The Toronto Maple Leafs made it official on night one of the 2026 NHL Draft, selecting Gavin McKenna first overall with a little help from Justin Bieber. We're in full celebration mode as we break down the pick, where McKenna fits into the lineup and why we think he's going to thrive in Toronto. We also get into the rest of the draft night action including trades and top ten picks, then close it out with our thoughts on Matthew Knies, Morgan Rielly, Mike Babcock throwing his wife under the bus and much more.

Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/Mg3JnKNhoU4

(0:00) - Gavin McKenna is a Maple Leaf!
(6:00) - Where does McKenna fit in the Leafs lineup?
(14:00) - A magical end to an otherwise awful season
(18:04) - The NHL has gone haywire
(25:20) - The Matthew Knies trade rumours
(28:38) - Is Morgan Rielly sticking around?
(38:50) - Mike Babcock's magnum opus

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are just days away from selecting first overall in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft and we've officially dubbed it "McKenna Week" on the podcast. We discuss our excitement for the expected arrival of Gavin McKenna and why we think he'll be a great fit in Toronto. Next we move onto the Sergei Bobrovsky rumours and why it might not be such a bad idea for the Leafs to take him on, Brady Tkachuk bailing on the Ottawa Senators for the Florida Panthers, the Matthew Knies trade rumours that won't go away, and Mike Babcock officially being named head coach of the Edmonton Oilers.

Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/GCdeuWz7VE4

(0:00) - It's McKenna Week!
(11:48) - Does Bobrovsky to the Leafs make sense?
(20:18) - Brady Tkachuk bails on the Sens
(24:24) - US players and big market pressure
(28:09) - The Knies trade rumours won't go away
(32:54) - Mike Babcock officially named Oilers head coach

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The Toronto Maple Leafs' electric start to the offseason continued on Friday when GM John Chayka announced the acquisition of Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning. We break down the deal, where Raddysh fits into the lineup, and why we don't think it's the overpay some people are calling it. We also revisit this week's storylines and react to Chayka's comments from today's media availability.

Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/NAMZvHpRchc

(0:00) - The days of kicking tires are OVER
(1:45) - Where does Raddysh fit in the Leafs lineup?
(9:00) - The spirit of the team
(11:38) - Does this change anything for Morgan Rielly?
(12:22) - Chayk'n Big Swings
(19:37) - Trading Knies? "Not probable"

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have hired Jim Hiller as the 41st head coach in team history. We react to the shocking news that Hiller, who wasn't rumoured at all prior, got the job. We dive into his background, his familiarity with Auston Matthews, and his underrated analytical approach. We also discuss the Marlies being one win away from a Calder Cup championship, Matthew Knies popping up in trade rumours again, and Rogers and CBC parting ways, ending Hockey Night in Canada as we know it.

Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/Fluep8os1lo

(0:00) - Who Saw This Coming?
(06:00) - Jim Hiller's Background
(09:25) - Leafs Nation Predictably Freaking Out
(15:22) - Marlies One Win Away from the Calder Cup
(17:44) - Knies Back on the Trade Block?
(19:48) - The End of Hockey Night in Canada

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Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka made the first move of the new era today, shocking Leafs Nation by trading Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Emil Andrae and Samuel Ersson. We react to the trade and the wave of negativity that came online after. We also react to Elliotte Friedman's report that the Leafs are looking at NCAA Western Michigan head coach Pat Ferschweiler.

Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/AawYlW_Yk3o

(0:00) - Chayk'n Moves
(03:32) - Overvaluing Joe Woll
(07:43) - Emil Andrae
(08:34) - A Wave of Negativity
(10:18) - Pat Ferschweiler Enters the Chat

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Toronto Maple Leafs talk takes a back seat to start today's episode as we recap the Carolina Hurricanes defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in six games to win the Stanley Cup. We discuss what other teams can learn from Carolina going into next season and yes, Mitch Marner once again went quiet when it mattered most. Next up, Morgan Rielly's future with the Leafs, the Marlies going up 2-0 in the Calder Cup Final, the latest on the coaching search and more.

Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/vXktyGPVq5M

(0:00) - Hurricanes Win the Cup
(02:50) - What Can Other Teams Learn from Carolina?
(11:30) - No Cup for Mitch
(17:41) - Morgan Rielly Trade Talks
(20:40) - Carolina's Culture
(22:18) - Robertson & Maccelli
(27:00) - Marlies 2 Wins Away from the Calder Cup
(30:15) - Are the Leafs Waiting for Cassidy?

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Toronto Maple Leafs content has to take a back seat for a minute because Mike Babcock is back. Reports are linking the former Leafs head coach to the Edmonton Oilers job and we give our take on whether the juice is worth the squeeze. Back on the Leafs front, the coaching search is down to five candidates, Gavin McKenna says he's excited to be a Maple Leaf, and we weigh in on what's been a great Stanley Cup Final so far.

Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/gaaakyk25kI

(0:00) - The Babcock Debacle
(11:04) - Oilers Are Focused on the Wrong Things
(14:38) - DraftKings
(15:30) - Leafs Coaching Search Final 5
(25:30) - Babcock & Hyman Connection
(26:39) - McKenna Excited to Be a Leaf
(33:08) - Stanley Cup Final
(38:36) - RIP Cliff Fletcher

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Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code THPN so you’re ready for the moment. That’s code THPN. Turn five bucks into $100 in bonus bets instantly. In partnership with DraftKings. The Crown Is Yours. Gambling Problem? Call one eight hundred GAMBLER or one eight hundred MY RESET. New York: call eight seven seven eight HOPENY or text HOPENY. Connecticut: call eight eight eight seven eight nine seven seven seven seven or visit CCPG dot org. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino in Kansas. Wager tax pass-through may apply in Illinois. Twenty one plus in most states. Void in Ontario. Restrictions apply. Bonus bets expire seven days after issuance. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see sportsbook dot draftkings dot com slash promos. Limited time offer. Copyright 2026. NHL. All Rights Reserved.

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This Toronto Maple Leafs offseason keeps delivering. Elliote Friedman dropped the news that Joe Pavelski is in the mix for the head coaching job and we give our take on why this is an encouraging sign from John Chayka and Leafs management. Also on the episode, the Toronto Marlies punching their ticket to the Calder Cup Final, Gavin McKenna impressing at the draft combine, the failed Matthew Knies to Montreal trade at the deadline, Dylan Larkin wanting out of Detroit, and Mitch Marner looking like the clear Conn Smythe favourite.

Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/JN6ep6q8uTU

(0:00) - Leafs Electric Offseason
(02:55) - The Pavelski Possibility
(10:25) - Giordano & Gruden Also in the Mix
(13:35) - McKenna Impresses at the Combine
(16:19) - DraftKings
(17:39) - Knies Almost a Hab
(20:59) - Larkin Requests a Trade
(25:25) - Marlies Headed to the Calder Cup Final
(29:18) - Marner the Conn Smythe Favourite
(41:35) - More on Pavelski

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Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code THPN so you’re ready for the moment. That’s code THPN. Turn five bucks into $100 in bonus bets instantly. In partnership with DraftKings. The Crown Is Yours. Gambling Problem? Call one eight hundred GAMBLER or one eight hundred MY RESET. New York: call eight seven seven eight HOPENY or text HOPENY. Connecticut: call eight eight eight seven eight nine seven seven seven seven or visit CCPG dot org. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino in Kansas. Wager tax pass-through may apply in Illinois. Twenty one plus in most states. Void in Ontario. Restrictions apply. Bonus bets expire seven days after issuance. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see sportsbook dot draftkings dot com slash promos. Limited time offer. Copyright 2026. NHL. All Rights Reserved.

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