NHL
Jonathan Bernier proves his value in debut with Leafs
Jonathan Bernier didn't beat anybody up in his first regular season game with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he justified the organization's decision to acquire him from the Los Angeles Kings.
NHL
Time to better manage, not eliminate, fighting in NHL
Until the day arrives when fighting is no longer permitted in the National Hockey League, let's at least control it better. Make it mandatory for anyone that fights to average 10 minutes of playing time per game or take away their right to fight.
Hockey Night in Canada
James Reimer takes Round 1 of Leafs' goalie battle
Leafs coach Randy Carlyle has a history of going predominantly with one goalie during the regular season, and James Reimer was solid on opening night. But Jonathan Bernier will get to strut his stuff in the Leafs' next game.
Hockey Night in Canada
Leafs' Paul Ranger makes long-awaited NHL return
Paul Ranger will skate in an NHL regular season game Tuesday night for the first time since Oct. 22, 2009. The Maple Leafs will have quite a find if the defenceman can reach the level of play he displayed in four seasons with Tampa Bay, reports CBCSports.ca writer Mike Brophy.
NHL
Maple Leafs' 2013-14 season preview
Head coach Randy Carlyle might not want to take credit for the fact the Toronto Maple Leafs were one of the NHL's toughest teams a year ago, but when asked what kind of a team he would ice this season, all indications are the accent will again be on physical play, reports CBCSports.ca hockey writer Mike Brophy.
NHL
Leafs' Colton Orr keeps fighting, providing for family
Will Colton Orr's next fight be his last fight? What kind of damage is the Maple Leafs tough guy doing to himself? Don't ask. He prefers to live in the moment, so fighting is what Orr does and how he takes care of his wife and young daughter, reports CBCSports.ca hockey writer Mike Brophy.
NHL
Give-and-take gets deal done for Leafs' Cody Franson
Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Cody Franson didn't get the money he was looking for, but he got the term - one year. The question now is, was last season Franson's breakout year or the exception? CBCSports.ca hockey writer Mike Brophy reports from Leafs training camp.
NHL
Phil Kessel regrets 2nd slash against Sabres' Scott
Toronto Maple Leaf Phil Kessel twice slashed Buffalo's six-foot-eight, 270-pounder John Scott, protecting himself against a giant the best way he knew how, but admitted Wednesday morning he may have taken things a little too far, reports CBCSports.ca hockey writer Mike Brophy.
Hockey Night in Canada
Maple Leafs' David Clarkson won't appeal 10-game suspension
David Clarkson said he will not appeal his 10-game
suspension for leaving the bench Sunday night to become involved in a fight, writes Mike Brophy. The Maple Leafs right-winger will miss the first 10 games of
the 2013-14 regular season and will be eligible to re-join the Maple Leafs Oct.
25 in Columbus.
Hockey Night in Canada
Randy Carlyle not without fault in Leafs-Sabres brawl
Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle says he put Phil Kessel on the ice Sunday night after Toronto's Jamie Devane beat up Buffalo's Corey Tropp in an effort to "defuse the situation." It led to Kessel being matched up against the Sabres' six-foot-eight, 270-pound tough guy John Scott. Bad call, reports CBCSports.ca hockey writer Mike Brophy.
Hockey Night in Canada
Leafs winger David Clarkson suspended 10 games
David Clarkson who signed with the Maple Leafs as an unrestricted free agent this summer left the bench to engage in a fight against the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday and was handed an automatic 10-game suspension Monday.
Hockey Night in Canada
Jury still out on hybrid icing in NHL
Players and general managers will soon be asked to vote on whether the NHL should implement hybrid icing for the regular season, but as Mike Brophy writes, the jury is still out on the proposed rule.
Hockey Night in Canada
Leafs' Nazem Kadri enjoying new training camp fight
After finishing second in team scoring last season, NHL training camp is no longer life and death for Toronto Maple Leaf Nazem Kadri. His new battle is a two-horse race with Tyler Bozak for the No. 1 centre job, reports CBCSports.ca hockey writer Mike Brophy.
Hockey Night in Canada
Battle of Ontario has newcomer in Leafs' David Clarkson
As a player who has a history of playing a physical game, but also one who can contribute on offence, Toronto Maple Leafs right-winger David Clarkson should be a key player in the Battle of Ontario for years to come, according to CBCSports.ca hockey writer Mike Brophy.
Hockey Night in Canada
Fragile Joffrey Lupul happy to be back on ice with Leafs
Given the fact he has been injured a lot the past two years, the 2013-14 season certainly didn't kick off the way Joffrey Lupul would have liked after experiencing back spasms the day before training camp. But the Toronto Maple Leafs left winger was happy to finally join his teammates for practice on Wednesday.
Hockey Night in Canada
Maple Leafs' John-Michael Liles ready to fight for a spot
John-Michael Liles doesn't have to re-invent himself to get back to playing regularly with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He simply has to get back to doing what he did to attract the Leafs in the first place.
Hockey Night in Canada
Maple Leafs' Joe Colborne feels ready for NHL
As the Toronto Maple Leafs took to the ice for Day 2 of training camp Friday, forward Joe Colborne stood out as one of the most improved players. It could be viewed as make-it-or-break-it time for the NHL hopeful, reports CBCSports.ca hockey writer Mike Brophy.
Hockey Night in Canada
Leafs' Nazem Kadri feels on-ice chemistry with Kessel
Newly signed Nazem Kadri did not look out of place on a line with the Toronto Maple Leafs' top scorer of a season ago, Phil Kessel, at training camp Thursday. Being a top-line centre is something Kadri is working toward, reports CBCSports.ca hockey writer Mike Brophy.
Hockey Night in Canada
Maple Leafs moving past playoff nightmare as camp opens
As hockey writer Mike Brophy reports from camp, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis hasn't spent the off-season dwelling on the team's Game 7 collapse against the Boston Bruins last spring.
Hockey Night in Canada
Maple Leafs' Nazem Kadri signs, Kessel waits
Nazem Kadri 'couldn't be happier' to sign a two-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, while fellow forward and soon-to-be free agent Phil Kessel is content to talk contract after the upcoming NHL season, writes CBC Sports' Mike Brophy.
Hockey Night in Canada
Leafs' pick Garret Sparks has sights on AHL Marlies
James Reimer and Jonathan Bernier will battle it out for the starting goaltending job at Toronto Maple Leafs training camp later this month while 2011 draft pick Garret Sparks is hungry to earn a job with the team's AHL affiliate, writes CBCSports.ca hockey writer Mike Brophy.
NHL
Leafs' Morgan Rielly turning heads at rookie tournament
The Toronto Maple Leafs' first-round pick from 2012 Morgan Rielly lived up to the hype in the first game of the four-team rookie tournament in London, Ont., Thursday night.
NHL
Morgan Rielly aims to impress at Maple Leafs' rookie camp
The fifth overall draft pick in 2012, defence prospect Morgan Rielly isn't at the Toronto Maple Leafs' rookie camp just for the experience. He's there to make the team.
Mike Brophy
Mike Brophy brings a wealth of hockey writing and broadcasting experience to CBC Sports, having covered junior hockey for 14 years before joining The Hockey News as its senior writer for 17 years starting in 1992. Most recently, the Burlington, Ont., native worked as a writer/commentator at Rogers Sportsnet and as co-host of The Power Play on SiriusXM. Mike has written four books, including My First Goal, featuring 50 players describing their first NHL goals.
