Having worked alongside Hiller for three seasons with the New York Islanders, Trotz shares insight into Hiller's coaching style, leadership qualities, communication skills, and why he believes he's ready for one of the biggest jobs in hockey.  🚨 Subscribe to Leafs Na...

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Dakota Joshua joined Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill for a wide-ranging conversation. He started by reacting to the hiring of Jim Hiller as the team's new head coach, calling it exciting news and noting he's heard nothing but positive things about Hiller from people around the organization. Joshua also discussed the significance of change following a disappointing seaso...

Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill kick off the show with Todd Minerson from Movember Canada to spotlight Men's Health Week and the importance of men's mental and physical well-being. After that, the boys recap Game 3 of the Calder Cup Final as the Toronto Marlies blanked the Chicago Wolves 1-0 to grab a commanding 3-0 series lead. They break down another stellar performance from Artur Akhtyamov, Eas...

Nick Alberga and Carter Hutton are joined by Frank Crupi, otherwise known as the Hockey Illuminati, for a spirited discussion on all things Maple Leafs. Firstly, Frank weighs in on the Toronto Marlies, who sit just two wins away from capturing the Calder Cup. From there, the conversation shifts to Mitch Marner's struggles in the latter stages of the Stanley Cup Final and his decision not to speak...

Nick Alberga and David Pagnotta react to a significant trade between the Maple Leafs and Flyers. Toronto has dealt Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit to Philadelphia in exchange for Samuel Ersson, Emil Andrae, and a 2026 third-round pick. The guys break down the deal from all angles, discuss what Ersson brings to the Leafs' crease, whether Andrae can help Toronto's blue line, and what this move says abo...

Nick Alberga & Carter Hutton continue to break down the fallout from Carolina's Stanley Cup victory, including Mitch Marner's disappointing finish to the series after recording just one assist and a minus-5 rating over the final three games. Did the same playoff concerns that followed him in Toronto resurface on hockey's biggest stage? Plus, the boys preview Game 3 of the Calder Cup Final as t...

Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill recap Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final as the Carolina Hurricanes captured the Stanley Cup, defeating Vegas to claim hockey's ultimate prize. They break down what led to Carolina's championship run, key performances throughout the series, and what ultimately went wrong for the Golden Knights. Plus, the Toronto Marlies are now halfway to a Calder Cup after grabbing a...

Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill are joined by Managing Editor and Senior Writer at Daily Faceoff, Matt Larkin. The conversation starts with Carolina's Stanley Cup victory and the long road it took to get there. From there, they dive into Mitch Marner's postseason, including the absence of any post-game media availability following Vegas' Game 6 loss. Larkin weighs in on Marner's playoff performanc...

Nick Alberga is joined by newly appointed Hamilton Hammers head coach Jay McKee. First, McKee discusses his decision to leave the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs for the AHL, why the opportunity in Hamilton was too good to pass up, and how difficult it was to move on from Brantford. He also talks about his long-term goal of coaching in the NHL and the differences between coaching junior players and profe...

Nick Alberga recaps Carolina's 4-2 win over Vegas in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final as the Hurricanes moved one victory away from capturing the Stanley Cup. After that, Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden joins the show to preview the Calder Cup Final against the Chicago Wolves and discuss what's fuelled his team's impressive playoff run. Additionally, newly appointed Hamilton Hammers head coa...

Nick Alberga catches up with Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden ahead of the Calder Cup Final. Gruden breaks down the Marlies' playoff run, the team's resilient identity, and the passionate fan support that's helped fuel their success. He also previews the matchup with the Chicago Wolves, explaining why their style closely mirrors that of their NHL affiliate, the Carolina Hurricanes. Plus, Gru...

Nick Alberga & David Pagnotta tee up a pivotal Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final as the series shifts back to Raleigh with everything on the line. Who has the edge, and what are the biggest storylines to watch as the Hurricanes and Golden Knights battle in a best-of-three? Plus, Pagnotta shares the latest on the Maple Leafs' ongoing coaching search. With several candidates still believed to be i...

Nick Alberga & David Pagnotta are joined by Toronto Sun Leafs reporter Terry Koshan to break down the latest surrounding Toronto’s ongoing coaching search. Koshan weighs in on the Joe Pavelski speculation, explaining why the idea may not be as far-fetched as it first seemed, while sharing insights from conversations with Pete DeBoer and Steve Spott about Pavelski’s coach-like approach to the g...

Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill are joined by TSN Hockey Analyst and former Maple Leaf Frankie Corrado to break down the latest in Toronto's coaching search. Corrado weighs in on the intriguing possibility of Joe Pavelski behind the Leafs bench, explaining why recently retired players can bring a fresh perspective to coaching and why the Martin St. Louis model in Montreal is worth examining. He al...

Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill break down Carolina's pivotal 5-3 win over Vegas in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final to tie the series up a two games a piece. From there, the conversation shifts to the Maple Leafs' ongoing coaching search. Could Joe Pavelski be a legitimate candidate despite his limited coaching experience? The boys debate the merits of bringing in one of the NHL's most respected f...

Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill preview a pivotal Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final as Vegas looks to take a commanding series lead over Carolina. The guys also break down the Calder Cup Final matchup, now officially set after Chicago's Game 7 victory over Colorado in the Western Conference Final. It's Marlies vs. Wolves for the AHL championship, and they discuss what Toronto must do to finish off i...

Fresh off leading the Kitchener Rangers to a Memorial Cup championship, Jussi Ahokas joined Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill to reflect on the journey to the top. He discussed the grind of the CHL season, what it takes to win at the highest level, and how his Rangers squad was able to capture junior hockey's ultimate prize. Having coached championship teams at multiple levels, Ahokas shared the com...

Nick Alberga & Bruce Boudreau weigh in on the passing of legendary Maple Leafs executive and Hockey Hall of Famer Cliff Fletcher, reflecting on his impact on the organization and the game of hockey. After that, they recap an absolutely wild Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final as the Vegas Golden Knights edged the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 in double overtime to take a 2-1 series lead. Mitch Marner st...

Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill are joined by Hall of Fame defenceman Chris Pronger for a jam-packed interview. To kick things off, Pronger weighs in on Dylan Larkin's reported desire to leave Detroit and discusses potential landing spots for the 29-year-old star centre. While he sees a fit in Toronto, Montreal, and several other markets, Pronger stresses that acquiring a player of Larkin's calibr...

Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill recap Carolina's thrilling 4-3 overtime win over Vegas in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, as the Hurricanes tied the series at one game apiece. They also preview a pivotal Game 5 of the AHL Eastern Conference Final as the Toronto Marlies continue their battle with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. On the Leafs front, the boys debate whether Toronto should make a play for Dyla...

Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill tee up Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final as the Vegas Golden Knights look to build on their thrilling 5-4 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in the series opener. They also react to Jon Cooper capturing the first Jack Adams Award of his coaching career. Back in Toronto, the boys recap a tough 4-3 loss for the Marlies in Game 4 of the AHL Eastern Conference Final as...

Jackie Redmond joined Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill for a wide-ranging conversation centered around the Maple Leafs and a pivotal offseason ahead. First, she weighed in on Toronto's ongoing coaching search. Interestingly, Redmond identified Patrick Roy as one of the more intriguing candidates, suggesting he's a rare personality who could walk into the Toronto market completely unfazed by the pre...

Nick Alberga & David Pagnotta break down an entertaining Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final as Mitch Marner and the Vegas Golden Knights outlasted Frederik Andersen and the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 to take a 1-0 series lead. The guys also dissect all the fallout from Gary Bettman's annual State of the Union address, including the NHL's revamped All-Star Weekend format and other key league-wide dev...