blasé Newspapers Have Abdicated

TORONTO (June 12) — I suppose it was inevitable, given the utter destruction (by the World Wide Web) of the newspaper industry. And that we live in a country where an alleged competition bureau allows for professional sports teams and… Read More

Memorable Times With The Silver Fox

TORONTO (June 6) — It was Jan. 30, 2008 and I wandered into the lobby of the Embassy Suites hotel off Interstate–40, near Raleigh–Durham International Airport. I had arrived 90 minutes earlier on a late–afternoon flight from Toronto; the Maple… Read More

Big Win For TSN’s Chris Johnston

TORONTO (June 5) — There was a time during my radio career when reporters would gather around televisions in the press box at Maple Leaf Gardens, then Air Canada Centre, to “cover” Coach’s Corner on Hockey Night In Canada. It’s… Read More

My Heroes Departing Too Frequently

TORONTO (May 31) — Today is an appropriate and coincidental anniversary for this solemn blog. It was 56 years ago tonight that I lost my first hockey hero. Terry Sawchuk captured my fancy before anyone. I would watch on black–and–white… Read More

The Love and Sweetness in Leafs Land

TORONTO (May 29) — Isn’t it a nice off season? We have the committed, determined captain, evidently during a Reagan–Gorbachev–type summit (only via Zoom), vowing that he wants to “win” here in Toronto. After a decade of proving otherwise. There’s… Read More

Chayka Should Have A Tough Choice

TORONTO (May 22) — My strong gut–feel about the National Hockey League draft, next month, for which the Leafs were gifted the No. 1 choice? If John Chayka selects Gavin McKenna, as 95 percent of the fan base desires, the… Read More

Kudos – and Contrition – to MLSE

TORONTO (May 15) — If you get the early impression, from Facebook, Twitter and here, that I kind of like what the Toronto Maple Leafs are doing, you’re not alone. Neither are you mistaken. I haven’t a clue, obviously, whether… Read More

What Could Leafs Get For Matthews?

TORONTO (May 11) — Alright, let’s begin by cutting out the dopiness. San Jose is not trading the second pick in this summer’s National Hockey League draft to the Maple Leafs, straight up, for Auston Matthews. I’m uncertain whether Mike… Read More

Can Someone – Anyone – Explain?

TORONTO (May 9) — Okay, I confess: There are no longer any reasonable answers. Not when the two sports columnists I most lean on to speak the truth are still awash in the Auston Matthews Mystique (whatever it is). Damien… Read More

Must Be Those Irish Eyes in the Sky

TORONTO (May 6) — May I suggest we change the name of the Leafs’ new senior advisor to Mats O’Sundin. Nothing could more–perfectly offer tribute to the spirit responsible for that bonkers draft–lottery win last night. Of course it was… Read More

Give Chayka / Sundin a Fair Shot

TORONTO (May 4) — Perhaps I’m wading into recency bias here, but I doubt it. I was granted my first media credential by the Toronto Maple Leafs 42 years ago, in 1983–84. One season after Joe Bowen became the now–legendary… Read More

Sundin–Chayka Stand Little Chance

TORONTO (May 2) — No matter which faces are marched before cameras and microphones, always remember this is Ed the Conqueror’s Toronto Maple Leafs. The only voice that matters in local professional sport — through his Maple Leaf Sports and … Read More

TSN Is Getting Annihilated on Leafs

TORONTO (May 1) — Three days passed between missives from the de facto information director of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Elliotte Friedman. On Tuesday, Friedge reported that Mats Sundin and John Chayka were finalizing arrangements to become president and director… Read More

As I Was Saying About Friedge…

*Former Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka and Dallas Stars assistant GM Scott White have emerged as the frontrunners to replace GM Brad Treliving, who was fired March 30, according to a report from Sportsnet. — Toronto Star *… Read More

Keep Eyes on Sportsnet, Elliotte

TORONTO (Apr. 22) — For more than a decade, I railed on this site about the egregious conflict–of–interest that saw the competing all–sports television networks — TSN and Sportsnet — share control of the Toronto Maple Leafs. If that requires… Read More

Finally, Implicitly, A Ray of Hope

TORONTO (Apr. 19) — If you hang around this website for any length of time, you’ll understand the snippet of information that most intrigued me amid the baseless, robotic jargon of locker–cleanout day at Scotiabank Arena. Now and forever, it… Read More

What Can Leafs Do About Stolarz?

TORONTO (Apr. 12) — Amid the usual corporate roguery at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment — with the hockey club disgracing itself, most nights — a fundamental issue has reared its ugly face. Yet again: Goaltending. Anthony Stolarz is either… Read More

More Corporate Dithering BY MLSE

TORONTO (Apr. 8) — I’ve told this story before and it speaks volumes about the time and money wasted by the companies that have run the Toronto Maple Leafs since the club last appeared, 24 years ago, in the Stanley… Read More