10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edmonton Journal
LEAF NOTES: Once students of tactics, Toronto now studied by rivals
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At that stage the third-round draft pick winger had played two games in the organization for the Marlies when his Niagara Ice Dogs were eliminated from the 2014 OHL playoffs.
Verhaeghe gradually built his two-way game to win two Cups, with the 2020 Tampa Bay Lightning and last year's Panthers.
'Toronto was a long time ago,' Verhaeghe said this week. 'But it was a good experience, coming up and getting an opportunity. I remember the pace was a lot different than junior and how it opened my eyes. (Marlies coach) Steve Spott treated me fairly, but I was only there a couple of weeks.'
Spott is now Pete DeBoer's assistant with the Dallas Stars.
O, NA-TA-LIE
The Leafs' extended playoff run has given a higher profile to Leaf anthem singer Natalie Morris.
So much so that Morris was recognized on the subway during game night this week and was serenaded by a car full of fellow commuters with, you guessed it, O Canada.
Wearing her Leaf sweater, she had her I-phone out to record the tribute, while another passenger posted video of her singing along to blogTO. Morris was a contestant on Canada's Got Talent in 2024, with a rendition of Beyonce's 'I Was Here' and Jessie J's 'Mamma Knows Best', earning herself fifth place.
