The Tragedy of Roberto Alomar

TORONTO (Apr. 30) — Perhaps Dave Perkins, the legendary former baseball columnist at the Toronto Star, said it best while on the phone with me this afternoon. “Be prepared to never be surprised,” Dave offered when I asked for a… Read More

Could The Leafs Beat Connor?

TORONTO (Apr. 29) — There is a level of anticipation and excitement about the Toronto Maple Leafs that hasn’t existed for nearly 20 years, since the good hockey teams coached by Pat Quinn; led by Mats Sundin and backstopped by… Read More

Andersen Reporting “Careful”

TORONTO (Apr. 27) — Not a single person covering the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday could bring himself (or herself) to say it: Frederik Andersen is no longer the club’s No. 1 choice for the playoffs, given how consistently unreliable… Read More

Only The Math Remains

TORONTO (Apr. 25) — Consecutive victories by the Maple Leafs in Winnipeg this week not only enabled tormented fans to step back from the figurative edge, but virtually locked up first place for only the second time since 1962–63. As… Read More

Leafs Nation In Full Retreat

TORONTO (Apr. 22) — I’m astonished by the sheer volume of goaltending experts in Leafs Land that were utterly silent about Jack Campbell’s inability to play the position while he reeled off 11 consecutive wins between Jan. 16 and Apr.… Read More

Leafs Have Fallen Apart, But…

TORONTO (Apr. 21) — Good lord, is this ever a season of black and white for the blue and white. With no middle ground (or grey area) through 46 games, the fate of the 2021 Toronto Maple Leafs is solely… Read More

Sportsnet–590 Rudderless

TORONTO (Apr. 17) — John Rea. Bob Mackowycz. Nelson Millman. Don Kollins. Dave Cadeau. Then… ??? Five men and one mystery. The names, since September 1992, with the title of Program Director at Canada’s first all–sports radio station. I worked… Read More

Borje Salming At 70

TORONTO (Apr. 15) — It is impossible for me to think about Borje Salming turning 70 this Saturday without remembering the day he turned 25: Apr. 17, 1976. For that night — at Maple Leaf Gardens — produced the greatest… Read More

The Disaster Scenario

TORONTO (Apr. 14) — Doesn’t it figure? For more than 20 years, since Ken Dryden successfully re–located the Maple Leafs into the Eastern Conference, fans of the oldest rivalry in the National Hockey League have been clamoring for a Stanley… Read More

It Still Depends on the Big 4

TORONTO (Apr. 13) — When the dust had settled on Trade Deadline Day in the National Hockey League, the Toronto Maple Leafs were different… yet unchanged. Undoubtedly, Nick Foligno and David Rittich will provide the club character up front and… Read More

Leafs Solid With Campbell/Rittich

If [Kyle] Dubas were to aim higher, he might talk with Calgary about David Rittich, who can also become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Rittich, 28, is 4–7–1 with the disappointing Flames but won 51 games in the two Read More

Dubas Still Has A Move

***BREAKING (6 p.m. EDT): The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired veteran forward Nick Foligno from the Columbus Blue Jackets. But, the club is still in need of goaltending insurance.*** LATE NOTE: Kyle Dubas filled his most–pressing need, late Sunday night, Read More

Is It A Broadcasting Game–Changer?

TORONTO (Apr. 6) — At the risk of embellishing an observation, I contend that the TV voices of the Toronto Blue Jays — Dan Shulman and Buck Martinez — are accomplishing, this week, one of the most remarkable exploits in… Read More

Good Friday At The Gardens

TORONTO (Apr. 3) — Though unseasonably cool, it was a perfect, late–afternoon on Good Friday 2021 to visit my old stomping ground, Maple Leaf Gardens, where I spent countless nights between 1966 and 1999 watching the Toronto Maple Leafs: first,… Read More

No Question, Leafs Need A Goalie

TORONTO (Apr. 1) — For the better part of a week, the cynicism that unavoidably took root during 17 years covering the Maple Leafs as a radio reporter left me wondering if the team was “protecting” Frederik Andersen. With Jack… Read More
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