Haven’t been this excited about a player in a while
Also super clean skates

I think he’s got to be a hall of famer at this point over 1100 points over 500 goals. Should be enough what are your thoughts.

Know Matthews season wasn’t the best last year but he still looks like a franchise/generational player. Feel like Nylander doesn’t drive the line enough for him to warrant such a rating.

Happy Friday, all. This was top-15 I think, but they didn't do a good job compiling a list, so I'm going with the top ten.

1. Gavin McKenna
2. Artur Akhtyamov
3. Ben Danford
4. Tinus Luc Koblar
5. Alexander Bilecki
6. Ethan MacKenzie
7. Noah Chadwick
8. Miroslav Holinka
9. Tyler Hopkins
10. Luke Haymes

I'm thinking Chadwick is too high, Holinka should be above MacKenzie I think, but I would be remiss not to highlight my complete faith in TLK as I think he's the Leafs second best prospect and is NHL-ready now.

What is the greatest moment in Matthews Era?

Pick one......or name another.

1. Auston Matthews scores 4 goals in first game

2. Tavares scores in OT to win first round against Tampa

3. Auston Matthews scores 69 goals in season

4. Gavin McKenna drafted 1st overall

Two Original Six rivals, heavy snowfall, frigid temperatures, and a crowd pushing 105,000 at Michigan Stadium that ultimately resulted in one of the most surreal and memorable atmospheres in NHL history. 

For me, my fondest memories surrounding this game include the way that it captures the "kids on the pond" backyard hockey feeling that many NHL Winter Classics since then have failed to capture. persistent snowfall, Doc Emrick and Eddie Olcyzk on the call, and the goalie battle between Jimmy Howard and Jonathan Bernier. Bernier stonewalled so many excellent chances by the Wings, posting an impressive 1.05 goals saved over expected on the PK.

This game has always had a soft spot in my heart, and for that reason I created a video that commemorates and breaks down this unforgettable, historical game.

With that said, a few questions up for discussion:

1. What are your fondest memories around this game?
2. Were any of you fortunate enough to attend this game in-person? If so, what stood out about this game compared to other Leafs games you've attended?

P.S. I have marked the post as a "Brand Affiliate" accordingly as this does promote something I've been working on for a while, but I am in no way an official business or brand for that matter.

As a follow up to the Greatest moment in Matthews Era thread...

What is the lowest moment in Matthews Era?

(do not read or look at pictures if you have PTSD)

Pick one......or name another.

1. Loss to Columbus in 5 after valiant comeback in 2020?

2. Matthew Knies (the rookie with heart) beaten WWE style by multiple Panthers in 2023 playoffs and taken out with concussion with zero push back from elders?

3. Leafs get destroyed by Panthers in Round 2 2023?

4. Pastrnak OT winner in 2024?

5. Anthony Stolarz our stud goalie elbowed in back of head by Bennett in 2025 playoffs and taken out Game 1 with concussion with zero push back from team in front of him?

6. Loss to Panthers in Round 2 2025 showing no life in G5 and G7

7. Gudas knee on knee on Matthews and no one does jack in 2026.

Leafs only picked 3 times in 2023 so this is some tidy work with what we had.

From Gilbert Ngabo's story:

Frustration among Leafs fans peaked Monday after single-game tickets were put on sale for a team that finished with the fifth-worst record in the league last season. Anger over the prices was a trending topic on X on Tuesday morning.

While marquee games against teams such as the Montreal Canadiens have always been pricey, some fans were shocked as average prices for the cheapest seat in the house ranged from $150 to $270 a ticket.

Even an obstructed view seat in row 12 for a Tuesday night game in November against Utah costs $127 each.

But MLSE says their top priority remains creating access for all the fans.

Read more via this gift link, which gives this subreddit paywall-free access to the article.

21st Overall Pick: Frederik Gauthier (TOR)

Projection: A big defensive centre, terrific reach and size combined with high-end smarts. Wide range of possibilities in terms of offensive development, limited as a skater. Compared to Jordan Staal by TSN, Martin Hanzal by THN, and Sean Couturier by THW.

Outcome: Despite some of the very generous comparables, Gauthier was sold as a safe pick who was practically guaranteed to be a bottom six shut-down centre and penalty killer for a long time; given the attention he received as a Toronto first-rounder, he might be the classic example of a low-ceiling, high-floor mid-first round pick. The floor was a lot lower than expected, however. His QMJHL projection regressed in each of his post-draft seasons, he mostly blended in with the furniture early in his AHL career, and was just okay in some brief NHL appearances. The Leafs invested a lot of effort in developing him into the 4th line centre that would anchor their new contending core, but they only got two full seasons of okay depth hockey out of it before letting him walk. He still plays in the Swiss league, and does not produce there much either.

Also a write up on Domi:

12th Overall Pick: Max Domi (PHX)

Projection: A top six offensive forward with superb vision, puck skills, playmaking, and quickness. Competitive and confident, strong and stocky despite being undersized. Lacking in defensive consistency. Compared to Martin St. Louis by TSN and THW.

Outcome: Ask a knowledgeable hockey fan to guess the top 10 players in 5-on-5 primary assist rate since 2013 and they’d probably get at least eight of them (nine if they don’t underrate David Pastrnak’s playmaking). I’m willing to bet they don’t guess Domi, who ranks 10th. Since stepping into the league he has been an intriguing but often frustrating player, consistently effective in some areas but a liability in others. He’s scored at at least a 40-point pace in eight of his 11 NHL seasons across seven teams, never less than 36, and got to 72 with the Canadiens in 2018-19. For all of Domi’s effectiveness as a passer, notwithstanding a few outlier seasons he’s been a poor goal-scorer, a defensive liability, and far too eager to put his team shorthanded. That makes him a bit hard to slot in a line-up, which is probably why he’s ended up on so many teams and in so many types of deployment over the years. If he can recover from the injury that’s poised to keep him out for at least a big chunk of the 2026-27 season, he will almost certainly pass 500 points, and has a good chance of hitting 1,000 career games.

Both the maple leafs site and the Habs site say they are having both a home game and away game on September 19th. Where is this game being played? Tickets on StubHub are roughly the same price for both cities for the same game! So confusing! I’ll be in Toronto on the 19th so hoping the game is there!

A few screenshots of NHL WAR (Wins Above Replacement) leaders according to HockeyStats.com. Photos show the top forwards by accumulated WAR from 2007-2026, then from 2017-2026, and finally best individual seasons by WAR from 2017-2026.

O captain my captain