Predictably, the Leafs Are a Mess

TORONTO (July 1) — Don’t be angry with Brad Treliving. Even if his “big” Canada Day signing was a player that erupted for zero points in 25 games with Montreal last season. There really wasn’t a lot more the general… Read More

Five Years Ago — and Still True

I WROTE THIS BLOG IN MID–AUGUST 2020, EIGHT DAYS AFTER THE LEAFS WERE DEFEATED BY COLUMBUS IN THE COVID PLAYOFF QUALIFYING ROUND. YOURS TRULY AND THE OLD “POPCORN KID” — MIKE PALMATEER — WERE ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT GOALIE … Read More

How Unwell is Don Cherry?

TORONTO (June 24) — Roughly six weeks ago, I watched a video podcast with Toronto Sun columnist Joe Warmington interviewing Don Cherry, presumably at Cherry’s home in Mississauga. I was stunned. It wasn’t the sharp, Dapper Don that Canadiens grew… Read More

Decoding Connor McDavid’s Retort

TORONTO (June 20) — Something tells me the world’s most–gifted hockey player was not impressed when his team flipped between goaltenders late in the Stanley Cup final. Stuart Skinner or Calvin Pickard; the latter having played one game for the… Read More

Imagine the Leafs Altering DNA… x2

TORONTO (June 17) — This, from a hockey voice in Miami: “Most people think [Leafs general manager] Brad Treliving will pursue either Sam Bennett or Brad Marchand in free agency. From what I’m hearing, don’t be surprised if the Leafs… Read More

Will Rogers / MLSE Honor Joe Bowen?

TORONTO (June 13) — Yes, we know there will be scoreboard video tributes and lots of shiny, complicated words from the public relations wing. Still, the question remains: Will the media wing of Rogers Communications truly honor Joe Bowen, iconic… Read More

For Leafs, It Can Only Be Marchand

TORONTO (June 11) — For the moment, the target remains clear. If it is still within sight on July 1 — just 20 days from now — the Maple Leafs can adopt only one strategy: Get Brad Marchand into the… Read More

The Banality of Truth at MLSE

TORONTO (June 2) — A determined canvassing of undiluted honesty amid those employed by the Toronto Maple Leafs since 1967 is rather effortless. There are markedly few examples from which to choose… and most comments pre–date the current era. Here’s… Read More

What Cachet Remains For Matthews?

It is incomprehensible that such veteran hockey people as [Brendan] Shanahan, Brad Treliving and Craig Berube actually felt that stitching a letter on clothing could alter a person’s DNA. — Between The Posts, May 19 TORONTO (May 29) — Finally,… Read More

Why the Contradictory Criteria?

TORONTO (May 26) — Clearly, two sets of rules and requirements exist in the Rogers sports empire. If not, there isn’t a person of mental acuity that can explain why Mark Shapiro retains authority over the Toronto Blue Jays the… Read More

Pelley Should Run The Leafs

TORONTO (May 22) — There’s no need to search for a hockey executive to replace Brendan Shanahan as president of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The club’s parent company, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, has the perfect candidate under its roof.… Read More

Ballard to Matthews — No Change

TORONTO (May 21) — Paul Henderson, the former Leaf and Team Canada hero from 1972, tells a story about his agonizing decision to defect from the National Hockey League to the rogue World Hockey Association, which competed with the NHL… Read More

Leafs and Auston Have to Separate

TORONTO (May 19) — Forget about Mitch Marner and John Tavares becoming free agents. Forget about the new coach bringing structure to the Maple Leafs until any such control was beyond him. Forget about the apparently elite goaltender who couldn’t… Read More