James Mirtle

What’s behind the NHL’s injury explosion this season? Plus: Everything you need to know as the PWHL season begins.

On the NHL's injury explosion. And a tough trivia task. It's today's newsletter

www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...

What’s behind the NHL’s injury explosion this season? Plus: Everything you need to know as the PWHL season begins.

On the NHL's injury explosion. And a tough trivia task. It's today's newsletter

www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...

Pro hockey’s minor leagues are in a heated labor battle: What I’m hearing The AHL and ECHL have been playing without new CBAs this season, as frayed negotiations have bled into the campaign.

There's labor peace in the NHL. In the AHL and ECHL, not so much.

My story on why the minors are currently playing without CBAs, what players are asking for, and where this could go

www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...

Any other guests you'd like to hear from?

The Leaf Report: The Maple Leafs at the quarter mark of the season Dom Luszczyszyn from the Athletic joins Mirtle to discuss the Maple Leafs at the quarter mark of the season, how surprised he is that the Leafs are in the tough spot that they are in, why the new g...

A brand new podcast with the one and only @domluszczyszyn.bsky.social. We break down where the Leafs are at and how to fix all of this

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NHL mailbag: Luxury tax debate, Matvei Michkov’s slump, 50-goal predictions and more Why the NHL will never adopt a luxury tax, and other mailbag answers.

Why doesn't the NHL have a luxury tax? How many players will score 50 goals? And more of your questions in the latest mailbag

www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...

The Leaf Report: The Maple Leafs at the quarter mark of the season Dom Luszczyszyn from the Athletic joins Mirtle to discuss the Maple Leafs at the quarter mark of the season, how surprised he is that the Leafs are in the tough spot that they are in, why the new g...

A brand new podcast with the one and only @domluszczyszyn.bsky.social. We break down where the Leafs are at and how to fix all of this

pod.fo/e/355fad

NHL mailbag: Luxury tax debate, Matvei Michkov’s slump, 50-goal predictions and more Why the NHL will never adopt a luxury tax, and other mailbag answers.

Why doesn't the NHL have a luxury tax? How many players will score 50 goals? And more of your questions in the latest mailbag

www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...

Submit your NHL questions for James Mirtle’s next mailbag <p>We&#8217;re through the first month of the NHL season and teams are starting to approach the 15-game mark. The Penguins are good. The Wild are bad. And there are a lot of other surprises already.</...

Taking your questions for the next mailbag / podcast here on anything about the Leafs or around the NHL

www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...

The Leaf Report: Struggling Maple Leafs in desperate need of a shakeup With the Maple Leafs losing streak at 5 games and counting, Jonas and James discuss the turmoil in Leaf land, including Craig Berube's future as head coach, his relationship with William Nylander, ...

Have a new podcast up @theathletic.com

pod.fo/e/3545ab

This is the Maple Leafs' first five game losing streak since April 2021, a span of more than 4.5 years.

They had only done it three times in the 10 seasons of the Matthews era before now.

Agree a problem for problem trade makes a lot of sense.

The flailing Maple Leafs can’t throw good assets after bad to save their season As the Leafs continue to struggle and the need for drastic measures grows, a trade might not be the answer for GM Brad Treliving.

The chances the Leafs end the season with a top-five pick after the lottery have risen to 12.7 percent. The chances they give a pick in the No. 6 to 10 range to Boston, meanwhile, are up to a disturbingly high 21.4 percent.

Today's story ⤵️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...

The flailing Maple Leafs can’t throw good assets after bad to save their season As the Leafs continue to struggle and the need for drastic measures grows, a trade might not be the answer for GM Brad Treliving.

The flailing Maple Leafs can’t throw good assets after bad to save their season

www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...

Any Toronto beer league goalies want to help a team out on Sunday? 🤔

The book is the best

NHL putrid power rankings: Will these 3 disappointing teams figure it out? Just how much trouble are these teams in? Are they contemplating firings or big trades? Is it salvageable?

Today's NHL newsletter is out: items on the Canucks, Blues, Leafs and Jets

www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...

The Leaf Report: Burnt out Maple Leafs searching for a solution James welcomes JD Bunkis from the JD Bunkis podcast and Leaf Talk on Sportsnet Radio the Fan 590 in Toronto to discuss the latest loss by the Maple Leafs, the injuries to Auston Matthews and Anthon...

We have a new Leaf Report with special guest JD Bunkis. It gets a bit dark.

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Why is the NHL aligning with prediction markets as others raise red flags? The NHL recently announced partnerships with Kalshi and Polymarket, whose business models have faced scrutiny from other major leagues.

On the rise of prediction markets and the NHL's new partnership with them

www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...

Why does NHL keep floating expansion? Have giveaway stats changed? Mirtle mailbag Plus, is Montreal most likely to bring the Stanley Cup back to Canada? Will Bedard or Celebrini (or both) make the Olympics roster?

NHL mailbag @theathletic.com:

- Macklin Celebrini versus Connor Bedard
- trading for high draft picks
- the best Canadian NHL team
- expansion reasons
- and how statistics have evolved

www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...

Who’s to blame for the Maple Leafs’ poor start to the 2025-26 season? Even ignoring their place in the standings, the Leafs just don't look good so far this season. Thus begins the Blame Game.

Who’s to blame for the Maple Leafs’ poor start to the 2025-26 season?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...

Who’s to blame for the Maple Leafs’ poor start to the 2025-26 season? Even ignoring their place in the standings, the Leafs just don't look good so far this season. Thus begins the Blame Game.

Who’s to blame for the Maple Leafs’ poor start to the 2025-26 season?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...

The Leaf Report: Maple Leafs 'immature' defensive deficiencies frustrate Berube The Maple Leafs lost both of their home games on the weekend to the Bruins and Hurricanes, and head coach Craig Berube is more than a little frustrated with his team's commitment to defence. Jonas ...

Some Leafs thoughts in podcast form @theathletic.com

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That is quite the chart @moneypuck.bsky.social...

Red Wings 2008?

Leafs recall Hildeby. Primeau claimed on waivers by Carolina.

Cowan at least can help in this window. But agree on picks

The Leaf Report: Have the Maple Leafs turned a corner after a slow start? After a convincing Leaf win over Utah, their 5th in 6 games, James and Joshua appreciate the play of John Tavares who scored his 501st career goal in the win, Auston Matthews looking like himself, ...

New Leafs podcast is up. Thanks for listening

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Probably the Leafs best game of the season. Suddenly they've won three in a row and are on a 100 point pace.

The Leafs have sent Easton Cowan down.

Roster crunch the biggest reason, but it'll be good for him to play more with the Marlies. A very solid 10-game audition though.