Howard Berger

How Can Bobby Orr Be 75?

TORONTO (Mar. 18) — During his Hall–of–Fame career (1970–85), spent mostly as captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Darryl Sittler encountered many of the preeminent players in the second half–century of the National Hockey League — Gordie Howe, Jean Beliveau,… Read More

Finally, A Blunt Leafs Assessment

TORONTO (Mar. 16) — I am not particularly familiar with Sonny Sachdeva of Sportsnet.ca. Clearly, it’s been my loss… and I promise to pay more attention. His Linkedin bio describes him as… a writer based in Toronto with a decade … Read More

Be Nice and You’ll Last Forever

TORONTO (Mar. 13) — As far as the Maple Leafs are concerned, there cannot be a nicer guy in the local media than Chris Johnston. In fact, Chris is just nice, period — whether he’s writing a column in the… Read More

The Auston Matthews Hype Machine

TORONTO (Mar. 10) — My ol’ pal, Nick Kypreos, has immeasurably improved the decorous Toronto Star sports section with his bi–weekly column on the Maple Leafs. Whichever executive made the decision to bring him aboard should receive a bonus. But,… Read More

Sandin Trade Could Be A Disaster

TORONTO (Mar. 9) — It will not impact the Maple Leafs this season, nor was that the objective. But, trading their most–skilled defenseman to the Washington Capitals for a rental, eight years his senior, was a bite–in–the–butt transaction. The club… Read More

Leafs Should Go Huge… REALLY Huge

TORONTO (Mar. 6) — They are, without question, the two biggest winners in the modern history of the National Hockey League, certainly among those still alive. Not only do they stand first and third in all–time NHL scoring with a… Read More

Trade Deadline Changes Nothing

TORONTO (Mar. 4) — Despite a frenzy of blueline–altering deals leading up to the National Hockey League trade deadline by general manager Kyle Dubas, we can arrive at the same conclusion as back in December or January: Unless the Boston… Read More

The Hidden Urgency For The Leafs

TORONTO (Feb. 28) — Never in the modern history of the National Hockey League trade deadline has a general manager gone quite as berserk as Kyle Dubas. Time will tell whether his stunning, 24–hour makeover of the blue line can… Read More

Leafs Have Gone Over The Edge

TORONTO (Feb. 27) — Any person that has followed the Maple Leafs though the years has seen batsh** crazy. It’s the hallmark of the franchise in the post–1967 era. But, never has the club gone quite as bonkers as during… Read More

Leafs Fans Unsure What They Want

TORONTO (Feb. 25) — God help the tortured soul that replaces Kyle Dubas as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. For that person’s sake, the sooner it happens, the better, as the current GM hasn’t yet unloaded his first–round… Read More

Leafs Nation: It Won’t Happen Again

TORONTO (Feb. 22) — Never in the modern history of the National Hockey League has a player about to win the Norris Trophy become available at the trade deadline. And, never has there been an opportunity for the team that… Read More

More Leafs Media Fiction

TORONTO (Feb. 20) — I’m disappointed in Kevin McGran. The beat–writer at the Toronto Star has covered the Maple Leafs longer than I did (17 seasons) for The FAN–590. And, while I think he walks on eggshells too often, not… Read More

Dubas Has Sealed His Fate

TORONTO (Feb. 18) — Champagne corks are popping in Leafs Nation today… led, of course, by the cheerleading, club–owned media. General manager Kyle Dubas has finally “swung for the fence” in executing the most–remarkable trade for the club since Cliff… Read More

More Shame From Rogers

TORONTO (Feb. 17) — I’ve written this before and I’ll repeat myself: It’s as if executives in the media wing of Rogers Communications deliberately settle on matters they know will cast scorn upon the company and annoy the general public.… Read More

The Leafs Could Steal Patrick Kane

TORONTO (Feb. 16) — A large taste of what lies ahead for the Toronto Maple Leafs could result in Patrick Kane becoming a very cheap rental before the Mar. 3 National Hockey League trade deadline. Kane has complete control of… Read More

The Heat Will Intensify

TORONTO (Feb. 14) — What happens if the Toronto Maple Leafs refuse to show up, on Wednesday night, against the second–worst team in the National Hockey League? It is hardly out of the question after a humiliating performance at home… Read More

A Meaningful Blockbuster

TORONTO (Feb. 11) — Let’s begin by consigning this blog to fantasy. For a number of reasons, not the least of which is the reluctance of the current Maple Leafs management to venture beyond its comfort zone. The most–likely scenario,… Read More

Who’s Calling the Shots on Bay St.?

TORONTO (Feb. 10) — The dawdling and indecision of the Toronto Raptors at the National Basketball Association trade deadline on Thursday oozed with corporate influence. A below–average team, the Raptors are nonetheless still in contention for the preliminary (or play… Read More