You may not be thinking about hockey when you walk outside in the sun today, but we sure are. It’s the kick-off week for our Maple Leafs Top 25 Under 25. PPP staff have spent the past weeks locked in debate over the rankings and re-rankings of every player with a Maple Leafs contract under 25 years of age as of July 1. We’ve put together another list for you to spend the next weeks arguing about and arguing about arguing about. We have some surprises in store and for you, and some fantastic analysis from our experts. I am told that the PPP T25U25 can even make or break hockey careers! It’s going to be fun.

Here’s the schedule for our kick-off week.

  • Monday: Honourable Mentions - players who received some Top 25 votes, but not enough to make it on to the list
  • Tuesday: No Votes - players whom none of our ten voters included in their Top 25 list
  • Wednesday through Friday: “The case for” series - our voters present to you their case for a player they think should be included in the Top 25 that didn’t make it. You get to be the judge in the comments./

Monday next week we will hit the rankings with number 25. We’ll continue with one new player feature each weekday, skipping the Simcoe Day holiday. We’ll end with features on both the second place and first place players on Thursday August 30th. Don’t forget to check out our Twitter feed to see the occasional cryptic hints or trivia about our list.

While you wait for today’s post, the honourable mentions, check out our look back at prior seasons’ T25U25 lists.

T25U25 through the years: All our wrong thoughts for you to see in one place - Katya
“Pride goeth before a fall.”

It’s our seventh year of the Top 25 Under 25. We really hope you enjoy it. But we still have more analysis for you. At 9:00 a.m. today Arvind will share a look at Auston Matthews and his goals with the conclusion that, yes, he really is that good.

Stay tuned!

Other News

Marcus Power excited to come home to play pro hockey - CBC News
"One person with the Growlers won't be a stranger to him: head coach, and fellow Newfoundlander, Ryan Clowe. Power trained under Clowe for four or five years when he was playing junior, and during summers home in Newfoundland, he said."

The Oilers and Development - The Copper & Blue
"There is nothing more accepted as a universal truth, despite lack of evidence, that the Oilers rush players into the NHL."

Trouba awarded one-year $5.5M AAV arbitration contract - Arctic Ice Hockey
[Species: It's rare to see a contract go all the way through to a decision by an arbitrator, but it happened yesterday for Jacob Trouba.]

Tanev Re-Signs for 1 year, $1.15M - Arctic Ice Hockey
Brandon Tanev, 26, had eight goals and 10 assists in 61 games for the Jets last season, his second full season with the club after signing in 2016.

Ryan Straschnitzki's return to the ice stirs 'mixed emotions' - CBC News
'I just wish my teammates had been there with me,' says survivor of Humboldt Broncos crash.

Veterans Speak Out Against The Militarization Of Sports - Only A Game
Displays of patriotism can be seen all over professional sports. But some veterans feel that flyovers, giant flags and camo uniforms are too much.

From The Branches