Ye Note: Once a tactical student, Toronto is now learned by competitors

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Maple Leaf has been trying to replicate the tactical blueprints of other clubs for years.

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But when they aggregated their fourth straight 100-point season and tried to reach the conference finals, other teams tended to peek.

“I’m looking at the leaves now,” Detroit Red Wings coach Todd McLellan went to local media this week. “I looked at Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews who were willing to not quit, but not over-pressure. Put it in the corner, come down to do the work, eat for another minute, go to the bench and say, ‘Okay, ‘Okay, we get them next time’.

“And I think they’re managing the game better now. They’re ready to win. I think the Chiefs (Craig Berube) did a great job there and let these players learn how to win, not how to score.”

McLellan was interviewed last summer for the Leaf Headmaster position and was considered the second choice after General Manager Brad Treliving.

A leaf

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Treliving watches Matthew Tkachuk pushes the Panthers deep in the playoffs every year, he has to always express the difference in life Calgary Flame Tkachuk doesn’t want to go out in the deal due to GM.

A similar idea must cross the mind of the old brass hall in the hockey office, who scored in Game 3 Friday as they looked at Tuckerchuk’s Florida teammate Carter Verhaeghe.

One of the first moves of the former GM Lou Lamoriello was to send Toronto-born Verhaeghe to New York Islanders 10 years ago, part of a 5-to-1 choice for Speedster Michael Grabner.

At that stage, the third round draft pick wingers eliminated the Niagara Ice Dogs from the 2014 OHL playoffs, playing two games for Maris in the organization.

Verhaeghe gradually built his two-way game, winning two cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and last year’s Panthers.

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“Toronto was a long time ago,” Verhaeghe said this week. “But it was a great experience, coming and getting the chance. I remember this pace was a big difference from the junior year. (Coach Maris) Steve Spott treated me fairly, but I only had a few weeks.”

Spott is now Pete Deboer’s assistant at Dallas Stars.

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o,na-ta-lie

Leafs’ playoff runs made Ye’s national anthem singer Natalie Morris know more.

So much so that this week’s race night recognized Morris on the subway and was matched by a car full of companions to Canadian commuters.

She wore a leaf sweater and let her i-phone record a tribute, while another passenger posted a video of her singing. Morris was a contestant in Canada’s Talent Winner in 2024 and performed Beyonce’s “I’m Here” while Jessie J’s “Mom Knows the Best” finished fifth.

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Morris received widespread appreciation from American players later in the regular season, as many at the Scotiabank Arena remained calm and booed loudly as political tensions escalated.

Who is who

A coup at Sportsnet was a match that had Baba O’Riley play in the opening highlight Montage, making him yell at the coverage of Game 3.

Daltrey and Pete Townsend have just announced the band’s farewell tour, which has ended, opening August 16 at Amerant Bank Arena, home of Black Panthers. It ceased on September 2 and 4 in Toronto at Budweiser Stage.

Leaf always plays Baba O’Riley when Sheldon Keefe coaches the team and gets shot in practice with rock music.
lhornby@postmedia.com
X: @sunhornby

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