Rosie DiManno: The Leafs' best players should thrive with Babcock gone — coaches never win grudge matches with their stars - By the end, you could count on the fingers of one hand the number of Leafs who were still listening to Mike Babcock, who was fired Wednesday. It was obvious in that excruciating turtling of a loss in Pittsburgh on Saturday that the players had checked out, Rosie DiManno writes.

5 hours ago

Dave Feschuk: Leafs front office prays for sunny days after the Babcock era ends so badly -- Mike Babcock's tenure as coach of the Leafs began with giddy promise and ended in another franchise low. Waiting to fire him squandered more than a quarter of an important season, Dave Feschuk writes.

4 hours ago

Leafs fire head coach Mike Babcock, replace him with Sheldon Keefe -- The Leafs have lost six straight games and sit outside a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with a 9-10-4 record.

3 hours ago

Leafs should gain confidence under Dubas disciple Sheldon Keefe, according to Marlies -- Toronto's top minor-leaguers feel the Leafs new bench boss is a players' coach.

4 hours ago

A look at the rise of new Toronto Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe -- The Toronto Marlies made it to the second round of the playoffs or better in each of Keefe's four full seasons.

8 hours ago

Raptors bench buys time for stars to shine in home win over Magic -- Terence Davis II, Chris Boucher and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson brought energy off the bench at Scotiabank Arena, where the Raptors haven't lost this season.

4 hours ago

Raptors hold out hope that the best of Powell will become the norm -- It hasn't hurt the Raptors much, but Norm Powell's tantalizing talent leaves the NBA defending champions wanting more.

7 hours ago

Gregor Chisholm: Flexible Blue Jays are firm in their conviction to add pitching this off-season -- GM Atkins has room on his payroll for free agents and talent in the system if he needs to trade.

10 hours ago

If Blue Bombers win the Grey Cup, Winnipeg man says he'll put on pants after 18 years -- Chris Matthew hasn't worn pants in 18 years because he's waiting for his favourite CFL team, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to win. His wife says they can't have dinner at "nice" places because of it. But that all might change this weekend if the Bombers win the Grey Cup in Calgary.

3 hours ago

Tom Brady's offence isn't the reason the Patriots are 9-1 — and it might be getting worse -- New England started the week without injured receivers Mohamed Sanu and Phillip Dorsett, while Julian Edelman was limited with a shoulder injury. If the lacklustre Patriots offence is going to turn things around Sunday, Brady is going to have to work some magic against the 6-4 Cowboys.

5 hours ago

NFL picks: Colts, Texans meet on must-win Thursday -- Two 6-4 teams are trying to create a gap in AFC South.

5 hours ago

Dave Feschuk: Thursday NHL preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Arizona Coyotes -- There's no backup goalie problem in Glendale, where Antti Raanta and Darcy Kuemper have combined to lead the NHL in five-on-five save percentage.

5 hours ago

Gregor Chisholm: Blue Jays add pitcher Hatch, infielder Espinal to 40-man roster -- Mayza outrighted to Buffalo, Shafer designated for assignment as Jays protect prospects from Rule 5 draft.

8 hours ago

Dave Feschuk: Maple Leafs' losing streak hits six games against Golden Knights -- Toronto surrendered the first goal for the 18th time in 23 games in a loss that saw Marc-Andre Fleury pull off a miraculous glove save on Nic Petan that would have tied it late.

1 day ago

Dave Feschuk: It's been all downhill for Leafs blueliner Tyson Barrie since he left the Rocky Mountains -- "I know I'm a good player," says offensive defenceman still looking for his first goal as a Leaf.

1 day ago

Gregor Chisholm: Blue Jays Mailbag: Will Cherington's departure open door for deal with Pirates? -- Former Blue Jays' vice president of baseball operations to determine fate of top trade chips Starling Marte and Josh Bell.

1 day ago

Dave Feschuk: Tuesday NHL preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Vegas Golden Knights -- The last time the Maple Leafs won a game, they beat the Golden Knights — 2-1 in overtime in Toronto on Nov. 7.

2 days ago

Mike Babcock was fired by the Maple Leafs, and Twitter reacted accordingly -- Leafs Nation has been debating the firing of Mike Babcock on social media for weeks. Here's how they reacted to today's news.

9 hours ago

The development of Marlies defencemen Sandin and Liljegren is a story of tough love -- Top prospects are working on being tougher to play against in the defensive zone.

1 day ago

Dave Feschuk: Mike Babcock's Leafs dominate puck possession, even in defeat, but the defence has been a disaster -- You'd think "Cover the slot" would be a go-to instinct for most pros. Not so for the puck-pushing, defence-shirking NHL team from Toronto, Dave Feschuk writes.

2 days ago

Leafs place Trevor Moore on long-term injured reserve, recall Engvall -- The Leafs, losers of five straight games, have been battling injuries all season and now will go without Moore, who will be required to sit out either 10 games or 24 days, whichever comes first.

2 days ago

Three ways the slumping Maple Leafs could help turn the tide -- Frederik Andersen could ease the back-to-back problem when the timing's right, while the Leafs could use a little Gary Roberts in the first period. Tyson Barrie? Don't trade him. Play him more.

3 days ago

Davis Cup success capturing a bit of the imagination these days

18 hours ago

Wednesday NBA preview: Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors -- The Magic are coming off a 3-0 week in which centre Nikola Vucevic earned player-of-the-week honours.

1 day ago

Nick Nurse is the Raptors' straight shooter when it comes to teaching players how to score -- Most Raptors have benefitted from the coach's advice because "he's the one crazy enough to study all the, whatever, dynamics that go into shooting."

1 day ago

Unselfish Raptors share and share alike in easy win over Hornets -- The Raptors pulled an easy, if not merciful win over the Hornets, Monday ending with 132-96. Here's how they did it.

1 day ago

Doug Smith Sports Blog

1 year ago

Pressure on Canada Basketball men — players and management

2 days ago

Some Cherry, some Raptors, some Canada all in the mailbag

3 days ago

Huge move as Canada hosts men's Olympic basketball qualifier - Six teams for one Tokyo berth in Victoria on June while women roll in their home date in Edmonton. Plus, the usual stuff

5 days ago

Kevin McGran Hockey Blog

1 year ago

Kyle Dubas on Mike Babcock, job security and building resolve -- The more things change around the Toronto Maple Leafs, the more things stay the same.

11 hours ago

Pierre Engvall the latest of late Leaf picks making good -- Teams must hit on two picks in every draft to keep the cupboard full. The Leafs seem to be doing okay in finding prospects in late rounds.

1 day ago

The silver lining if this truly is a lost Maple Leafs season -- Adding a top-10 pick and some potentially higher-end prospects by trading Tyson Barrie and other pending UFAs a welcome boon for a team that has hamstrung itself with its salary-cap structure.

2 days ago

Capitals' Hathaway suspended three games for spitting -- Toward the end of a heated brawl between Washington and Anaheim on Monday night, Hathaway responded to a rabbit punch from Erik Gudbranson by spitting on the Ducks defenceman.

12 hours ago

Women's hockey stars coming back to Toronto as Dream Gap Tour makes second stop -- The PWHPA features roughly 200 players, including the Canadian and American national teams, who are touring this winter to market their desire for a sustainable women's pro league.

14 hours ago

Senators' Bobby Ryan enters NHL/NHLPA player assistance program -- The NHlL and NHLPA made the announcement Wednesday that the Ottawa forward would be away from the team while taking part in the program.

7 hours ago

Pirates pluck Ben Cherington from the Blue Jays to be their next general manager -- Former Red Sox GM was Toronto's vice-president of baseball operations the last three years.

5 days ago

Blue Jays name Ken Huckaby as manager of triple-A Buffalo Bisons -- Huckaby has spent the last three seasons as Toronto's minor-league catching co-ordinator.

7 days ago

Gregor Chisholm: The Blue Jays won't break the bank for Gerrit Cole or Stephen Strasburg — but they should -- Money talks on the free-agent market, and the Jays have a load to spend. A front-loaded offer to the top pitchers available makes so much sense that it will never happen. That's a mistake, Gregor Chisholm writes.

9 days ago

Morgan Campbell Sports Prism

1 year ago

Athletics might be turning away future stars by cutting events from high-level track and field meets -- The hedge-fund approach will succeed in cutting cost and turning a short-term profit, but the sport's health will suffer in the long run.

7 days ago

Proposal to pay NCAA players makes right-wing politicians pivot left -- U.S. conservatives favour free markets and low taxes — except when addressing amateurism in college sports. Then they call for more rules and tax hikes, as we saw last week, Morgan Campbell writes.

14 days ago

The death of boxer Patrick Day is forcing the fight game toward another reckoning -- If rule makers are serious about limiting risk, they'll consider shorter world title fights and significant changes to weight classes

21 days ago

TFC untouched in MLS expansion draft, Miami takes NYCFC left back Ben Sweat with first pick -- Veteran Reds defenders Drew Moor, Justin Morrow and Laurent Ciman were among those available in Tuesday's draft.

1 day ago

Toronto FC makes Moor, Morrow and Ciman available for MLS expansion draft -- Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF will select up to five players each from the list of eligibles on Tuesday.

4 days ago

Tricky balancing act ahead for Toronto FC to avoid wasted youth -- Winning is the priority, says TFC president Bill Manning, even if it means top young talent has to wait to crack first team.

5 days ago

Argos sign kicker Tyler Crapigna, offensive lineman Isiah Cage to extensions -- Crapigna, who played 13 games for his first season in Toronto, is signed through 2021, while Cage, who has appeared in 11 games in two seasons for the team, is signed through next season.

14 days ago

Corey Chamblin's position as Toronto Argonauts coach pending review -- General manager Mike (Pinball) Clemons, braintrust will examine all facets of football operation after a disappointing CFL season.

17 days ago

Tiger-Cats complete unbeaten home slate at Argonauts' expense -- The Hamilton Tiger-Cats completed the best regular season in their modern history by outlasting the Toronto Argonauts 21-18 in a battle of the backups at Tim Hortons Field on Saturday.

18 days ago

Browns' Garrett having appeal heard for NFL suspension -- The star defensive end was banned last week for the rest of the regular season and playoffs for striking Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph with a helmet.

14 hours ago

Ticats' Lawrence says it's 'all good' with Bombers' Collaros after head hit -- Hamilton Tiger-Cats linebacker Simoni Lawrence says he and Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros, the former teammate he injured in June, have "talked about everything" and are on good terms as they Grey Cup approaches.

1 day ago

CFL boss says 'there's still more work to be done' regarding domestic violence -- Randy Ambrosie says there is much to learn and that he would like to see more players and coaches out in the community talking about the issue.

1 day ago

B.C. Lions fire Claybrooks after 5-13 season, no word on replacement -- The B.C. Lions fired head coach DeVone Claybrooks on Wednesday after a disappointing season in which the team won only a single West Division game and finished in the division cellar.

14 days ago

Jaden Schwartz finishes off 3-on-0 to lift Blues over Canucks in OT -- The breakaway goal gave St. Louis a 2-1 win for their third straight victory in overtime and the fourth time in five games.

14 days ago

Two-time Olympian and Canadian Basketball Hall of Famer Eli Pasquale dies at 59 -- Canadian Basketball Hall of Famer Eli Pasquale, a two-time Olympian who played at four world championships over his career, has died at 59.

15 days ago

Coyotes goalie Kuemper slams the door, and Tkachuk, in shutout win over Flames -- Both netminders ended up in a melee after Arizona's Darcy Kuemper flipped Calgary's Matthew Tkachuk off his skates.

4 days ago

Belinda Stronach's daughter Nicole Walker suspended for positive Pan Am Games drug test in show jumping -- Canada's show jumping team began making preparations to compete in Japan next year — but after it was announced Tuesday that rider Nicole "Nikki" Walker failed a drug test in Lima, those Olympic plans appear to be in jeopardy.

8 days ago

Stampeders receiver Jorden cleared to play for division semifinal -- It's been a little over 14 months since the Calgary Stampeders receiver suffered a catastrophic knee injury in the 2018 Labour Day game against the Edmonton Eskimos.

12 days ago

McDavid's three points lead Oilers past Sharks 5-2 -- The Edmonton captain had a goal and two assists as the Oilers snapped San Jose's six-game winning streak on Tuesday night.

17 hours ago

'Bar fight' part of Edmonton's plan to upset Tiger-Cats in East final -- Edmonton and quarterback Trevor Harris, trying to become the first CFL crossover team to make it to the Grey Cup, must get by a Hamilton Tiger-Cats club that led the league in points scored and fewest points against while going undefeated at home.

7 days ago

Canada's Nurse, Carleton traverse globe for Olympic hoops qualifying -- Canadian basketball star and globetrotter Kia Nurse, who is playing in Australia, was nonchalant about flying 26 hours to Edmonton for her team's second round of Olympic qualifying this week.

8 days ago

Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby out at least six weeks with core muscle injury -- The 32-year-old Crosby leads the team in scoring with five goals and 12 assists in 17 games despite dealing with a sports hernia since training camp.

6 days ago

NHL salary cap era has been the life of the parity -- The fascinating part of the NHL when compared to other sports is the favourites don't always win and the richest teams often miss the playoffs. You might not like the cap, or how your team manages it, or how it constrains trades, but the cap is at the core of the league's competitive balance, Kevin McGran writes.

1 month ago

Q&A: Legend Bob Cole on fishing with Sid and the future of hockey broadcasting -- "You've got to find different levels," says Cole, not calling games for the first time in a half-century, "because that's what the excitement of hockey is all about. It's not like baseball or football or soccer."

1 month ago