Brian Costello

In 1993, I went on a first date to a game at Maple Leaf Gardens with someone I met in mixed curling. It went so well, I kept the ticket stub. Almost exactly 30 years later, we’re back at a Leafs game. And my wife is still the girl of my dreams.

@wingsfan1000 @spaikin @MapleLeafs @StanleyCup Let me know Steve if you want any background on Barilko’s puck that won that Cup.

@spaikin @MapleLeafs @StanleyCup For years, Cup winning puck resided in Hamilton. @bcostellothn did the original story of Harry Donohue and the puck👍 thehockeynews.com/news/news/has-…

99 years ago today, the man who scored the greatest goal in @MapleLeafs’ history was born. Bill Barilko scored in overtime of game 5 to win the Leafs the @StanleyCup. He died in a tragic plane crash a few months later. I’m part of a team making a doc about this Leaf legend.

@miketgould @FlamesNation a) love the presentation. So easy to follow b) no major quibble with the tiering. Scouts like Suniev and Stromgren a little more than you. c) I’d put Yegorov and Leander ahead of King.

@bcostellothn @FlamesNation Whatcha think of the list?

Just a little light reading for your Monday night. #Flames

@ExnerPirot Article did nothing more than state the obvious with regard to Canada’s potential to become an energy superpower. I was hoping to read a game plan that actually moved the ball forward.

“It’s not enough for Mr. Carney to sign the pipeline memorandum and leave it at that. More needs to be done to create the conditions to get the private sector to the table and start building, so Mr. Carney can achieve his stated goal of turning Canada into an energy superpower. The spike in oil prices due to the war in the Middle East is a reminder about the continued critical role of the energy sector.” theglobeandmail.com/gift/2d737d3a9…

@Aportzline It’s so obviously blatant, it should be 20 games. But I say it will get just five games.

This is about as ugly and deliberate as it gets. That extra stride just to line him up is not a good look.

Hey @Todd_McFarlane I’m cleaning out my hockey memorabilia collection and came across this sweet baseball card in mint condition. I’m wondering if it can fund my retirement!?

@RyanNPike Engages like a teenager. Lost a 50-50 battle against an opponent who wanted it more. But Parekh will get stronger in time.

The intermission panel kinda panned Parekh's play here, and I respectfully disagree. He engages with the first Rangers forward to negate the forecheck, but poor Zary is stuck in no-man's land trying to cover two Rangers with no other Flame back in the D-zone.

@Clarkian1900 Stockselius and Suniev too low.

My updated top-20 Flames prospect rankings: 1. Parekh 2. Gridin 3. Reschny 4. Wyttenbach 5. Potter 6. Castagna 7. Mews 8. Sergeev 9. Brzustewicz 10. Stromgren 11. Wiebe 12. Curran 13. Zarubin 14. Suniev 15. Basha 16. Hoskin 17. Kerins 18. Morin 19. Misa 20. Laing

@CGYNation11 Makes sense. That’s much better than if Avs win Cup.

@bcostellothn Id assume the 1st is top 10 protected and the 2nd will be the best of the Colorado/Minnesota 2nd rounders

I'm very curious what the conditions are on the 1st and 2nd Calgary is getting from Colorado in the Kadri trade.

Calgary-bound prospect Max Curran was the No. 7 Colorado prospect in Future Watch 2026. He’s a 19-year-old C, drafted 161st overall in 2024.

NYR-bound prospect Jacob Battaglia wasn’t among Calgary’s top-10 prospects, but the Flames have a deep crop. He surely would’ve been in the 11-15 grouping, and likely on many other team’s top 10s.

Calgary-bound prospect Brennan Othmann was not among our top 100 list in Future Watch 2026. He’s a 23-year-old LW, drafted 16th overall in 2021. In past FWs, he's been ranked: 45th (2025) 29th (2024) 31st (2023) 24th (2022)

@zlibgamer The Hockey News Future Watch 2026 on newsstands.

@bcostellothn Where can I find the ranking?

Philadelphia-bound prospect David Jiricek was ranked 51st on our top 100 list in Future Watch 2026. He’s a 22-year-old D, drafted 6th overall in 2022. In past FWs, he's been ranked: 25th (2025) NHL (2024) 5th (2023)

Winnipeg-bound prospect Isak Rosen was ranked 81st on our top 100 list in Future Watch 2026. He’s a 22-year-old RW, drafted 14th overall in 2021. He becomes Wpg's No. 3 prospect behind Boumedienne (#54) and Yager (#57).

Does he have it in him to catch Mike Sillinger?

@TommyHuds Sorry, no relation to Father Les, although we met a couple of times and talked about our family heritage to see if there was a connection.

@bcostellothn Father Les. Isn’t he your uncle? And I see the wording. But reporting it people take it as fact. It’s contributes to the chaos no matter the intention.

Parayko uses his negotiated no trade and people kick a fuss up. The real issue as I see it was why was the trade public in the 1st place until signed off? Who leaks this? Not player, not agent .. no benefit. Cheesy of teams to back door pressure the player that they gave no trade to. If that's where the info came from

@TommyHuds Pretty sure they reported something like "there's a trade in the works" and pointed out the NMC, both with Weegar and Parayko. Reporters seek out information and report it. You know my uncle Herb? Do tell.

@bcostellothn Why report if it’s not confirmed done? It just adds to the chaos. Btw your uncle gave me one my fondest minor hockey memories.

@AP_635 @jnancekivell @rayferraro21 @DarrenDreger Don't blame the weatherman for telling us about the ice storm that's supposed to come, but may not, tonight.

@jnancekivell @rayferraro21 @DarrenDreger Yes buuuuut and this is a big but, he knew parayko had a NMC. There’s plenty of other trades agreed to by teams that never get out because the player with the NMC has final say. I’m sure the insiders are all well aware of them but do not report them because of the players NMC.