James Mirtle
@mirtle.bsky.social
Senior Writer, The Athletic. Covering the NHL since 2004. Leafs Report podcast & Red Light newsletter. Kamloops kid in Toronto 🇨🇦
Company handle: @theathletic.com
Company handle: @theathletic.com
Pinned
The Maple Leafs have a lot of problems. Contract inefficiency might be the biggest
This was supposed to be the season of cap flexibility for the Leafs. Instead, too many players aren't playing at the level they're paid to.
www.nytimes.com
The Maple Leafs need to start dropping the minutes for, benching, trading or even waiving their biggest underperformers. Here's why
www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
Reposted by James Mirtle
Leafs blowout the Penguins for a 7-2 win.
Their first regulation win since Nov. 5 over Utah.
Their first regulation win since Nov. 5 over Utah.
November 30, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Leafs blowout the Penguins for a 7-2 win.
Their first regulation win since Nov. 5 over Utah.
Their first regulation win since Nov. 5 over Utah.
The Leafs have no regulation wins in their last 10 games. And only six all season in 24 games.
They're 2-6-2 in this stretch. Only Nashville has been worse.
They're 2-6-2 in this stretch. Only Nashville has been worse.
November 29, 2025 at 12:43 AM
The Leafs have no regulation wins in their last 10 games. And only six all season in 24 games.
They're 2-6-2 in this stretch. Only Nashville has been worse.
They're 2-6-2 in this stretch. Only Nashville has been worse.
Auston Matthews moves past Mitch Marner into fifth in all-time scoring as a Maple Leaf.
November 28, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Auston Matthews moves past Mitch Marner into fifth in all-time scoring as a Maple Leaf.
If the NHL playoffs started today
1 Tampa Bay vs. WC Philadelphia
2 Montreal vs. 3 Ottawa
1 New Jersey vs. WC Washington
2 Carolina vs. 3 Pittsburgh
1 Colorado vs. WC Utah
2 Dallas vs. 3 Minnesota
1 Anaheim vs. WC Los Angeles
2 Vegas vs. 3 Seattle
Full breakdown ⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...
1 Tampa Bay vs. WC Philadelphia
2 Montreal vs. 3 Ottawa
1 New Jersey vs. WC Washington
2 Carolina vs. 3 Pittsburgh
1 Colorado vs. WC Utah
2 Dallas vs. 3 Minnesota
1 Anaheim vs. WC Los Angeles
2 Vegas vs. 3 Seattle
Full breakdown ⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...
Is the NHL overdoing overtime? Plus: If the playoffs started today
The NHL loves its parity party, and it’s been apparent in the standings all year.
www.nytimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:18 PM
If the NHL playoffs started today
1 Tampa Bay vs. WC Philadelphia
2 Montreal vs. 3 Ottawa
1 New Jersey vs. WC Washington
2 Carolina vs. 3 Pittsburgh
1 Colorado vs. WC Utah
2 Dallas vs. 3 Minnesota
1 Anaheim vs. WC Los Angeles
2 Vegas vs. 3 Seattle
Full breakdown ⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...
1 Tampa Bay vs. WC Philadelphia
2 Montreal vs. 3 Ottawa
1 New Jersey vs. WC Washington
2 Carolina vs. 3 Pittsburgh
1 Colorado vs. WC Utah
2 Dallas vs. 3 Minnesota
1 Anaheim vs. WC Los Angeles
2 Vegas vs. 3 Seattle
Full breakdown ⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...
Red Light: Is the NHL overdoing overtime? Plus: If the playoffs started today
www.nytimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:46 PM
It's a new podcast @theathletic.com with special guest Chris Johnston. Thanks for your questions for this one
pod.fo/e/35b4a8
pod.fo/e/35b4a8
The Leaf Report: Maple Leafs thankful for Joseph Woll after OT win in Columbus
James is joined by NHL insider Chris Johnston to discuss the Maple Leafs big overtime win in Columbus on Wednesday night, Joseph Woll's outstanding performance, Easton Cowan settling into the top 6...
pod.fo
November 27, 2025 at 7:27 PM
It's a new podcast @theathletic.com with special guest Chris Johnston. Thanks for your questions for this one
pod.fo/e/35b4a8
pod.fo/e/35b4a8
Excited to have Chris Johnston on the podcast tomorrow. Have any questions for the show?
November 26, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Excited to have Chris Johnston on the podcast tomorrow. Have any questions for the show?
Some interesting facts and figures as we look at NHL attendance so far this year
www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
NHL 2025-26 attendance check-in: Wild and Blackhawks down, Sharks and Blue Jackets up
Where does your team rank in attendance over a quarter of the way through 2025-26, and is it a jump up or down?
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Some interesting facts and figures as we look at NHL attendance so far this year
www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
Reposted by James Mirtle
The Maple Leafs need to start dropping the minutes for, benching, trading or even waiving their biggest underperformers. Here's why
www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
The Maple Leafs have a lot of problems. Contract inefficiency might be the biggest
This was supposed to be the season of cap flexibility for the Leafs. Instead, too many players aren't playing at the level they're paid to.
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:21 PM
The Maple Leafs need to start dropping the minutes for, benching, trading or even waiving their biggest underperformers. Here's why
www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
The Maple Leafs need to start dropping the minutes for, benching, trading or even waiving their biggest underperformers. Here's why
www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
The Maple Leafs have a lot of problems. Contract inefficiency might be the biggest
This was supposed to be the season of cap flexibility for the Leafs. Instead, too many players aren't playing at the level they're paid to.
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:21 PM
The Maple Leafs need to start dropping the minutes for, benching, trading or even waiving their biggest underperformers. Here's why
www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
Reposted by James Mirtle
On the NHL's injury explosion. And a tough trivia task. It's today's newsletter
www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...
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.
www.nytimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:53 PM
On the NHL's injury explosion. And a tough trivia task. It's today's newsletter
www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...
On the NHL's injury explosion. And a tough trivia task. It's today's newsletter
www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...
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.
www.nytimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:53 PM
On the NHL's injury explosion. And a tough trivia task. It's today's newsletter
www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...
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...
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...
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.
www.nytimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
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...
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...
Reposted by James Mirtle
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
pod.fo/e/355fad
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...
pod.fo
November 19, 2025 at 8:20 PM
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
pod.fo/e/355fad
Reposted by James Mirtle
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...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...
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.
www.nytimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:41 PM
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...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...
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
pod.fo/e/355fad
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...
pod.fo
November 19, 2025 at 8:20 PM
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
pod.fo/e/355fad
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...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...
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.
www.nytimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:41 PM
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...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...
Taking your questions for the next mailbag / podcast here on anything about the Leafs or around the NHL
www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
Submit your NHL questions for James Mirtle’s next mailbag
<p>We’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.</...
www.nytimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Taking your questions for the next mailbag / podcast here on anything about the Leafs or around the NHL
www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
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.
They had only done it three times in the 10 seasons of the Matthews era before now.
November 16, 2025 at 2:57 AM
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.
They had only done it three times in the 10 seasons of the Matthews era before now.
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...
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.
www.nytimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:15 PM
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...
Today's story ⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
The flailing Maple Leafs can’t throw good assets after bad to save their season
www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
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.
www.nytimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:31 PM
The flailing Maple Leafs can’t throw good assets after bad to save their season
www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...