Twenty–four years after trading for a guy named Sundin at the 1994 NHL Draft in Hartford, the Leafs chose a guy named Sandin Friday night in Dallas. Will Rasmus turn out anything close to Mats? In the meantime…
TORONTO (June… 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 (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 (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 (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 (Jan. 20) — As the Maple Leafs build toward what could be a promising future, they must garner two obvious needs: a reliable No. 1 goalie and a legitimate stud on the blue line. Neither commodity is apparent with… Read More
TORONTO (Nov. 14) — We can say this much for James Reimer: He is the only puck–stopper the Toronto Maple Leafs have deployed in the post–2005 lockout era to provide the team a stretch of dependable work. Literally, the lone… Read More
By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (May 14) — Call me stubborn, if you wish, but the teams I chose to play for the Stanley Cup this spring are still alive halfway through the playoff tournament. And though somewhat tempted to shift… Read More
By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (Apr. 14) — Start spreadin’ the news.
For the second consecutive spring, the New York Rangers will encounter a team from southern–California in their quest to win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1994… Read More
By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (Mar. 16) — It has been quite awhile since the Maple Leafs endured a clean sweep on a three–game journey to Calgary, Vancouver and Edmonton — which will be the club’s fate tonight should it lose… Read More
By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (Feb. 6) — Hate to say it, Leaf fans, but your team will actually win a hockey game tonight. That’s “win” — W-I-N — defined by Dictionary.com as: “to finish first in a race, contest, or … Read More
By HOWARD BERGERTORONTO (Oct. 14) — For the past 30 years, veteran hockey people have delightfully quibbled over choosing between Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky as the greatest all-time player. I say delightfully because any person, such as myself, … Read More
THE RIVALRY CONTINUES
MAPLE LEAFS vs. CANADIENS, 7:00, AIR CANADA CENTRE – SPORTSNETBy HOWARD BERGERTORONTO (Oct. 8) — It wasn’t supposed to be this way.A hard salary cap in the National Hockey League, most believed, would make … Read More
By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (May 19) – The 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs took a major hit today when it became known that Montreal goalie Carey Price is sidelined for the remainder of the Eastern Conference final against New York Rangers.… Read More
(BUT, NOT TODAY)
By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (May 17) – The 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs haven’t gone over particularly well here in the Big Smoke; not nearly as well, for example, as the Calder Cup tournament, where Toronto Marlies are… Read More
By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (May 16) – If Brendan Shanahan wanted to clarify his position on the Maple Leafs during a tour of city newspaper offices Wednesday, he failed rather miserably. Chances are it was more a political excursion than… Read More
By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (May 15) – It’s an easy equation.
The two best goalies on the planet clashing for a berth in the Stanley Cup final. Carey Price and Henrik Lundqvist for all the Eastern marbles. A re-match of… Read More
By HOWARD BERGERNEW YORK (Sep. 13) – In a city renowned for star appeal, the National Hockey League trotted out its biggest names on Thursday afternoon – players and owners separated by a mere three blocks and two high-rise … Read More
Is The Herd Coming Around?
Pressure Mounting On The Leafs
Babcock Needs a Quick Start
Puzzling Leaps of Faith
Offer–Sheet All About Timing
Nylander Trade Too Logical
Columbus Dancing With Mitch
Was It Worth Our Prostitution?
Will Marner Follow Kawhi?
Leafs Going For a Three–Peat
Kadri Trade Good… and Bad
Trusted Back–Up Imperative
Too Much Emphasis on Forwards
Call it “Burkie’s Drive”
McCown The Biggest Casualty
Not Bigger, Just Smarter
We The Longest
Kadri For Trouba Intriguing
The Leafs Will Stand Alone
It’s Not About One Playoff Round
Why Even Go There?
End of An Era in Oakland
“I Was Gretzky… For A Day”
The Sound of Silence
Still Not Convinced
Was It The Leafs’ Biggest Gaffe?
Again — Why Not Rick?
A Big Moment… But How Big?
Flag Waving Has Started Early
The Laughable Maple Leafs
Talking Mike Babcock
Sittler, Kelly and Pyramid Power
It’s That Date Again
So, What Now, Leafs Nation?
Overkill Like We’ve Never Seen