2020 September

No Way Leafs Can Trade Marner

TORONTO (Sep. 29) — Even a casual fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs should be able to answer this question rather quickly: What do Dave Keon, Tim Horton, Frank Mahovlich, Darryl Sittler, Lanny McDonald, Borje Salming, Rick Vaive, Wendel Clark,… Read More

Blades Up, Zorro!

TORONTO (Sep. 24) — My old hockey traveling pal, Mark Zwolinski, doesn’t believe a word I say. Or, write. Never really has. I believed him, once, and nearly lapsed into Civil War with the 2001–02 Toronto Maple Leafs, featuring Darcy… Read More

The Captain at 70

TORONTO (Sep. 18) — Darryl Sittler has me by 8½ years and, probably, a couple of million dollars. Not to mention more than two generations of hockey fans that remember his mostly exceptional era as captain of the Toronto Maple… Read More

Final Chapter Not Yet Written

TORONTO (Sep. 15) — It has not been a pleasant five weeks for the Toronto Maple Leafs and their fans. Since being eliminated, Aug. 9, in Game 5 of a qualifying Stanley Cup round by the Columbus Blue Jackets, the… Read More

Do We Need National Anthems?

TORONTO (Sep. 12) — Whether or not you agree with the cause, there is no question the United States national anthem is being exploited when played prior to sporting events. The cause, of course, is the Black Lives Matter movement,… Read More

Michael Hutchinson? Gimme a Break

TORONTO (Sep. 4) — I honestly counted hours toward the inevitable. Under the category “any goalie can get hot in a brief span,” there was Michael Hutchinson — good guy but failed back-up everywhere in his career — earning a… Read More

Leafs Will Replace Andersen

TORONTO (Sep. 2) — To their credit, the Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to avoid insanity. You know… doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result. The club has been down that path on three occasions… Read More