TORONTO (Dec. 22) — For whatever it’s worth (and I think many would agree), my criteria for the James Norris Memorial Trophy in today’s National Hockey League is a defenseman capable of putting up a minimum 60 points… and a… Read More
TORONTO (July 8) — In responding to my “How Delusion Festers” blog of late–Friday (http://bit.ly/2KXRIF4) — and, particularly, to my long–held conviction that the Maple Leafs will likely not win the Stanley Cup without a Norris Trophy type on the… Read More
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 (July 18) — It is rather puzzling that people who observe the Leafs for a living, and those that root for the club with their entire soul, have lost appreciation for veterans Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk.
Particularly… 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 9) — If you are wondering, in part, how the dramatic improvement of the Toronto Maple Leafs has influenced their loyal fans, consider this: While reacting, en masse, to a blog I wrote over the weekend, the majority… Read More
TORONTO (Feb. 22) — Yes, Tuesday night’s free–for–all at the Air Canada Centre provided wonderful entertainment for those in attendance and many others watching on TSN. Jake Gardiner scored in overtime to give the Maple Leafs a 5–4 victory over… Read More
TORONTO (Dec. 23) — How unusual it was, still, to see the once–proud Colorado Avalanche looking so downtrodden and hopeless against the Maple Leafs on Thursday night. A 6–0 loss at the Pepsi Center flattered the home team while cementing… Read More
TORONTO (Nov. 1) — It will be a tell–tale sign that the young Maple Leafs are maturing when the club approaches a double–header like this past weekend with more of a competitive edge and less satisfaction.
Though it yielded zero… Read More
By HOWARD BERGERTORONTO (July 10) — Where on Earth did time go?
As I was penning the headline to this blog, I nearly wrote, “Debating the Leafs — One Week Later.” Then it hit me: The Connor McDavid draft… Read More
By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (Jan. 18) – Yes, Phil Kessel is a streaky, prolific scorer. No, he will never win the Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy. And, maybe, he is worthy of his $8 million-a-season price tag with the Toronto… 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