TORONTO (Mar. 14) — I haven’t the slightest legal background, yet I’m certain that if you scour the Morality statute here in Ontario, you’ll find an ordinance that precludes the Toronto Maple Leafs from a crappy season.
The affrontry to media and fans of missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in a decade must be remedied. Instantly. After all, these are the mighty Maple Leafs. Forget the nearly six decades of not playing for the National Hockey League title; this lone, horrid season has to be erased from memory — at the very latest — by one year from now. Which implies that if Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, Matthew Knies and Morgan Rielly return with different people managing and coaching the team, a form of witchcraft will prevail.
As “evidence”, two of the most–respected hockey columnists in the country presented the scenario, side–by–side, this week in same edition of the Toronto Star (below). Dave Feschuk asked why the Leafs cannot emulate the Tampa Bay Lightning, which has lost in the opening round of the playoffs for three years after winning consecutive Stanley Cups (2021 and 2022). But, has rebounded to tangle ferociously with Buffalo and Montreal for the Atlantic Division crown the Leafs will abdicate. Tampa resides sixth in the overall standings after a remarkable 21–1–1 streak in 23 games. Damien Cox suggested the Maple Leafs can rocket unpward next season if the correct moves are made off the ice. Beginning with general manager Brad Treliving, whom Cox believes should be replaced.
The question I have for hockey zealots here in the Big Smoke: Why would you want any of this to continue — on the ice or in the executive suite? More importantly, why would Matthews wish to prolong his nightmarish existence with the Blue and White? The near–tragic coincidence of Auston’s knee injury this week exposed the Leafs as never before. After the dirty hit by Radko Gudas of Anaheim, teammates William Nylander, Easton Cowan, Brandon Carlo and Morgan Rielly did a fly by. Two theories resulted: a) they were scared sh**less of the Ducks’ behemoth. And, b) none were interested in coming to the defense of Matthews. Neither excuse was particularly enamouring. Close your eyes, those of vintage, and imagine the likes of Gary Roberts, Shayne Corson, Tie Domi, Wade Belak and Darcy Tucker turning away had Mats Sundin’s knee been targeted? Or, Tiger Williams looking sideways if Darryl Sittler had been mugged? It was disgraceful for the franchise on Thursday night, yet entirely predictable. The environment so–largely created by the indifference of Matthews came back to bite him. For my money, the current group is descending perliously close to the 2014–15 Leafs team in the realm of disrepute.
I cannot fathom why a follower of the Leafs would want any of Treliving, Craig Berube, Matthews, William Nylander or Morgan Rielly back for another “try”. Cripes, how many decades of ignominy are sufficient for someone with gonads at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment to thoroughly clean house? Right now, we’re into the second decade… with nothing to show. Why should it continue for even one game beyond Apr. 15, when Toronto concludes its contemptible season in Ottawa? There are copious adjectives to describe a professional sports team. “Spineless” ranks very close to the bottom. Yet, the Maple Leafs have long–earned such a tag; it was liberally deployed by Feschuk in his Star columns this week. Even the No. 1 supporter of the club in the media — Luke Fox of Sportsnet — is fed up. With the Leafs plummeting in the standings, Fox has turned in his strongest work.
Same applies to veteran scribe Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun.
Why would anyone expect, or desire, a rerun of this disaster?
BEST IMAGE OF THE HIT BY RADKO GUDAS ON AUSTON MATTHEWS… BY CHRIS TANOUYE OF GETTY IMAGES
DOCTOR: “EIGHT–TO–12 WEEKS FOR AUSTON”
Were this earlier in the season, Auston Matthews would miss up to 12 weeks (or three months) recovering from the Grade 3 sprain of his medial–collateral ligament (MCL). It’s the reason he is done until next year; even if the Leafs made the playoffs, he wouldn’t have returned.
“Auston should recover from this incident and be ready for training camp,” said Dr. Rick Zarnett, an orthopaedic surgeon at Humber River Hospital and head physician for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. “He’ll be able to start on–ice rehab in about six weeks.”
Though Grade 3 is a complete tear of the ligament, the MCL (which rests outside the knee, on the inner portion) can repair without surgery. Had Matthews damaged or torn his anterior–cruciate ligament (ACL, part of the inner structure), he’d be looking at a much–longer recovery. “Yes, he was fortunate to avoid the ACL, which almost always requires surgery,” agreed Zarnett, a long–time expert in arthroscopic procedures. “The ACL timeline is more like nine months. And while 80 to 90% of athletes make it back, there are longer–term implications, such as recurrence and arthritis.
“On the other hand, the MCL — once healed — is not predisposed to injury.”
WHEN GAMBLE FOILED HULL
It was 60 years ago this week (on Thursday) that Bobby Hull of Chicago became the first NHL player to surpass 50 goals in a season. As of Mar. 12, 1966, only Hull, Bernie Geoffrion and Maurice Richard had connected for 50. After what seemed like an interminable wait over four games, Hull scored No. 51 (assisted by Lou Angotti and Bill Hay) on a slapshot from inside the mid–point, beating goalie Cesare Maniago of New York. The denizens of old Chicago Stadium rose in a seven–minute salute to the Golden Jet. The run–up to Hull’s record coincided with the astounding performance of Toronto goalie Bruce Gamble, who came up from the minors when Terry Sawchuk was sidelined and recorded four shutouts in eight starts. Included was a still–memorable Saturday night (Mar. 5, 1966) at Maple Leaf Gardens when Gamble repeatedly thwarted Hull, sitting on 49 markers. Here is a review of that milestone week, with stories from the Toronto Star and game summaries from The Hockey News:
COVER OF THE MAR. 12, 1966 EDITION OF THE HOCKEY NEWS, FEATURING GAMBLE’S HOT SREAK.
SUMMARIES OF CONSECUTIVE LEAF GAMES FROM MAR. 2, 3 and 5, 1966. GAMBLE STARRED.
TORONTO STAR STORY (ABOVE) FROM THE GAME OF MAR. 6, 1966 AT BOSTON GARDEN.
GAME SUMMARY AND THE MAPLE LEAFS’ HOCKEY NEWS HERO ARE BELOW.
TORONTO STAR GAME STORY (ABOVE) AFTER A SHUTOUT OF DETROIT, AT THE GARDENS, MAR. 9.
SUMMARIES FROM THE GAMBLE SHUTOUTS OF THE RED WINGS (MAR. 9) AND BRUINS (MAR. 12).
HULL FINALLY SCORED HIS RECORD GOAL AT CHICAGO STADIUM ON MAR. 12 AGAINST THE RANGERS. IT OCCURRED AT 5:34 OF THE SECOND PERIOD AND DREW THE BLACK HAWKS EVEN WITH NEW YORK. GAMBLE’S SENSATIONAL RUN ENDED THE FOLLOWING NIGHT AT CHICAGO STADIUM (BELOW), WHEN HULL AND CO. BREEZED TO A 5–1 TRIUMPH OVER THE MAPLE LEAFS.
EMAIL: HOWARDLBERGER@GMAIL.COM
I will always be haunted by that first speech Keith Pelley delivered when he took over. “We are not here to sell jerseys.” Yeah right. We see as clear as daylight these so called President role types of Pelley and Shanahan were never about the on ice product and the game itself. No its about expanding and enhancing revenue streams from tickets,merchandise,jerseys,food and beverage. Pelley,Shanahan and lets go further back to Richard Peddie. These three guys are all businessmen in suits delivering $$$$$$$ to MLSE. It is here where these so called Presidents are evaluated by,not on the ice,because frankly they have no experience what so ever of the on ice product and the game itself . Why doesn’t MLSE bring in the Hunter brothers from London. Mark and Dale Hunter have a deadly and slick combination of talent in the board room,the $$$$$$$ and most importantly the on ice product and who are not afraid to make changes what so ever. Bring in hockey people like Dale and Mark Hunter. I can assure you that these two fine hockey people will really roll up their sleeves and begin to build the on ice product and not worry about selling hockey jerseys.
Up to the Gudas hit since the Olympic break – apathy. Every player. No one stepped up for their captain after the hit, a sign that perhaps indicates sheer indifference to 34 himself. Given that’s the way Matthews carries himself both on and off the ice it’s no wonder everyone looked on with just a meek little shrug. This is a symptom of a lack of effective leadership which immeasurably has killed any concept of camaraderie on this team. Every player simply acted the way the leader would have acted in similar circumstances. Whatever Berube (or whoever) said in the intermission after the hit, something finally hit a nerve with some of the players but too little too late. This is far beyond a couple of tweaks and repair. If this team and management isn’t deconstructed with a full rebuild in sight within the next 5 months, expect a lot more of this in the next two years. 34 is the guy who sets the tone, and “what you see is what you’ll get”.
Can’t add anything to that, Howard. MLSE and Rogers – executives, players and staff, alike – are standing in a big circle in Nathan Phillip’s Square and holding up their middle fingers to every Maple Leafs fan in Canada. William Nylander personified. There is no other way to see it.
The Laughs are unwatchable…# : (
Imagine if Leafs management had properly evaluated the competitive instincts of their top young stars and came to the conclusion they did not have the intangibles required to get over the top.
Then imagine a Leafs team that would have been able to hold on to Zach Hymen. Nazem Khadri, Mason Marchment, Carter Verhaeghe, Sean Durzi, Trevor Moore , Connor Brown, etc. Think of the lost draft picks wasted over the last 9 seasons at the trade deadline and what they could have been, think of the cap space they would have had to pay a top free agent #1 defenceman.
It’s been a multi year, multi management failure to properly assess their assets…… And now the cupboard is bare and the assets they gambled on are not worth what they once were.
Another 5 to 7 year rebuild is ahead
Yes. Agreed.
I don’t want more of the same. I want improvement. It is possible. Team toughness is a big need, along with talent, and defensive acumen. It is possible to do what’s best for the team, to make the right decisions, bounce back with a good, playoff bound team and leave this season behind and forget it.
Even YOU are dreaming.
No. It’s possible to build a well balanced or better balanced team in one off season. Tre can’t do it, but a good GM could. And it doesn’t require a bunch of star players. The right journeymen will accomplish the feat. And the right buyouts.
For the Leafs, right now, the only addition is subtraction. No way this fried cast rebounds.
I agree in addition by subtraction. Who are you subtracting? I’d buy out Rielly Domi and Tavares. I would not qualify Maccelli at 3.43 M. Cowan needs to spend a full year in the minors. Should have been this year. And if they have to trade a goalie it’s Dennis Hildeby, the prospect. Trading him for a prospect of equal value. Carter Yakemchuk of the Sens. Leafs need to get bigger on the wings. A couple dmen. Jacob Trouba, Luke Schenn, UFAs. Two new centremen. Boone Jenner for line two. Jason Dickenson for line three. UFAs. Defensively responsible.
I was in attendance at the Gardens on Nov. 5, 1975, the night that Detroit’s Dan Maloney earned notoriety for his assault on the Leafs Brian Glennie. My lasting impression from that game wasn’t so much watching Maloney bouncing the unconscious Glennie’s head up and down on the ice (bad enough). Rather, it was seeing the effect it had on the Leafs, beginning with a berserk Tiger Williams immediately jumping Maloney, and continuing with him making a beeline for Maloney once the two were exiting the penalty box after serving their fighting majors.
Spirit, sacrifice and camaraderie are words that come to mind reminiscing about that Leaf era. It depresses me trying to come up with anything to say in favor of the meek and mild triplets (Marner, Nylander, Matthews) and their legacy on this sorry franchise.
i do not believe that it is in their DNA. that is why we do not see them go further in the playoffs.once things heat up they back away every time.when GUDAS played for TAMPA and he screamed in WOLLS face there was also no response.without player changes we will see more of the same. good read HOWARD