TORONTO (Jan. 20) — For more than 2½ years, in what is often described as the National Hockey League’s toughest media market, it’s been “hands off the head coach”. That privilege, it seemed, arrived in our town with the largest… Read More
TORONTO (Jan. 13) — Only one question truly remains to be answered about the 2017–18 Toronto Maple Leafs: Can they defeat the Boston Bruins in a best–of–seven Stanley Cup playoff series?
Though 37 games are left on the schedule, beginning… Read More
TORONTO (Nov. 8) — After last season and throughout the summer, I wrote in this space that Year 2 would likely be more of a challenge for the young, fast and gifted Maple Leafs. For no other reason than it… Read More
TORONTO (June 28) — Imagine the Toronto Maple Leafs in three years with John Tavares, Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Mitch Marner all making beyond–entry–level cash; with a Norris Trophy–caliber defenseman eating up close to $10 million in cap space… Read More
TORONTO (June 11) — Given multiple reports in the past ten days of their interest in veteran forward Ilya Kovalchuk, it appears the Maple Leafs may not be willing to sit around and “look pretty” next season.
The majority of… Read More
TORONTO (May 22) — As part of his popular, weekend–notes column on Sunday, Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun posed an interesting question: “In watching [William] Nylander playing alongside Nicklas Backstrom [with Sweden at the World Hockey Championships], I couldn’t… Read More
TORONTO (May 6) — If I were Lou Lamoriello, GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, my thought–process during the summer would be two–fold: a) hoping that the elite youngsters on the hockey club can follow up their rookie efforts in… Read More
TORONTO (Apr. 23) — Everywhere you turn in this city, hockey fans are sure the Maple Leafs have a profusion of confidence heading into Game 6 tonight against the Washington Capitals. And, why not?
The buoyant underdog has stayed with… Read More
TORONTO (Apr. 18) — To borrow a legendary phrase from my ol’ pal, Dave (Tiger) Williams, the Washington Capitals are “done like dinner”. Kaput in every way except officially. And, that will soon follow.
Give the youthful Toronto Maple Leafs… Read More
TORONTO (Apr. 10) — No, the Washington Capitals will not lose to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
After all, the Stanley Cup playoffs never begin with the second round.
Beyond that, maybe… just maybe… this is the year that Ovie and… Read More
TORONTO (Apr. 2) — I begin this blog with somewhat of a contradiction: Though I believe Mike Babcock should be among the finalists for the Jack Adams Award as National Hockey League coach–of–the–year, I do not believe he is the… Read More
TORONTO (Mar. 19) — Everywhere you looked at the Air Canada Centre on Saturday night, there was green.
Far from me, in this forum, to buck the trend. As such, the first blog on my website (b. June 1, 2011)… Read More
TORONTO (Feb. 24) — It is the great paradox of the youthful, energetic and revitalized Toronto Maple Leafs: Provide the slick shooters gobs of open ice or a clean break on the opposition goalie.
And then, far–more often than not,… Read More
TORONTO (Feb. 13) — During this mostly–refreshing season for fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the club has been gazing upward at its Atlantic Division rivals; aiming for a top–three finish and a guaranteed playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.… Read More
TORONTO (Jan. 12) — It is a wonderful and rather uncomplicated time to be a fan of the improving Toronto Maple Leafs, whose youngest and most–dynamic players are skating under entry–level salary restriction.
None of Connor Brown, Zach Hyman, Nikita… Read More
TORONTO (Dec. 6) — By waiving Jhonas Enroth on Monday afternoon, Lou Lamoriello acknowledged his first mistake as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. But, he came by the blunder honestly.
You may recall that Lou built and GM’d… Read More
TORONTO (June 24) — In the course of 99 years, there have been myriad turning points for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Three, in particular, stand out to this day… with Auston Matthews in the on–deck circle.
The most significant factors… Read More
TORONTO (May 16) — Back in time, it was major–junior hockey. Today, it is minor–professional.
Only the name has been constant — the Toronto Marlies.
Young fans near and far may not realize the American Hockey League’s best team this… Read More
Will The Leafs Be Next?
The Funeral of Hope
The Tavares/Matthews Conundrum
Leafs Kept Their Promise
Smoke and Mirrors Around Here
Laine or Auston? What About Lou?
Only Burke Can Replace Cherry
And the Wait Continues
Freddy Had Nothing Left
No One Has A Clue
Sliver of Light After a Dark Day
Nothing Odd About Leafs/Bruins
Leafs Need To Rinse and Repeat
It’s Babcock Time
Bruins’ Work Still Not Done
Leafs–Bruins on Razor’s Edge
We’re Watching 2nd–Best Leafs Ever
That Brush-Cut Kid Is 70
Tavares: Islanders, Leafs… or Knights?
25 Years Later, It Could Be Special
Leafs GM Chatter Intriguing
Freddy Needs Rest, Not Rhythm
Maybe Leafs Are Good Enough
Leafs “Can Have McDonagh”
Blue Liner(s) On The Way?
Leafs Should Go For The Jugular
Why Would The Leafs Trade JVR?
Could Leafs Pull a Trade Shocker?
We’ve Seen It All Before (sigh)
Babcock’s Honeymoon Has Ended
Leafs Could Still Re–Make
Bruce Hood: 1936–2018
Leafs Need to Pick it Up
67 Since ’67
Orr: “Never A Bad Word”