37 h. ago RICK VAIVE: Two cagey Stanley Cup coaches enliven this series

We’ve seen three one-goal games in this Toronto-Florida series, which is pretty amazing on its own. But I’ve also enjoyed watching what’s happening behind both benches. Paul Maurice of the Panthers started Game 3 with an entirely new fourth line, A.J. Greer, Tomas Nosek and Jonah Gadjovich. Who does that? Two of them hadn’t been […]

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3 d. ago RICK VAIVE: Letting Nylander be himself is best for Maple Leafs

We both play right wing, spent a few years with the Leafs and know a few things about shooting and scoring. Our numbers are also double digits, 22 and 88. But the similarities between myself and William Nylander kind of end right there. He’s far more talented, his speed and edge work are so impressive. […]

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5 d. ago RICK VAIVE: To win in playoffs, the best teams can’t lose their heads

I can see where people who grew up watching a different National Hockey League — and those playing in it now — can sometimes get frustrated. On one hand, there was Anthony Stolarz of the Leafs getting hurt without a penalty called on Sam Bennett. One the other, it seems you can’t get away with […]

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7 d. ago SIMMONS: Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube not intimidated by Cup champion Florida Panthers

Craig Berube has been scratching, clawing and fighting his way through the many levels of professional hockey for most of the past 38 years, so you can excuse him if he’s not intimidated by the Florida Panthers. When asked how his Maple Leafs will fare in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against […]

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8 d. ago Florida Panthers’ Paul Maurice wonders if a coach belongs in a handshake line

Paul Maurice has been through something like 25 playoff series handshake lines as an NHL coach, four of them last season in winning the Stanley Cup with Florida. It’s everything he loves – and sometimes detests – in hockey’s book of unwritten rules. He said the signs of respect were genuine on Wednesday as he […]

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1 week ago RICK VAIVE: Time for Craig Berube to make himself heard in the room

It’s time to interrupt this program for a message from Craig Berube. While I understand the coach doesn’t want to share his thoughts in the media as he said Wednesday, let’s hope he’s making a point behind closed doors. I was floored the Leafs played as badly against Ottawa as they did in Game 5, whether it […]

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2 w. ago RICK VAIVE: Hat trick of overtimes hard on the players, but great for the fans

Nothing tops the drama of NHL playoff overtime, right? And we’re fortunate, as viewers, to see it the past three games in this series, with the Ottawa Senators down 0-3 Saturday and facing a tee time if they didn’t pull it out. They ended up winning on much the same kind of goal that Simon […]

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2 w. ago RICK VAIVE: In praise of the blue line’s unsung heroes and Leafs excellent work in faceoff circle

The Toronto Sun welcomes former Toronto captain and three-time 50-goal winger Rick Vaive for our 2025 Maple Leafs playoff coverage.

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2 w. ago RICK VAIVE: Good on Anthony Stolarz for standing his ground; Maxi Domi did his dad proud

Some people might be shocked at how rough it got between Anthony Stolarz and Ridly Greig, hacking and whacking each other in Game 2. I thought it was fantastic. Considering Greig went hard into Stolarz during the series opener on Sunday and nothing was called, now you’re just letting the other guy know that you’re […]

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3 w. ago Calgary Wranglers draw Coachella Valley Firebirds in first round of AHL playoffs

While the Wranglers will be in tough against the Firebirds, it’s a major positive for the Flames that their up-and-comers will be playing high-pressure games this spring in the minors

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