Latest news with #Toronto-Boston
Toronto Star
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Star
New Leafs defenceman Henry Thrun grew up a Bruins fan. He's anxious to see the other side
Henry Thrun began his first media conference as a Maple Leaf with a confession. 'As much as I hate to say it, I was a Bruins fan growing up,' he said. Childhood loyalties aside, the 24-year-old defenceman, acquired in the trade that sent Ryan Reaves to the San Jose Sharks last week, said he was happy to be the newest member of the Leafs. Thrun grew up in the Boston suburb of Southborough, not to be confused with Scarborough, which means he'll arrive in Toronto relatively well-versed in at least a few recent chapters of Toronto's difficult post-season story arc. 'I knew the Toronto-Boston rivalry and kind of the history that they've seen in the playoffs, and just knowing how electric of a hockey market (Toronto) is,' Thrun said. 'When (Sharks general manager Mike Grier) told me I was traded, it was definitely a nice way for that phone call to wrap up, just knowing I was going to a city like Toronto, just knowing the history and the success that the team has had the past couple of years, with obviously the end goal still in sight. There's more to push for.' That there's 'more to push for,' of course, is a kind way of saying a team that has won two playoff series in its most recent nine playoff runs has massively underachieved. But achievement is relative. And Thrun, after spending the past two-plus seasons with the league's worst team in San Jose, would be taking a big step up in class if he can carve out a role with the Leafs. Exactly what that role will be is anybody's guess. Not that the trade didn't make sense. The Leafs had essentially given up on Reaves, who played in just 35 games last season and did not see the ice in the playoffs. Moving out the remaining year on Reaves' contract, with a $1.35-million (U.S.) cap hit, in exchange for the remaining year on Thrun's $1-million deal offered salary-cap savings. Still, Thrun, a fourth-round 2019 draft pick of the Ducks who signed in San Jose as a free agent after his junior year at Harvard, is far from a proven commodity as an NHL regular. He has played 119 NHL games as a second- and third-pairing guy on a bottom-feeding team. Grier told reporters in San Jose last week that the Sharks' depth chart was such that Thrun was going to be in tough to earn regular playing time this coming season. 'It's going to be heavy competition here (for spots in the lineup on defence),' Grier said. 'And at the end day, I think this (trade) might help Henry out as well.' If Thrun was going to have a hard time finding ice time on the back end of the reigning basement dwellers, it's difficult to know where he slots on a Leafs blue line where the top six spots appear spoken for. Then again, depth never hurts. And perhaps Toronto's perceived defensive surplus means it's the logical place from which to eventually pluck a trade piece to service GM Brad Treliving's self-announced need for another top-six forward. It's possible, of course, that the Leafs see untapped potential in Thrun, a left-shot blueliner who made the case on Monday that his puck-moving skills weren't exactly showcased in San Jose, where it's safe to say the Sharks spent plenty of time in their own end. Perhaps the game will look different for Thrun in Toronto, even if Reaves offered a cautionary view of life as a Leaf in his introductory media availability in San Jose last week. 'I started the season two years ago really well, and then things were just going really wrong for me. All of a sudden the whole city wanted me out of there. I don't think you see that in other organizations,' Reaves said. Reaves was right about his great beginning: In his first two games as a Maple Leaf in engaged in a pair of fights. But less than a month into his first of two seasons in Toronto the fundamental worth of carrying a so-called enforcer on an NHL roster was called into question when Boston's Brad Marchand delivered a dirty hit that injured then-Leaf Timothy Liljegren. That nobody on the Leafs, including Reaves, offered any sort of response did not sit well. Liljegren, of course, now plays in San Jose, where he and Thrun were neighbours and friends. 'I got to hear (from Liljegren) a little about Toronto, and just, you know how passionate the fans are and how first class in the organization it is,' Thrun said. 'So it's something that I've only heard good things, and I'm excited to see it all firsthand and experience it.'
Edmonton Journal
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Amazon Prime series goes behind the scenes with ex-Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, NHL stars
Article content The next team thinking of hiring Brendan Shanahan as an executive will have some candid behind-the-scenes visuals of him at work to use as a resource. Article content Article content Toronto's former team president will appear among an impressive list of National Hockey League players for Season 2 of Amazon Prime Video's Faceoff: Inside the NHL, set to premier in the autumn of 2025. The intimate look at the stars at work — and play — scored many points with subscribers last year with such features as the mic'd up rivalry between Edmonton's Connor McDavid and Florida's Matthew Tkachuk in the Stanley Cup final and the lasting friendship of Maple Leafs winger William Nylander and Boston's David Pastrnak that had to be shelved in the Toronto-Boston series. Nylander also will appear in Season 2. Article content 'This year, fans can expect more of the unexpected,' Mark Shopiro, head of Prime Video Canada, told Postmedia. 'We were really excited by fan reaction the first year, some things they hadn't ever seen before, through the lens of the players, their families and friends. Our cameras were rolling behind the scenes again and we have a lot of great highlights.' Similar to Season 1, two or three dozen players volunteered or were asked by the league to be profiled by London, England-based Box to Box Productions. Some storylines grew organically from mid-season through the Cup final, while filming this year began with the 4 Nations tournament in February in hopes some players would get deep in the playoffs as teammates or foes. 'We're featuring the oldest generational players — Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin's milestone goal chase (and retiring netminder Marc-Andre Fleury),' Shopiro said. 'They'll cross with the younger generation, such as (Los Angeles Kings forward) Quinton Byfield.' Latest National Stories
Toronto Sun
29-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Amazon Prime series goes behind the scenes with ex-Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, NHL stars
Former Maple Leafs president will be featured on coming season of Amazon Prime's Faceoff: Inside the NHL Get the latest from Lance Hornby straight to your inbox Former Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan. Postmedia files The next team thinking of hiring Brendan Shanahan as an executive will have some candid behind-the-scenes visuals of him at work to use as a resource. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Toronto's former team president will appear among an impressive list of National Hockey League players for Season 2 of Amazon Prime Video's Faceoff: Inside the NHL, set to premier in the autumn of 2025. The intimate look at the stars at work — and play — scored many points with subscribers last year with such features as the mic'd up rivalry between Edmonton's Connor McDavid and Florida's Matthew Tkachuk in the Stanley Cup final and the lasting friendship of Maple Leafs winger William Nylander and Boston's David Pastrnak that had to be shelved in the Toronto-Boston series. Nylander also will appear in Season 2. 'This year, fans can expect more of the unexpected,' Mark Shopiro, head of Prime Video Canada, told Postmedia. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We were really excited by fan reaction the first year, some things they hadn't ever seen before, through the lens of the players, their families and friends. Our cameras were rolling behind the scenes again and we have a lot of great highlights.' Similar to Season 1, two or three dozen players volunteered or were asked by the league to be profiled by London, England-based Box to Box Productions. Some storylines grew organically from mid-season through the Cup final, while filming this year began with the 4 Nations tournament in February in hopes some players would get deep in the playoffs as teammates or foes. 'We're featuring the oldest generational players — Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin's milestone goal chase (and retiring netminder Marc-Andre Fleury),' Shopiro said. 'They'll cross with the younger generation, such as (Los Angeles Kings forward) Quinton Byfield.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'After Season 1, more players were familiar with the concept and that helped (attract more participants).' More details of Shanahan's segment were to be revealed during a Thursday afternoon media promotional launch in Toronto. Moving from the ice to the hockey office side of the business and perhaps coaches and general manager's lives is a likely progression for the show. Read More 'Shanahan will give viewers different angles,' Shopiro predicted. 'That's what resonated from Season 1, as with Nylander.' Of course, cameras and live microphones also expose viewers to some salty language. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. McDavid's meltdown after a Cup final loss in Sunrise, Fla., stood out last year. 'Dig the f*** in, right f***ing now,' the captain berated his Oilers as a staffer eventually closed the dressing door to keep out the Prime crew's cameras. 'Part of the game,' Shopiro said of including the F-bombs and raw exchanges that naturally ramp up in playoffs. Also to be featured in Season 2 are the travels of Mikko Rantanen — who was traded twice during the season — both Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, Zach Werenski and Sean Monahan of the Columbus Blue Jackets as they deal with the tragic pre-season death of teammate Johnny Gaudreau. The series is part of Amazon Prime subscriptions. lhornby@ X: @sunhornby Toronto & GTA Columnists Toronto Maple Leafs Columnists World
