Leafs Morning Take

Daily Faceoff Prospect Analyst Steven Ellis joined Nick Alberga & David Pagnotta to break down his latest top 100 NHL Draft rankings and everything surrounding the upcoming draft. The conversation started with Ivar Stenberg’s impressive showing at the World Championship and what it’s done for his stock. That said, Ellis still has Gavin McKenna atop his board and believes the Leafs should select him first overall. He explained what makes McKenna such a special talent, what Toronto fans could expect from him in his rookie season, and weighed the pros and cons of McKenna versus Stenberg.Additionally, Ellis touched on Leafs prospect Tinus Luc Koblar, who’s having a strong World Championship representing Norway. The conversation then shifted to the Toronto Marlies’ playoff run, where Ellis praised the play of Easton Cowan and Ben Danford. He also discussed the crease, highlighting Artur Akhtyamov’s stellar postseason and why he believes Dennis Hildeby should be with the Leafs next season. In fact, Ellis said there’s a world where Hildeby and Akhtyamov eventually become Toronto’s NHL goalie tandem.🚨 Subscribe to Leafs Nation on Youtube!🚨➡️ / @theleafsnation401SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS!!👍🏼Powered by @bet365. Whatever the moment, it's Never Ordinary at bet365. Download the App today and use promo code NATION. http://www.bet365.ca/Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. Eligible iGames conducted and managed by iGO are only available to those physically present in the Province of Ontario. 19+.👍🏼Sunwing: https://www.sunwing.ca/en/Reach out to sales@thenationnetwork.com to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!

Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill break down a packed episode centered around Mitch Marner’s immediate impact in his first season with the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas edged the Colorado Avalanche 2–1 in Game 4 to complete a four-game sweep in the Western Conference Final and punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final.The boys also react to the Eastern Conference Final matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and the Carolina Hurricanes ahead of Game 3, dig into Ivar Stenberg’s strong performance at the World Championship, and continue to track the latest on the Toronto Maple Leafs coaching search — including ongoing buzz around David Carle. They also discuss whether Jared Bednar is still safe in Colorado moving forward. Plus, pending UFA Troy Stecher stops by to preview free agency and a possible return to Toronto ahead of July 1.🚨 Subscribe to Leafs Nation on Youtube!🚨➡️  / @theleafsnation401  SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS!!👍🏼Powered by @bet365: http://www.bet365.ca/Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. Eligible iGames conducted and managed by iGO are only available to those physically present in the Province of Ontario. 19+. 👍🏼Sunwing: https://www.sunwing.ca/en/Reach out to sales@thenationnetwork.com to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us! Visit www.nationgear.ca for merch and more.

Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill are joined by pending UFA defenceman Troy Stecher. To start, Stecher discusses his trademark compete level and what he wanted to bring to the Maple Leafs after being claimed off waivers from Edmonton back in November. From there, he reflects on his overall experience in Toronto, calling it a “world class organization,” while admitting there’s plenty of uncertainty surrounding the team’s offseason changes. Most notably, Stecher made it clear he’d love to return, saying: “I hope I’m back, I really enjoyed being a Leaf.”Additionally, Stecher weighs in on the pressure and media spotlight that comes with playing in Toronto, his reaction to Craig Berube’s firing, and why he believes the responsibility ultimately falls on the players. He also shares the team’s reaction to winning the draft lottery and touches on the latest surrounding Max Domi.🚨 Subscribe to Leafs Nation on Youtube!🚨➡️ / @theleafsnation401SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS!!👍🏼Powered by @bet365. Whatever the moment, it's Never Ordinary at bet365. Download the App today and use promo code NATION. http://www.bet365.ca/Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. Eligible iGames conducted and managed by iGO are only available to those physically present in the Province of Ontario. 19+.👍🏼Sunwing: https://www.sunwing.ca/en/Reach out to sales@thenationnetwork.com to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!

Nick Alberga & David Pagnotta break down Carolina’s 3-2 overtime win over Montreal in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final as the Hurricanes grabbed a 2-1 series lead. Additionally, they preview Game 4 of the Western Conference Final in Vegas, where the Golden Knights will look to complete the sweep of Colorado and punch their ticket to the third Stanley Cup Final in franchise history.Meantime, Pagnotta shares the latest surrounding the mysterious Max Domi injury situation along with fresh insight into Toronto’s ongoing coaching search.Also, former Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting stops by ahead of NHL free agency to discuss his future, his time in Toronto, and much more.🚨 Subscribe to Leafs Nation on Youtube!🚨➡️  / @theleafsnation401  SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS!!👍🏼Powered by @bet365: http://www.bet365.ca/Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. Eligible iGames conducted and managed by iGO are only available to those physically present in the Province of Ontario. 19+. 👍🏼Sunwing: https://www.sunwing.ca/en/Reach out to sales@thenationnetwork.com to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us! Visit www.nationgear.ca for merch and more.

Nick Alberga & David Pagnotta are joined by former Maple Leaf Michael Bunting, who's set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Scarborough native discusses the upcoming free agent market, the NHL salary cap boom, and what he's hearing ahead of a massive summer around the league.Additionally, Bunting weighs in on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, his experience playing for Rod Brind'Amour in Carolina, and Mitch Marner's strong postseason showing in Vegas. He also reflects on his time playing alongside Marner and Auston Matthews in Toronto, where he posted back-to-back 23-goal seasons with his hometown team.Meantime, Bunting shares stories about his relationship with Leafs GM John Chayka dating back to their time together in Arizona, the pressure and spotlight that comes with playing in Toronto, and why he actually embraced the market as a local product. He also revisits his 2023 free agency departure from Toronto, admitting the Leafs never really circled back due to cap constraints, while emphasizing how much he loved playing for his hometown team.🚨 Subscribe to Leafs Nation on Youtube!🚨➡️ / @theleafsnation401SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS!!👍🏼Powered by @bet365. Whatever the moment, it's Never Ordinary at bet365. Download the App today and use promo code NATION. http://www.bet365.ca/Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. Eligible iGames conducted and managed by iGO are only available to those physically present in the Province of Ontario. 19+.👍🏼Sunwing: https://www.sunwing.ca/en/Reach out to sales@thenationnetwork.com to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!

Sid Seixeiro joined Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill for a jam-packed conversation covering everything from Mitch Marner’s dominant postseason run with Vegas to the nightmare Stanley Cup Final scenario Leafs fans are trying to avoid.To kick things off, Sid dissected Marner’s incredible showing in his first Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Golden Knights. Contrary to popular belief, he doesn’t think Marner is playing angry — and openly wondered why so many Leafs fans seem miserable watching his success. Rosie countered by suggesting the frustration stems from years of watching Marner fall short in the playoffs in Toronto.The conversation then shifted to the very real possibility of a Vegas-Montreal Stanley Cup Final, which Sid labeled a worst-case scenario for Leafs Nation. He didn’t mince words on Carolina either, calling the Hurricanes “frauds” and predicting a Golden Knights-Canadiens Final. Naturally, the guys debated the impossible question for Leafs fans: if that matchup happens, who are you rooting for — Marner and Vegas, or the Canadiens? Sid admitted he’d probably lean Montreal, believing Marner winning the Stanley Cup in Year 1 with Vegas would be beyond embarrassing for the Maple Leafs organization.Additionally, Sid weighed in on the Max Domi injury news and Toronto’s slow-moving coaching search. While David Carle stands out as an intriguing option, Sid doesn’t want to see the Leafs begging anybody to take the job. In his view, the organization needs to show a little more ego and confidence throughout the process.🚨 Subscribe to Leafs Nation on Youtube!🚨➡️ / @theleafsnation401SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS!!👍🏼Powered by @bet365. Whatever the moment, it's Never Ordinary at bet365. Download the App today and use promo code NATION. http://www.bet365.ca/Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. Eligible iGames conducted and managed by iGO are only available to those physically present in the Province of Ontario. 19+.👍🏼Sunwing: https://www.sunwing.ca/en/Reach out to sales@thenationnetwork.com to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!

Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill break down the latest from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including the Vegas Golden Knights taking a commanding 3-0 series lead on Colorado, with Mitch Marner now just one win away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Final. Plus, they weigh in on Easton Cowan’s clutch series-clinching goal against Cleveland, sending the Toronto Marlies to the Calder Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Final. What does Cowan’s impressive postseason run mean for his future with the Maple Leafs?Additionally, Sid Seixeiro drops by to hit on Marner Mania + all things Leafs.Lastly, they discuss the latest developments in Toronto’s coaching search, including where things stand and which names continue to surface.🚨 Subscribe to Leafs Nation on Youtube!🚨➡️  / @theleafsnation401  SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS!!👍🏼Powered by @bet365: http://www.bet365.ca/Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. Eligible iGames conducted and managed by iGO are only available to those physically present in the Province of Ontario. 19+. 👍🏼Sunwing: https://www.sunwing.ca/en/Reach out to sales@thenationnetwork.com to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us! Visit www.nationgear.ca for merch and more.

Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill recap Montreal’s dominant 6-2 win over Carolina in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final and discuss whether the Canadiens are officially turning into a team of destiny. Additionally, they preview a pivotal Game 2 in the Western Conference Final between Colorado and Vegas as the Golden Knights look to grab a 2-0 series lead.Meantime, Mike Gillis dropped major insight during his appearance on Sekeres & Price, detailing exactly what went down behind the scenes during the Maple Leafs’ GM search while calling much of the reporting “inaccurate.” The boys react to the revealing comments and what it says about Toronto’s front office process.They also dive into the changing discourse surrounding Auston Matthews. More and more, it sounds like the Leafs captain isn’t going anywhere despite the outside noise and speculation.Plus, SiriusXM NHL Network Radio host Steve Kouleas stops by to tackle all things Maple Leafs.🚨 Subscribe to Leafs Nation on Youtube!🚨➡️ / @theleafsnation401SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS!!👍🏼Powered by @bet365. Whatever the moment, it's Never Ordinary at bet365. Download the App today and use promo code NATION. http://www.bet365.ca/Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. Eligible iGames conducted and managed by iGO are only available to those physically present in the Province of Ontario. 19+.👍🏼Sunwing: https://www.sunwing.ca/en/Reach out to sales@thenationnetwork.com to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!