James Mirtle
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James Mirtle
@mirtle.bsky.social
17K followers 290 following 650 posts
Senior Writer, The Athletic. Covering the NHL since 2004. Leafs Report podcast & Red Light newsletter. Kamloops kid in Toronto 🇨🇦

Company handle: @theathletic.com
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James Mirtle @mirtle.bsky.social · 13d
Who’s to blame for the Maple Leafs’ poor start to the 2025-26 season?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
Who’s to blame for the Maple Leafs’ poor start to the 2025-26 season?
Even ignoring their place in the standings, the Leafs just don't look good so far this season. Thus begins the Blame Game.
www.nytimes.com
mirtle.bsky.social
New podcast is up

pod.fo/e/358ed3
The Leaf Report: Is Berube losing the room?
With the Maple Leafs 3-5-2 in the past 10 games, Jonas and James reunite to discuss the perfect storm of storylines which see Toronto's hockey team with the 5th worst record in the NHL on November ...
pod.fo
November 24, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Reposted by James Mirtle
mirtle.bsky.social
On the NHL's injury explosion. And a tough trivia task. It's today's newsletter

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
mirtle.bsky.social
On the NHL's injury explosion. And a tough trivia task. It's today's newsletter

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
mirtle.bsky.social
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...
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
Reposted by James Mirtle
mirtle.bsky.social
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
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
Reposted by James Mirtle
mirtle.bsky.social
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...
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
mirtle.bsky.social
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
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
mirtle.bsky.social
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...
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
mirtle.bsky.social
Taking your questions for the next mailbag / podcast here on anything about the Leafs or around the NHL

www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
Submit your NHL questions for James Mirtle’s next mailbag
<p>We&#8217;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
mirtle.bsky.social
Have a new podcast up @theathletic.com

pod.fo/e/3545ab
The Leaf Report: Struggling Maple Leafs in desperate need of a shakeup
With the Maple Leafs losing streak at 5 games and counting, Jonas and James discuss the turmoil in Leaf land, including Craig Berube's future as head coach, his relationship with William Nylander, ...
pod.fo
November 17, 2025 at 3:53 PM
mirtle.bsky.social
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.
November 16, 2025 at 2:57 AM
mirtle.bsky.social
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...
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
mirtle.bsky.social
The flailing Maple Leafs can’t throw good assets after bad to save their season

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
mirtle.bsky.social
Any Toronto beer league goalies want to help a team out on Sunday? 🤔
November 15, 2025 at 2:48 AM
mirtle.bsky.social
Today's NHL newsletter is out: items on the Canucks, Blues, Leafs and Jets

www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
NHL putrid power rankings: Will these 3 disappointing teams figure it out?
Just how much trouble are these teams in? Are they contemplating firings or big trades? Is it salvageable?
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:34 PM
mirtle.bsky.social
We have a new Leaf Report with special guest JD Bunkis. It gets a bit dark.

pod.fo/e/35175f
The Leaf Report: Burnt out Maple Leafs searching for a solution
James welcomes JD Bunkis from the JD Bunkis podcast and Leaf Talk on Sportsnet Radio the Fan 590 in Toronto to discuss the latest loss by the Maple Leafs, the injuries to Auston Matthews and Anthon...
pod.fo
November 12, 2025 at 6:36 PM
mirtle.bsky.social
On the rise of prediction markets and the NHL's new partnership with them

www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
Why is the NHL aligning with prediction markets as others raise red flags?
The NHL recently announced partnerships with Kalshi and Polymarket, whose business models have faced scrutiny from other major leagues.
www.nytimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:48 PM
mirtle.bsky.social
NHL mailbag @theathletic.com:

- Macklin Celebrini versus Connor Bedard
- trading for high draft picks
- the best Canadian NHL team
- expansion reasons
- and how statistics have evolved

www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
Why does NHL keep floating expansion? Have giveaway stats changed? Mirtle mailbag
Plus, is Montreal most likely to bring the Stanley Cup back to Canada? Will Bedard or Celebrini (or both) make the Olympics roster?
www.nytimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Reposted by James Mirtle
mirtle.bsky.social
Who’s to blame for the Maple Leafs’ poor start to the 2025-26 season?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
Who’s to blame for the Maple Leafs’ poor start to the 2025-26 season?
Even ignoring their place in the standings, the Leafs just don't look good so far this season. Thus begins the Blame Game.
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:26 PM
mirtle.bsky.social
Who’s to blame for the Maple Leafs’ poor start to the 2025-26 season?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
Who’s to blame for the Maple Leafs’ poor start to the 2025-26 season?
Even ignoring their place in the standings, the Leafs just don't look good so far this season. Thus begins the Blame Game.
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:26 PM
mirtle.bsky.social
Some Leafs thoughts in podcast form @theathletic.com

pod.fo/e/350340
The Leaf Report: Maple Leafs 'immature' defensive deficiencies frustrate Berube
The Maple Leafs lost both of their home games on the weekend to the Bruins and Hurricanes, and head coach Craig Berube is more than a little frustrated with his team's commitment to defence. Jonas ...
pod.fo
November 10, 2025 at 10:36 PM
mirtle.bsky.social
That is quite the chart @moneypuck.bsky.social...
November 10, 2025 at 1:39 AM
mirtle.bsky.social
Leafs recall Hildeby. Primeau claimed on waivers by Carolina.
November 8, 2025 at 7:15 PM
mirtle.bsky.social
New Leafs podcast is up. Thanks for listening

pod.fo/e/34cbf4
The Leaf Report: Have the Maple Leafs turned a corner after a slow start?
After a convincing Leaf win over Utah, their 5th in 6 games, James and Joshua appreciate the play of John Tavares who scored his 501st career goal in the win, Auston Matthews looking like himself, ...
pod.fo
November 6, 2025 at 7:26 PM
mirtle.bsky.social
Probably the Leafs best game of the season. Suddenly they've won three in a row and are on a 100 point pace.
November 6, 2025 at 2:40 AM