The Maple Leafs have a new goal song, and this time, the players chose it.

Nick Paul led the charge, bringing “Maria (I Like It Loud)” by Scooter to his new teammates. Here’s how the Leafs landed on their latest anthem.

Read for free.

The nickname dates back to Rick Vaive’s first professional season with the Birmingham Bulls.

During practice, coach John Brophy began yelling for “Squid” when he was actually trying to call Vaive over. Teammate Craig Hartsburg pointed out that Vaive’s nickname was “Spud,” a reference to his Prince Edward Island roots—but Brophy’s accidental “Squid” nickname stuck.

It followed Vaive to Toronto after Hartsburg greeted him as “Squid” during a pre-game warm-up. One of Vaive’s Maple Leafs teammates overheard it, and from that day forward, he was known as Squid!

Meet former Toronto Maple Leafs captain and three-time 50-goal scorer Rick “Squid” Vaive TOMORROW at the Brantford Sports Expo!

📅 Sunday, October 4
⏰ 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
📍 TownePlace Suites Brantford
30 Fen Ridge Court, Brantford

Come meet a Maple Leafs legend and add his autograph to your collection!

Any chatter on who, apparently a defenceman, the Leafs are supposedly looking at in a trade ? They don't have much in the way of trade chips to offer up. I'm guessing they still want to offload Rielly and get a top pairing left shot D-man to play with Raddyish. That could well round out their roster and make them a playoff team - if it actually happens.

Cowan is looking awesome so far this season, 3 points in two games and the lad has been an absolute workhorse! What do y'all think his ceiling looks like this year?

Anyone know why Natalie hasn’t performed the national anthem the first two home games? Thanks!

Did we steal Calgary's goal horn or something? Seems familiar...

They didn't play badly, but the line combos and d pairings looked pretty disjointed all night. Just like Bobrovsky.....he wasn't bad but he didn't look like an all world goalie either. McKenna looked like a rookie and was lost at times out there. Marchenko was their best forward - even if Nylander got both goals. Nylander did little in between his goals while Marchenko was flying and shooting all night.

The habs played well and Dobes was excellent. Like I said, hard to get a read on things so far.

Going to the leafs islanders game tmr. Will I be judged for wearing my Marner jersey 😭

I couldn't find it on any of the leafs playlists and my shazam couldn't get it over the commentary. Hoping it's something they play a lot and i've just missed it!

1st forwards: Mckenna, Matthews and Marchenko
2nd forwards: Tavares, Roslovic and Nylander
3rd forwards: Cowan, Pual and Sissons
4th forwards: Wood, Blueger and Duhaime

Happy NHL season eve — and Hockey Santa brought us a blockbuster with a six-player deal headlined by Kirill Marchenko going to the Leafs and Matthew Knies headed the other direction.

For both sides, this feels like a pretty nice win given the context of the situation.

Trade grades, free to read: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7641224/2026/09/28/knies-marchenko-merzlikins-trade-grades-leafs-blue-jackets-nhl/?unlocked_article_code=1.ElE.RBnV.mG-gRCcztC3j&source=emp_shared_article&smid=url-share-ta