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James Mirtle

@mirtle.bsky.social

17K followers 290 following 590 posts

Senior Writer, The Athletic. Covering the NHL / Maple Leafs since 2004. Leafs Report podcast & Red Light newsletter. Kamloops kid in Toronto 🇨🇦 Company handle: @theathletic.bsky.social

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James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 22d

Will NHL teams be able to cheat the league’s new playoff salary cap system? A few ways that might be possible

www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

How NHL teams can cheat the league’s new playoff salary cap system

Past teams used long-term injury reserve to stash salary. GMs must find new loopholes to exploit under the new CBA.

www.nytimes.com

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James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 1d

New podcast is up

pod.fo/e/33dd35

The Leaf Report: Is Cowan really the answer on the Maple Leafs top line?

With the Leafs 2-2 to start the year, Jonas and James provide their analysis on how the team looks the first four games of the season, including Easton Cowan's performance and if he is the answer o...

pod.fo

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James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 1d

Leafs were dead last last season with just 21 goals from defence. With three already this year, they're second in the NHL and on pace for more than 3x that.

Obviously early, but that's one way they'll need to generate more offence with their new lineup.

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James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 2d

Blackhawks get their first win.

Only Sabres, Islanders and Sharks haven't won yet.

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James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 4d

Couple Sharks defencemen on waivers today.

James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 5d

The Leafs are moving their game Monday back to 2 pm to avoid conflicting with the Jays.

And fans will once again be able to watch the baseball game at ScotiaBank Arena.

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James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 6d

Today's NHL newsletter, where we draw some way too early conclusions from around the league

www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

Knee-jerk reactions to the NHL season’s early games — and one big faceplant

Plus: These rookies are already separating themselves from the pack in the Calder Trophy race.

www.nytimes.com

James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 7d

Back with a new podcast today. @arponbasu.bsky.social joins as guest as we talk Leafs, Habs and the Atlantic Division

pod.fo/e/33a808

The Leaf Report: Leafs handle the Habs on opening night

James Mirtle welcomes The Athletic's Montreal Canadiens beat writer Arpon Basu to the Leaf Report to discuss the Leafs season opening win over the Habs, and get the scouting report on new additions...

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James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 7d

Have a question for our next podcast? @arponbasu.bsky.social will be joining the show

www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

Ask your questions for the next Leaf Report podcast

<p>The 2025-26 season is underway and the Maple Leafs started it with a 5-2 win over Montreal in Game 1 on Wednesday night.</p> <p>We have a couple of podcasts coming up over the next week so please l...

www.nytimes.com

James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 7d

Few thoughts on the Leafs season opening win

www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

Maple Leafs open the season with a win: 7 observations

Despite a 5-2 victory over the rival Canadiens, two areas remain a work in progress for the Leafs: the top line and the power play.

www.nytimes.com

James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 8d

Every NHL team’s forwards ranked: Lightning, Golden Knights top the 2025-26 list

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Every NHL team’s forwards ranked: Lightning, Golden Knights top the 2025-26 list

Meanwhile, the Bruins, Predators and Blackhawks bring up the rear in our list of all 32 teams' forwards.

www.nytimes.com

James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 9d

Which NHL teams have the best bluelines?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Every NHL team’s defense ranked: Avalanche, Panthers top the 2025-26 list

Welcome to the third iteration of The Athletic’s annual defense ranking tiers. There’s a surprising shortage of truly high-end blue lines.

www.nytimes.com

James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 9d

On NHL waivers today.

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Reposted by James Mirtle

James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 9d

Three unexpected players make the Leafs initial roster and they're right at the cap. More moves are coming. Breaking it all down here @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Mirtle: How the Maple Leafs ended up capped out, and why more moves are coming

Making sense of the Maple Leafs' salary-cap machinations on the first day of the 2025-26 season.

www.nytimes.com

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James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 9d

Three unexpected players make the Leafs initial roster and they're right at the cap. More moves are coming. Breaking it all down here @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Mirtle: How the Maple Leafs ended up capped out, and why more moves are coming

Making sense of the Maple Leafs' salary-cap machinations on the first day of the 2025-26 season.

www.nytimes.com

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James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 10d

A roster in flux for the Maple Leafs: Breaking down what it all means

pod.fo/e/3383fd

The Leaf Report: Roster upheaval at Maple Leafs camp

Jonas and James discuss the Leafs changing up the lines at training camp, the injury to Scott Laughton, if Easton Cowan is destined to begin the year in the AHL now and David Kampf being placed on ...

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James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 10d

On Connor McDavid's new deal, and winners and losers around the NHL

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Winners and losers of Connor McDavid’s contract: Oilers get a discount, Leafs miss out

The fallout from this extension will be felt league-wide, as one of hockey's best players ever has given his team a huge hometown discount.

www.nytimes.com

James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 11d

On NHL waivers today.

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James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 12d

Today on NHL waivers.

James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 13d

On waivers in the NHL today.

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James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 13d

Back with a new podcast breaking down all things Leafs with Frankie Corrado

pod.fo/e/33685b

The Leaf Report: Is Easton Cowan a lock to make the Maple Leafs?

James Mirtle welcomes former Maple Leaf Frankie Corrado to discuss pre-season Maple Leafs takeaways, Easton Cowan's shot at making the team, who else stays, and who goes? We get Frankie's thoughts ...

pod.fo

James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 13d

Sunday

James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 14d

On waivers today in the NHL.

Monday is the deadline to get down to 23 man rosters.

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Reposted by James Mirtle

James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 15d

On NHL franchise values hitting $2 billion and what it means for the league

www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

The average NHL team is now worth $2.1 billion. What does it mean for the league?

According to Sportico's annual rankings, the average team valuation has more than doubled over the past two years.

www.nytimes.com

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James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 15d

On NHL franchise values hitting $2 billion and what it means for the league

www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

The average NHL team is now worth $2.1 billion. What does it mean for the league?

According to Sportico's annual rankings, the average team valuation has more than doubled over the past two years.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by James Mirtle

James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 15d

One big question facing front offices across the NHL in this new landscape:

How much is too much to pay star players like Kirill Kaprizov?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

NHL stars like Kirill Kaprizov are making historic money. Is it the best way to win?

Can teams really allocate that much more of their cap to fewer players, squeezing the lower part of the roster?

www.nytimes.com

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