The Toronto Maple Leafs captain was still processing his team’s second-round playoff exit when Kyle Dubas took the stage for an emotional end-of-season news conference.
It would be the latter’s final public act with the organization.
Dubas was fired as general manager in May despite helping Toronto get over its long postseason hump after a tumultuous stretch that started with him questioning his desire to continue in the role with the cameras rolling.
Leafs president Brendan Shanahan made the decision for him shortly thereafter by dropping the hammer before hiring Brad Treliving, who had just left the Calgary Flames, as a veteran replacement.
“There’s been a tremendous amount of continuity in my time in Toronto, and probably the most significant shift and change that we’ve had,” Tavares said at this week’s NHL/NHLPA player media tour in suburban Las Vegas. “Not easy, just because you’ve been through a lot with Kyle.
“But that’s the sport, that’s the business. Unfortunately things didn’t work out.”
Now after a summer of change, Tavares and the Leafs are ready to move forward.
Treliving shook up the roster in free agency, adding a combination of skill, sandpaper and personality to the group by signing forwards Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi and Ryan Reaves, along with defenceman John Klingberg.
He then inked Auston Matthews, who could have walked into unrestricted free agency next summer, to a contract extension that commits the star centre to Toronto through the 2027-28 campaign. Treliving also extended head coach Sheldon Keefe’s current deal for two seasons beyond 2023-24.
“Brad’s come in and he’s been tremendous,” said Tavares, who signed a seven-year, US$77-million contract to come home to Toronto in the first few months of the Dubas tenure in July, 2018. “He wants to come in and just continue to elevate what we already have going on with the group and how we operate.
“Things have definitely sunk in and the page has been turned.”
Treliving mentioned on the first day of free agency he wanted to liven up the team’s culture, describing the locker room as “quiet” to reporters.
“I don’t think it’s a bad thing,” Tavares said of adding vocal pieces. “We have a very committed, a very driven group that’s under a tremendous amount of attention and spotlight. It’s good to have a balance of things and guys that can come in and bring a different type of energy.
“As he’s expressed to me, [Treliving] just wants to tweak the knobs and the dials to find the right mix to help us get to our ultimate goal.”
The Leafs defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning last spring to move on in the postseason for the first time since 2004, but were no match for the physicality of the Florida Panthers in the next round.
Tavares said Bertuzzi, Domi and Reaves, players unafraid to mix things up in the dirty areas, will help Toronto with that, along with their ability in hockey’s dark arts – the game within the game – before, during and after the play.
“It’s [personality] not just off the ice,” Tavares said. “It’s on the ice, too. These players can play. It’s not just about bringing sandpaper it’s their ability to impact the game in different areas.
“Those guys will definitely come in and bring some of that, which will help elevate that from everyone.”
Sammy’s crease
Ilya Samsonov heads into his second Toronto training camp as the team’s undisputed No. 1 goaltender after splitting duties with Matt Murray for long stretches last season.
The Russian was rewarded with a one-year, US$3.55-million contract in arbitration after posting a 27-10-5 record to go along with a .919 save percentage in 2022-23.
“He’s been hard at work,” Tavares said of the netminder cut loose by the Washington Capitals in July, 2022. “Wants to go out there and deliver. He’s a great competitor.
“He’s a very driven goalie.”
Knies up
Tavares and his family opened their home to Matthew Knies after he joined the Leafs out of U.S. college hockey for last season’s playoffs.
With another summer under the 20-year-old winger’s belt, his landlord expects big things.
“Sky’s the limit for him,” Tavares said. “Really impressed with the way he came in.”
Knies also saw his postseason cut short by a concussion after getting wrestled to the ice by Florida forward Sam Bennett in the second round.
“Definitely some things he’ll learn, especially from the playoffs and the physical nature of it,” Tavares said. “Held his own extremely well, which is not an easy thing to do. It was a bit surprising, to be honest. And then you add along his skill set. He’s got great hands, great touch, great touches with the puck, make solid plays.
“He’s a huge home run for us. His potential’s through the roof.”
VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks announced Tuesday that defenceman Alex Edler will sign a one-day contract in order to officially retire as a member of the NHL team.
The signing will be part of a celebration of Edler’s career held Oct. 11 when the Canucks host the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Canucks selected Edler, from Ostersund, Sweden, in the third round (91st overall) of the 2004 NHL draft.
He played in 925 career games for the Canucks between the 2006-07 and 2020-21 seasons, ranking fourth in franchise history and first among defencemen.
The 38-year-old leads all Vancouver defencemen with 99 goals, 310 assists and 177 power-play points with the team.
Edler also appeared in 82 career post-season contests with Vancouver and was an integral part of the Canucks’ run to the 2011 Stanley Cup final, putting up 11 points (2-9-11) across 25 games.
“I am humbled and honoured to officially end my career and retire as a member of the Vancouver Canucks,” Edler said in a release. “I consider myself lucky to have started my career with such an outstanding organization, in this amazing city, with the best fans in the NHL. Finishing my NHL career where it all began is something very special for myself and my family.”
Edler played two seasons for Los Angeles in 2021-22 and 2022-23. He did not play in the NHL last season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
The sixth-ranked Canadian women will face World Cup champion Spain in an international friendly next month.
Third-ranked Spain will host Canada on Oct. 25 at Estadio Francisco de la Hera in Almendralejo.
The game will be the first for the Canadian women since the Paris Olympics, where they lost to Germany in a quarterfinal penalty shootout after coach Bev Priestman was sent home and later suspended for a year by FIFA over her part in Canada’s drone-spying scandal.
In announcing the Spain friendly, Canada Soccer said more information on the interim women’s coaching staff for the October window will come later. Assistant coach Andy Spence took charge of the team in Priestman’s absence at the Olympics.
Spain finished fourth in Paris, beaten 1-0 by Germany in the bronze-medal match.
Canada is winless in three previous meetings (0-2-1) with Spain, most recently losing 1-0 at the Arnold Clark Cup in England in February 2022.
The teams played to a scoreless draw in May 2019 in Logroñés, Spain in a warm-up for the 2019 World Cup. Spain won 1-0 in March 2019 at the Algarve Cup in São João da Venda, Portugal.
Spain is a powerhouse in the women’s game these days.
It won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2022 and was runner-up in 2018. And it ousted Canada 2-1 in the round of 16 of the current U-20 tournament earlier this month in Colombia before falling 1-0 to Japan after extra time in the quarterfinal.
Spain won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2018 and 2022 and has finished on the podium on three other occasions.
FC Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati (2023) and Alexia Putellas (2021 and ’22) have combined to win the last three Women’s Ballon d’Or awards.
And Barcelona has won three of the last four UEFA Women’s Champions League titles.
“We continue to strive to diversify our opponent pool while maintaining a high level of competition.” Daniel Michelucci, Canada Soccer’s director of national team operations, said in a statement. “We anticipate a thrilling encounter, showcasing two of the world’s top-ranked teams.”
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024
TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced cookie brand Oreo as the team’s helmet sponsor for the upcoming NHL season.
The new helmet will debut Sunday when Toronto opens its 2024-25 pre-season against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena.
The Oreo logo replaces Canadian restaurant chain Pizza Pizza, which was the Leafs’ helmet sponsor last season.
Previously, social media platform TikTok sponsored Toronto starting in the 2021-22 regular season when the league began allowing teams to sell advertising space on helmets.
The Oreo cookie consists of two chocolate biscuits around a white icing filling and is often dipped in milk.
Fittingly, the Leafs wear the Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s “Milk” logo on their jerseys.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
