Ladies Talkin Leafs

Let's be honest — it's never a dull moment in Leafland!

Craig Berube is now out as head coach, the front office is in full search mode, and oh yeah — the 2025 NHL Entry Draft is just around the corner. So we did what any self-respecting Leafs fan would do: we called in an expert. Pro hockey scout and prospect guru Sam Tirpák of Pro Hockey Group to join us to for The Third Period to make sense of it all.

We kick off the show though with some love for the Marlies who have done what the big club couldn't and are continuing their thrilling playoff run. Then we get into real talk on why Berube's time in Toronto came to an end, what it reveals about where the Leafs are headed, and — most importantly — who should be behind the bench next season. Is there an internal candidate like Steve Sullivan who's been hiding in plain sight? What kind of coach does this team actually need right now? Spoiler: one who knows how to develop young players and can get the most out of the team's stars!

Then we nerd out on the 2025 NHL Draft, and honestly, this class is exciting! Sam Tirpák walks us through the prospects that have piqued his interest most, including:

Ivar Stenberg — a guy you need to know about if you don't already, with a well rounded game, poised to make an immediate impact.
Gavin McKenna — the name everyone keeps saying could be a generational talent. We get into why the hype is real.
Adam Andersson and Mans Gudmundsson —  a couple of late-round picks that can quietly change a franchise.

We also talk about what Toronto actually needs in this draft — hint: a dynamic left winger could change everything for their offensive core — and why keeping an eye on the World Championship and NHL Combine right now is so important heading into draft day.

If you bleed blue and white, or you just love smart hockey talk, this one's for you. Grab your coffee and let's dig in!

Timestamps:

00:14 – Introduction & recent Leafs updates
01:03 – Marlies playoff run & players to watch
03:02 – Coaching changes & candidate breakdown
04:11 – Internal management shifts & their implications
08:56 – Evaluating Craig Berube's style & why he was fired
11:40 – The coach's role in player development
15:11 – Top candidates for the Leafs' head coach position
22:25 – New coaching contenders & European prospects
32:26 – 2025 NHL Draft & first overall pick analysis
40:20 – Player comparisons & developmental pathways
52:16 – Tinus Luc Koblar & long-term prospect timelines
58:55 – Final thoughts on prospects & coaching philosophy
66:30 – Closing remarks

Guest: Sam Tirpák — Follow on X/Twitter |https://theprohockeygroup.com/

LEAF IT TO THE LADIES  https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/428755/1/70vrrftg0jeql7ag

https://bleav.com/shows/ladies-talkin-leafs/

https://www.ladiestalkinleafs.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOtMA8vhKUo

Support the show https://ko-fi.com/ltl1917

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/scouts-analysis-ranking-the-top-45-prospects-for-the-nhl-draft/

https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/artur-akhtyamov-shining-light-marlies-playoffs

https://hockeyhotstove.com/leafs-house-cleaning-continues/https://hockeyhotstove.com/leafs-house-cleaning-continues/

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/fox-firing-berube-the-right-call-by-new-maple-leafs-management-team/

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-head-coach-candidates-hire-malhotra-cassidy-laviolette-donskov-carle-sullivan

https://thehockeywriters.com/maple-leafs-mckenna-first-overall-obvious-choice-dont-count-out-stenberg/

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/ivar-stenberg-toronto-maple-leafs-2026-nhl-draft-lottery-team-sweden-oliver-ekman-larsson-gavin-mckenna

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-lock-in-no-59-pick-in-2026-nhl-draft-after-sabres-elimination

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-prospect-tinus-luc-koblar-scores-first-world-championship-goal

#leafs #leafsforever #leafsnation #leafsnews #torontomapleleafs #nhldraft #nhl #ltl1917

5 6

Craig Berube is no longer the #Leafs coach & on our recent podcast Nick Barden made a key point about his usage of star players.

For more on Berube, the NHL Draft Lottery, Marlies playoff run & more watch the full episode! #leafsforever #leafsnation #nhl #podcast #ltl1917

2 1

It was a week of whiplash for Leafs Nation! It all began with a puzzling and contentious press conference announcing the team's new front office structure, which left many baffled and concerned for the future. Then, a little more than 24hours later, the mood completely flipped as the Leafs parlayed their 5th spot in the draft order into the number 1 overall selection in the up and coming NHL entry draft!

We're kicking off the show with a look at this incredible moment that hopefully will make this latest dismal season feel worthwhile. While there's plenty of business to be done for the Leafs, we could not wait to share our thoughts and excitement about the draft results right off the top!

But before the ping pong balls even started flying, Monday brought a very different kind of conversation. The Leafs unveiled their new front office leadership tandem — John Chayka as GM and Leafs legend Mats Sundin in a senior hockey operations role — and let's just say the fanbase had thoughts. We dig into Chayka's controversial path back to the NHL, what his hiring says about the direction of this organization, and what role the iconic number 13 will actually play in reshaping the Leafs' culture and roster.

Then in the Third Period, we're joined by Nick Barden from The Hockey News for a wide-ranging conversation covering:

What the number one pick means for Toronto's rebuild timeline
Roster priorities and the decisions ahead on the blue line and up front
The goaltending situation and what the Leafs do between the pipes going forward
Coaching decisions and the player development pipeline
The Toronto Marlies, who are competing in the AHL Playoffs second round — and why their performance matters more than ever this spring

Whether you're cautiously optimistic or still skeptical about the new regime, this is the episode you need to make sense of one of the wildest weeks in recent Leafs history.

Subscribe, leave us a review, and let us know in the comments — are you buying what Chayka and Sundin are selling?

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction to Leafs' Offseason
01:57 – NHL Draft Lottery Excitement – We're Number One!
05:53 – New Management Team Announcement
12:03 – John Chayka's Controversial Hiring
17:26 – Mats Sundin's Role and Impact
22:29 – Interview with Nick Barden on Leafs' Future
32:01 – Draft Lottery and Roster Priorities
36:01 – Coaching Decisions and Player Development
40:24 – Marlies Playoff Performance and Impact
50:45 – Goaltending Situation and Future Prospects
55:41 – Offseason Outlook and Team Strategy

LEAF IT TO THE LADIES   https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/428755/1/70vrrftg0jeql7ag

https://bleav.com/shows/ladies-talkin-leafs/

https://www.ladiestalkinleafs.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOtMA8vhKUo

Support the show https://ko-fi.com/ltl1917

Episode 14 - Interview with Steve Paikin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdBzuV1PKFQ&t=1s

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-plan-offseason-draft-lottery-win-mckenna-stenberg-chayka-matthews-trade

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/its-best-for-the-league-how-toronto-celebrated-after-maple-leafs-earned-the-2026-first-overall-pick

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/what-exactly-will-mats-sundin-do-in-his-role-as-senior-executive-advisor-with-the-maple-leafs

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/six-thoughts-on-the-maple-leafs-hiring-mats-sundin-and-john-chayka/

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/john-chayka-craig-berube-open-keeping-head-coach-toronto-maple-leafs-press-conference-introduction-general-managerr

https://thehockeywriters.com/matthews-nylander-reportedly-ask-for-major-changes-this-offseason/

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/article/matthews-future-in-toronto-up-in-the-air-heading-into-key-off-season/

https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/rocket-rock-marlies-at-home-series-heads-for-deciding-fifth-game-in-laval

#leafs #leafsforever #leafsnation #torontomapleleafs #nhl #nhldraftlottery #ltl1917

23 7

Film director, Steve Paikin, joined us to talk about a new documentary on #Leafs legend Bill Barilko & the greatest goal scored in Leafs history! #leafsnation #leafsforever #ltl1917

8 2

Today it was reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman that the #leafs are waiting to hear from Mats Sundin for the Head of Hockey Ops role. John Chayka or Scott White are supposedly the candidates for the G.M. position.

On our recent podcast our LTL Insider, Mike Augello, gives us his thoughts on Sundin and whether or not he is the right fit for the Hockey Ops job.

Do you like the idea of Sundin having a big role in the Leafs management team? Leave us a comment.
#leafsforever #leafsnation #nhl #podcast #ltl1917

5 2

LEAF IT TO THE LADIES  
https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/428755/1/70vrrftg0jeql7ag

The Toronto Maple Leafs have always been more than a hockey team — they're a story that never stops being told. In this episode, we take you on a journey from one of the most haunting chapters in franchise history all the way to the urgent questions facing the organization today.

We open with a look at where the Leafs stand as another season winds down — the playoff picture, the pressure, and the questions that just won't go away for a fanbase that's been waiting a long, long time.

Then, we sit down with award-winning journalist and filmmaker Steve Paikin to talk about his new documentary on Bill Barilko — the defenceman whose overtime goal won the Leafs their 1951 Stanley Cup, and whose mysterious disappearance turned him into one of hockey's most enduring legends. If you think you know the Barilko story, think again. Steve brings new layers to a tale that connects the soul of this franchise to something deeper than wins and losses.

In our Third Period segment, Ladies Talkin' Leafs insider Mike Augello joins us for an unfiltered breakdown of where this team actually is — and where it's headed. We dig into the GM search, the future of Craig Berube behind the bench, the ripple effects of recent trades, the complicated role of Mats Sundin in the franchise conversation, and what kind of leadership this team desperately needs to finally turn the page.

From the ghost of Barilko to the very real chaos of the front office — this is the Leafs episode you didn't know you needed.

Subscribe, drop a comment, and let us know: who should be the next GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Chapters:

00:00 — Leafs Season Recap and Playoff Hopes
02:47 — Bill Barilko: A Legacy in Hockey History ft. Steve Paikin
17:12 — Current State of the Leafs and Future Prospects
40:34 — Analyzing Player Trades and Market Dynamics
45:45 — The Challenges of Managing a High-Profile Team
47:20 — Craig Berube's Coaching Future and Team Culture
52:01 — The Impact of Management Decisions on Team Performance
56:00 — Exploring the Role of Mats Sundin in Team Dynamics
01:02:16 — The Search for a New General Manager
01:08:11 — Evaluating Potential GM Candidates
01:12:02 — Draft Strategy and Building for the Future

https://bleav.com/shows/ladies-talkin-leafs/

https://www.ladiestalkinleafs.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOtMA8vhKUo

Support the show https://ko-fi.com/ltl1917

https://theahl.com/stats/playoffs/92

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-send-easton-cowan-five-others-down-to-marlies-for-playoff-run

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/new-bill-barilko-documentary-explores-mystery-of-maple-leafs-legend-s-death-on-75th-anniversary-of-stanley-cup-goal

https://www.youtube.com/@ThePaikinPodcast

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/article/frozen-in-time-the-bill-barilko-story-to-tell-story-of-maple-leafs-star-who-disappeared/

https://hockeyhotstove.com/leafs-exit-interviews-raise-questions/

https://hockeyhotstove.com/are-the-leafs-using-sundin-as-a-diversion/

https://hockeyhotstove.com/more-leafs-gm-candidates-emerging/

https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/craig-berube-belief-bewildering-some-man-up-takeaways

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/article/i-cant-predict-the-future-but-matthews-still-believes-he-can-win-with-leafs/

https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2026/04/19/the-maple-leafs-top-job-is-too-big-for-learn-as-you-go-candidates/

#leafs #leafsforever #leafsnation #torontomapleleafs #hockeypodcast #nhl #ltl1917

1 0

We had a great #leafs talk with Lance Hornby where he gave us his thoughts on next season & what about Captain Auston Matthews?

Check out the full episode to hear what Lance had to say about Nylander, Cowan & more! #ltl1917 #leafsforever #leafsnation #nhl #podcast

2 0

LEAF IT TO THE LADIES  
https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/428755/1/70vrrftg0jeql7ag

The offseason drama has already begun in Leafs Nation—and this one is massive! With a couple weeks to go in the Leafs season heads are already beginning to roll in the Maple Leafs organization!  MLSE CEO Keith Pelley fired Brad Treliving as GM of the Leafs on Monday night an hour or so before their game vs. Anaheim Ducks. As fans we knew change was coming, but was this move the place to start? 

The season is not over yet, so from there, we dive into our signature segment: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly—breaking down everything from bright spots to the hard truths that held this team back all season long.

Then in our Third Period segment, we’re joined by special guest Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun to unpack where this team goes next. Potential coaching changes, leadership questions, roster construction—it’s all on the table as we look ahead to a pivotal offseason.

We also reflect on the identity of this team, compare eras of Leafs hockey, and try to find something to hold onto after a disappointing year. Plus, we take time to celebrate the legendary voice of the Leafs, Joe Bowen, and his lasting impact on fans across generations.

This episode is honest, emotional, and exactly where Leafs fans are right now—caught between hope and frustration. We still bleed blue through and through, trusting in good things to come... Go Leafs Go!

Chapters

00:00 The Shake-Up: Firing of Brad Treliving
12:22 Assessing the Season: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
33:34 Looking Ahead: The Future of the Leafs with Lance Hornby
34:33 Season Reflections and Team Vibes
41:11 Coaching Changes and Future Directions
49:09 Leadership and Player Accountability
54:51 Comparing Eras: The Current State of the Leafs
58:37 Finding Positives in a Disappointing Season
01:03:24 Celebrating Joe Bowen's Legacy

https://bleav.com/shows/ladies-talkin-leafs/

https://www.ladiestalkinleafs.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOtMA8vhKUo

Support the show https://ko-fi.com/ltl1917

https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/brad-treliving-fast-rise-fall-general-manager

https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2026/03/31/keith-pelley-on-the-maple-leafs-rebuild-vs-retool-question/

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/48359427/maple-leafs-ceo-cites-culture-gm-brad-treliving-firing

https://www.hockeypatrol.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/jake-mccabe-says-the-leafs-have-zero-intention-of-quitting-and-that-challenges-everything-pronger-just-said

https://nhltradetalk.com/why-john-tavares-minus-25-doesnt-tell-the-full-story/#google_vignette

https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/what-could-the-maple-leafs-discuss-with-auston-matthews-in-the-summer

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/william-nylander-coy-about-why-maple-leafs-struggled-this-season

https://theleafsnation.com/news/disconnect-between-toronto-maple-leafs-players-craig-berube-difficult-to-ignore

https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/easton-cowan-steady-progress-rookie-season

https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/kevin-shea-hall-of-fame-forrest-gump-calls-career

https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/this-buds-for-bowen-as-joe-recounts-blues-maple-leafs-lore

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/nhl-sets-date-for-2026-draft-lottery/

#leafs #leafsforever #leafsnation #torontomapleleafs #nhl #hockey #ltl1917

11 9

11 0