Recapping the 2-1 SOL to Colorado + JACKIE REDMOND drops by: Leafs Morning Take

As I stated in my post-game thoughts on Wednesday night, I loved how boring that game was.
It is so pivotal for the Leafs to find their game defensively again. And unequivocally, last night was a fantastic start.
We kicked off the Thursday edition of Leafs Morning Take by breaking down the Jordan Binnington/Marc-Andre Fleury almost fight. Personally, I’m so tired of Binnington’s “act.” Imagine being his teammate and/or coaches.
After that, we touched on Toronto’s 2-1 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The two big stories from the Leafs perspective: Ilya Samsonov was great, so was Morgan Rielly. Two fantastic developments if you ask me.
Meantime, powered by our friends over PointsBet Canada, the one and only Jackie Redmond (NHL NETWORK/TNT/WWE) dropped by for an all-encompassing chat about her beloved Toronto Maple Leafs.

 
Just a reminder: No show tomorrow. Join me on Monday at 11 AM ET as I recap a busy two-game weekend for the Maple Leafs. Also, Jay Rosehill will drop by for another instalment of 3 Hits With Rosey.
Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and leave us a review wherever you’re checking us out. …

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Author: Nick Alberga / The Leafs Nation

Blue Jays’ Mitch White throws 43-pitch bullpen session, scheduled for live batting practice Friday

Despite being blanked 7-0 by the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday, the Toronto Blue Jays provided an encouraging injury update on right-hander Mitch White, who has yet to make his Grapefruit League debut this spring.
White, delayed by a right shoulder impingement over the off-season, has been working on his build-up at the player development complex over the last few weeks and made a positive stride this past weekend, throwing a 43-pitch bullpen session. The 28-year-old’s next step will be facing live hitters on Friday, where he is expected to throw a few simulated innings.
If everything checks out, White may be cleared for game action shortly afterwards and could make his spring training debut as early as next week.

Mitch White (shoulder) threw a 43-pitch bullpen over the weekend. He’s scheduled to throw a live bullpen on Friday against Blue Jays hitters. Aiming for a couple simulated innings.
If all goes well Friday, White’s next step would be 1-2 innings in a Grapefruit League game.
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) March 8, 2023

The 6-foot-3 hurler, acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers at last season’s trade deadline, figures to open the regular season in the bullpen – if he’s ready by then – and would serve as Toronto’s multi-inning reliever. But if he were to start the season on the injured list, however, the team would likely turn to Nate Pearson or Zach Thompson for that role.
White made eight starts and two relief appearances with the Blue Jays in 2022, logging 43.0 innings and posting a 7.74 ERA a …

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Author: Thomas Hall / Blue Jays Nation

Government urges Canadian KHL players to leave Russia and Belarus

Government urges Canadian KHL players to leave Russia and Belarus

On Wednesday morning, the Canadian Federal government warned all Canadian players currently on the Russian and Belorussian teams in the Kontinental Hockey League to get out of those countries.

There are 33 Canadian-born players on 16 different Russian KHL teams, while there are seven different players on the only Belorussian team in the KHL. Out of the 57 players listed at the bottom of the article, 35 are former NHL players. This includes Ryan Spooner, Brendan Leipsic, and Andrew Hammond.
Moreover, there are six players that have played in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, with two making their Leafs debut. The two players who played on the Leafs are Brandon Kozun (Minsk Dynamo), and Brendan Leipsic (Magnitogorsk Metallurg). 
The four players who only played for the Toronto Marlies are Joshua Ho-Sang (Ufa Salavat Yulaev), Ryan Sproul (Kunlun Red Star), Tyler Wong (Kunlun Red Star), and Jack Rodewald (Kunlun Red Star).
Taylor Beck, who plays for Novosibirsk Sibir, also was a Leaf on paper. He was traded from the Nashville Predators to the Leafs for Jamie Devane but was traded with prospects to the New York Islanders for Michael Grabner before the start of the 2015 training camp.
It’s widely known that Russia is in the midst of an ongoing war with Ukraine. Onc …

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Author: Brennan Delaney / The Leafs Nation