James Mirtle
@mirtle.bsky.social
Senior Writer, @TheAthletic.com. Covering the NHL since 2004. Leaf Report podcast & Red Light newsletter. Kamloops kid in Toronto 🇨🇦
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The men’s Olympic hockey tournament format is terrible. Here’s how to fix it
A format similar to the women's side would make for a stronger men's tournament, with more competitive games and fewer blowouts.
www.nytimes.com
My latest: Is there a better way to format the Olympic hockey tournament than this?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
Reposted by James Mirtle
Column: Explaining what the path looks like for the U.S. and Canada with all the chaos in the Olympic bracket
www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...
Why the U.S., Canada or Sweden could be eliminated early from Olympic men’s hockey
It's now highly likely that two of the best three teams in the event will face one another in a do-or-die quarterfinal next week.
www.nytimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Column: Explaining what the path looks like for the U.S. and Canada with all the chaos in the Olympic bracket
www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...
Finland 11, Italy 0. Finland has set the record for most shots in a game (62 and counting).
They want goal differential in order to guarantee the bye. Likely going to be a bunch of these ugly games to end the round robin here for similar reasons.
They want goal differential in order to guarantee the bye. Likely going to be a bunch of these ugly games to end the round robin here for similar reasons.
February 14, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Finland 11, Italy 0. Finland has set the record for most shots in a game (62 and counting).
They want goal differential in order to guarantee the bye. Likely going to be a bunch of these ugly games to end the round robin here for similar reasons.
They want goal differential in order to guarantee the bye. Likely going to be a bunch of these ugly games to end the round robin here for similar reasons.
Column: Explaining what the path looks like for the U.S. and Canada with all the chaos in the Olympic bracket
www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...
Why the U.S., Canada or Sweden could be eliminated early from Olympic men’s hockey
It's now highly likely that two of the best three teams in the event will face one another in a do-or-die quarterfinal next week.
www.nytimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Column: Explaining what the path looks like for the U.S. and Canada with all the chaos in the Olympic bracket
www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...
Canada wins its group and that plus 9 goal differential puts some pressure on Team USA against Denmark tomorrow.
Getting first overall going to have some value - potentially a lot depending on what happens tomorrow between Sweden and Slovakia.
Getting first overall going to have some value - potentially a lot depending on what happens tomorrow between Sweden and Slovakia.
February 13, 2026 at 10:44 PM
Canada wins its group and that plus 9 goal differential puts some pressure on Team USA against Denmark tomorrow.
Getting first overall going to have some value - potentially a lot depending on what happens tomorrow between Sweden and Slovakia.
Getting first overall going to have some value - potentially a lot depending on what happens tomorrow between Sweden and Slovakia.
Switzerland looks great. 10 NHLers and by far their most talented roster in best on best ever.
The country that has taken the most steps from beyond the old Big Seven hockey nations.
The country that has taken the most steps from beyond the old Big Seven hockey nations.
February 13, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Switzerland looks great. 10 NHLers and by far their most talented roster in best on best ever.
The country that has taken the most steps from beyond the old Big Seven hockey nations.
The country that has taken the most steps from beyond the old Big Seven hockey nations.
Why Finland's win over Sweden today introduces some extra chaos into the tournament and how Canada or the U.S. could now face a daunting quarterfinal opponent
www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...
Around Olympic hockey: Early men’s chaos while women’s knockout rounds begin
At this point, we can’t rule out a do-or-die game between Sweden and either Canada or the U.S. to start the men's knockout rounds.
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Why Finland's win over Sweden today introduces some extra chaos into the tournament and how Canada or the U.S. could now face a daunting quarterfinal opponent
www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...
Goal differential going to matter for Canada in terms of who they ultimately play in elimination games. Finishing in the top two may well come down to the tiebreakers - and whether or not you get a team like Finland in the quarters.
So keep filling the net.
So keep filling the net.
February 12, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Goal differential going to matter for Canada in terms of who they ultimately play in elimination games. Finishing in the top two may well come down to the tiebreakers - and whether or not you get a team like Finland in the quarters.
So keep filling the net.
So keep filling the net.
NHL trade matchmaker: Predicting where top targets go by the deadline
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
NHL trade matchmaker: Predicting where top targets go by the deadline, part 5
Where could Vincent Trocheck, Bobby McMann, Evander Kane and Jesper Wallstedt end up by the deadline? Our insiders' picks.
www.nytimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:43 PM
NHL trade matchmaker: Predicting where top targets go by the deadline
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
My latest: Is there a better way to format the Olympic hockey tournament than this?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
The men’s Olympic hockey tournament format is terrible. Here’s how to fix it
A format similar to the women's side would make for a stronger men's tournament, with more competitive games and fewer blowouts.
www.nytimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:14 PM
My latest: Is there a better way to format the Olympic hockey tournament than this?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
Today's column: On Canadian goalies and why this isn't a conversation that's going away @theathletic.com
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
February 10, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Today's column: On Canadian goalies and why this isn't a conversation that's going away @theathletic.com
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
NHL trade matchmaker: Predicting where top targets go by the deadline
www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...
NHL trade matchmaker: Predicting where top targets go by the deadline, part 4
Where could Robert Thomas, Nazem Kadri, Shane Wright and Dougie Hamilton end up by the deadline? Our insiders' picks.
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:28 PM
NHL trade matchmaker: Predicting where top targets go by the deadline
www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...
Five must-watch Olympic hockey games as the hunt for gold begins
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Back with a new podcast on the Leafs deadline options and future questions. Thanks for listening
pod.fo/e/388180
pod.fo/e/388180
The Leaf Report: Will the Maple Leafs be aggressive leading up to the deadline?
The Maple Leafs, who collected 6 of a possible 8 points on their four game road trip are at a crossroads. Should they try to stay in the race, or sell for a quick reboot to ultimately strengthen t...
pod.fo
February 4, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Back with a new podcast on the Leafs deadline options and future questions. Thanks for listening
pod.fo/e/388180
pod.fo/e/388180
Reposted by James Mirtle
Here comes rock bottom for the Leafs... losing streak is now their longest in a decade
www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
Maple Leafs hit rock bottom as losing skid stretches to longest in a decade
The Leafs' 5-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night was a sixth straight, the team's worst run since 2015-16.
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Here comes rock bottom for the Leafs... losing streak is now their longest in a decade
www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
Here comes rock bottom for the Leafs... losing streak is now their longest in a decade
www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
Maple Leafs hit rock bottom as losing skid stretches to longest in a decade
The Leafs' 5-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night was a sixth straight, the team's worst run since 2015-16.
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Here comes rock bottom for the Leafs... losing streak is now their longest in a decade
www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
Leafs lose their sixth in a row. They have one win in their last nine and haven't won in regulation since Jan. 10.
January 30, 2026 at 5:43 AM
Leafs lose their sixth in a row. They have one win in their last nine and haven't won in regulation since Jan. 10.
Reposted by James Mirtle
Why did the NHL’s most valuable team eliminate a position designed to keep players healthy? www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
Why did the Maple Leafs eliminate a job designed to keep players healthy?
Former director of sports science and performance Jeremy Bettle: "It’s absolutely why they have more injuries."
www.nytimes.com
January 29, 2026 at 1:58 PM
Why did the NHL’s most valuable team eliminate a position designed to keep players healthy? www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
Well, that's about it for the 2025-26 Leafs.
January 28, 2026 at 2:32 AM
Well, that's about it for the 2025-26 Leafs.
Reposted by James Mirtle
